I REALLY NEED SOME HELP

Last year I got dp/dr after a long time of anxiety and obsessive toughts. I was thinking of meaning life and always questioning things. Then suddenly this dp/dr thing came and I couldn't even realise what was it. I felt something "unreal". like something very strange is happening to me sometimes(it's just life that I can't believe and looks strange to me don't know why). and sometimes i can't believe that the other people and the other things do except, sometimes it feels like a dream like I can wake up anytime and everything I live is so unimportant. I was socially very active but those toughs made things so f***** up and that confusion creates more confusions that never stop. the worst part of that thing was I can't believe the other people's existence so the help they they try to give is sometimes looks so unreal and fake like everything else. I was scared of schizophrenia or any types of psychosis . this was the god damn state that I was in since the first day of my "unreal stuff thing.

I was totally shocked. I went to my psych. and he said it was a side effect of anxiety. He gave me Paxil and I started to take it and I was exercising going out just didn't let thet problems get me down. I was a lot better for more than 8 months I was in %80 reality and most of the time I didn't even think about dp/dr. But last month I had a lot of anxiety and $#%^ and I had a bad flu which made me stay home for 2 weeks. I had to take antibiotics with needles. Now I'm scared again it's not bad like the first times but I still feel than "unreal" thing sometimes and I have a bad brain fog. And I read at that site "Paxil" is a bad med. for dr/dp. But it helped me a lot I think even it effected my consciousness and concentration in bad way. And I read that this is disorder is chronic. But is mine a disorder or a side effect of anxiety? I had toughts of reality when I was a kid too it made me feel strange but not bad and I was never disconnected from the reality. PLEASE HELP! Thank you

You could have been dealing with derealization.. alot of people who deal with anxiety get that feeling of "unreal" including myself. You don't have schizophrenia, if you did you would have been diagnosed with it likely when you dealt with the anxiety...

Paxil isn't a bad medication, a lot of people have had bad side effects on it, thought not everyone experiences it. I've never been on it, but I've been on similar medications. You've been on it 8 months and you are not feeling as good anymore on Paxil? It could be that you may need a med increase, or perhaps you need to switch medications all together.

What disorder is chronic? Depersonalization? Or Anxiety?

What you are feeling is not abnormal when anxious... like I said i've felt that way many times, same with that dream like state.

Here's the difference between derealization & depersonaliztion.

Depersonalization

What can be more frightening than feeling as though you are detached from yourself? This is the central feature of depersonalization. It is a feeling of being outside of yourself without any sense of control. Some sufferers often describe the sensation as observing themselves from outside of the body.

Other sensations of depersonalization may include:

* feeling unhuman or robot-like
* feeling foreign or unrecognizable to oneself
* feeling invisible or unreal

Derealization

Where depersonalization focuses on one’s sense of self, derealization focuses on one’s sense of his or her surroundings. Sufferers often describe the sensation of derealization as being in a dream-like state where the environment seems unreal, foggy or hazy.

Other sensations of derealization may include:

* feeling cut off from one’s surroundings
* feeling like being trapped in a glass bubble
* feeling like surrounding objects are unreal or cartoon-like

What You Need to Know

If you have anxiety- or panic-related symptoms of depersonalization or derealization, it is important to understand what these symptoms are and what they are not. First, they are fairly common occurrences for those suffering from panic disorder or other types of anxiety disorders. Second, they are not dangerous. And third, they are not an indication of psychosis. Although the symptoms seem bizarre, one does not lose touch with reality. Sufferers continue to be able to discern and perceive the symptoms as “feelings” and not as events that are actually happening.

It is important to note that symptoms of depersonalization or derealization may indicate a more serious medical or psychological disorder. And, a condition called depersonalization disorder can exist on its own. Therefore, self-diagnosis is not advised. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms outlined above, see your doctor or other healthcare provider. He or she will be able to tell you whether or not your symptoms are anxiety-related or part of another illness.[/b]

Thank you very much for your help. My doctor said it is the symptom of anxiety but I'm so scared that it is another disorder coz it feels really so weird.

I got obsessive tought like "the meaning of life", "why do we try to be happy?", "why I don't die right now If I die anyways at the end of the road" etc etc

It would be great if I can get your msn messenger? ty

No no it's not another symptom... I have gotten both before, and I know it's scary to get these symptoms there is nothing wrong with you... other then you feel anxiety... I've dealt with anxiety for over 12 yrs, and have felt that way many times. I think it's important to acknowledge it when it comes so you are aware that it's ok.

I only get obsessive thinking when I'm anxiety ridden, but mine are things like anticipatory anxiety, I automatically think up the worse case scenario before it happens.

Has your doctor given you any coping methods for either the anxiety or obsessive thinking?

delusion wrote:It would be great if I can get your msn messenger? ty

I'll pm it to you.