Derealisation

[ohitssuchaperfectday]

I think it’s a reaction to pain meds (had surgery last week) or I’m tired or low blood pressure but am having the terrifying feeling that nothing around me is real . As If I’m watching it all on TV . Feels like before you faint . It’s horrible, and no matter what I’m doing I can’t shake it off - can’t get rid of it . I don’t think it’s a GP matter but what can I do? Don’t know what to do and don’t want to feel like this .

You have my sympathy, this is a horrible feeling. Don’t tune into it, it will pass. I get this when I’m v anxious or hormonal. It can last for days. Just carry on as normal

Thank you, am sitting on sofa a bit frozen just now . Was watching this morning and something must have triggered me off . Had therapy last night for PTSD and it was a hard conversation and then this . My period was last week too so maybe hormones at play as well . It’s horrible, horrible, I thought I was dying .

Made it out of the house to walk round block . Still don’t feel good at all

Hi OP, I get this sometimes too. If I’m particularly anxious/tired/stressed, it’s almost like my system is so flooded that my brain just can’t process the things going on around me. I try to talk myself out of it by reminding myself that the brain like a computer and if it’s running too many programs at the same time, it gets slow and overheated and just stops working properly. It just needs to be switched off and given some time to cool down. Then it will start to work efficiently again. This feeling will pass. The more you focus on it, the more you perpetuate the cycle. Give yourself a rest by reassuring yourself that this is an automatic response by your body to stress. Ride it out and I’m sure you will feel better soon. Sending you lots of hugs for now though because it’s a bloody awful feeling.

I am diagnosed with CPTSD, derealisation such a common side effect. @La12 sums it up perfectly. It is such a horrible feeling, but it really is a big fat bluff and it will pass. Don’t be frightened of it, just roll with it, it will soon be gone!

@Hoppipolla479

I am diagnosed with CPTSD, derealisation such a common side effect. *@La12* sums it up perfectly. It is such a horrible feeling, but it really is a big fat bluff and it will pass. Don’t be frightened of it, just roll with it, it will soon be gone!

Thank you and *@La12* too x

It’s calmed down a bit now but it seems it starts again whenever I’m alone . Which isn’t great . Therapist said something about habituation and getting used to feelings of anxiety so suppose this is similar . It’s so unpleasant; it reminds me of the feeling just before going under anaesthetic almost - very strange detached sensation. Hopefully the next time it comes on so strongly it won’t be so hard .

Another tip is to try not to attach emotion to it (so, for example, not to see it as a negative/frightening/unpleasant situation) because it then becomes a sensation that you fear. This is a really difficult thing to do but when it happens to me I try to just accept it as my current reality which will return to normal again soon. It’s like when your foot goes to sleep; after a while, the “dead” sensation will be gone, you’ll get pins and needles and then it will feel normal again. Same with the brain (well, that’s the analogy that I use anyway!). I really hope you feel better soon x

this is one of the symptoms of my anxiety and panic disorder which i have had for the past 15 years.

I try not to give it any attention and carry on as normal. Its hard but its the only way. Try to distract yourself as much as you can so you dont sit there and focus on it.

You have my sympathy.

I have had episodes like this as well as depersonalization and @La12 you really have described it so well. Mine was linked to Migraine w/ aura and after an 'attack' i'd feel like this for days, really unnerving and hard to describe to people. You know you are doing things but you feel on 'auto-pilot' so you're more observing what you're doing. Its like you are viewing your life rather than living it in a way. What helped me was obviously the attack finishing, keeping my energy levels up with caffeine obviously not reccommending this as a solution or anything just giving my personal experience. And even though it couldn't be more opposite to the last helpful solution a good nights sleep, dark room and peace/calm for 12hrs or so. It really does pass though and the best thing you can do is realise its happening rather than supress/ignore it but not focus on it, easy to say, harder to do! But you aren't alone!