Leah87

Hello! I always used this website to keep my head afloat while I was heavily struggling with DP/DR, and I hoped one day I could come back here to give my recovery story. I am so happy to say that today is the day.

 

My Backstory

I have never struggled with mental illness. I've never considered myself anxious or depressed outside of normal nervousness or sadness. When I was a kid, I had a little OCD, but I grew out of that with age. I have a pretty perfect life, in all honesty. I'm a 4.0 honors college student, a leader in all of my student organization, I am in a very supportive relationship of almost 8 years, and I have a very loving family. If I'm being honest, I've never struggled for much. I'm just telling you this so that you know that DP/DR can happen to absolutely ANYONE. For reference, I am currently a 21 year old woman. I first started to experience DP/DR when I was 20, so about 11 months ago.

 

My DP/DR Story

I started vaping weed probably a little too much. Several days a week, I would say. One day, my roommate and I got into edibles, and I ate a little too much. I was lounging in a hammock watching the Office, then all of a sudden something just hit me like a ton of bricks-- I was instantly in a panic attack. I was like, transported to another world. I thought I was dead. I got my boyfriend home who just sat with me for hours. I was out of it all night, but when I woke up the next morning, I was mostly fine. Throughout the next week, I would occasionally get a fleeting feeling like I was back in it, but it always went away. I thought that I was just scared, so I wanted to get over my fear by smoking more (I'm an idiot). Looking back, I now realize I was experiencing PTSD. I experienced it a few more times while smoking, but never at the scale I was at that first time.

 

Fast forward a couple months, and I temporarily moved to Seattle for an internship at Amazon. I was living with some friends, so I wasn't alone, but I wasn't with my family and close friends like I'm used to. Weed is legal there, so I smoked some more. One day, when I was completely sober at work, I texted one of my friends the story of that really bad trip I had with the edibles a month or two before, and I instantly slipped back into it. Completely sober at work. I had a panic attack and just ran out the door back to my apartment.

 

For the next week, I didn't really tell anyone what I was experiencing. I had panic attacks nonstop every day. I could barely function. I didn't eat, could hardly sleep, couldn't go to work, couldn't really do anything but cry. Me, someone who has never felt my body do something not normal ever, was ready to die. I finally broke down and called my parents who weren't really supportive, but that was more or less because they didn't understand the severity of it. I worked with my boss, who luckily allowed me to fly home for an entire month and work from there.

 

I'm not going to go into specific details of how I was feeling because I don't want to relive it or even give it the time of day, but it was some of the worst I have read from people on this website. I had all the symptoms.

 

I've always been a very practical person, so I tried my best to treat is as practically as I could. I kept working as much as I could, just trying to keep my mind off it it. I managed to keep my internship going, and I was even offered a full time job, though I didn't choose to take it. I was amazed they offered it to me since I was so out of it all the time.

 

I did as much research as I could, visited multiple therapists, etc. I started taking lots of vitamins to help jump start me to a better mindset, and they really helped. I'll include all that info below. I also started exercising more, which I have never done, and it helped, as well.

 

Therapy

I went to multiple therapists and psychiatrists, and while they may not have helped temporarily, I think they helped give me new perspectives in the long run. Some of them were terrible and didn't tell me anything to make me feel better. Many of them told me I could be like this forever, which is utterly stupid. I do not think they had any idea of my specific situation, and they were just giving me blanket remarks for people with mental illness. You will definitely get better if you try.

 

Why I Got DP/DR

I definitely think I got DP/DR because of smoking weed, but it was just the catalyst. The real issue is that I got the Nexplanon birth control implant put in my arm last year. As soon as I came back to my home town, I got it removed. Within 3 months of the removal, I got exponentially better. People with ovaries, if you have issues with mental illness, try stopping birth control.

 

Vitamins

I read everything I could on which vitamins to take to help alleviate symptoms to get me on the road to recovery. I still take these vitamins to this day, and I can tell a noticeable difference when I don't take them, so I highly recommend starting them now. Make the investment.

 

1. Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega 1280 mg Omega-3
   ** Try to get something with LOTS of EPA and DHA
   I started with 2 a day, and I now take 1 a day
2. Nature's Bounty 100 mg 5-HTP
   I started with 2 a day, and I now take 1 a day
3. Nature's Bounty 5000 IU D3
4. Country Life Coenzyme B-Complex Caps
   I started with 2 a day, and I now take 1 a day
5. Natural Calm Magnesium Supplement- 2 tsp a day
   Make sure you work up to the 2 tsp a day because it can make you go #2

How I Feel Now

I was always so worried when I read recovery stories on here about people recovering 80% or whatever. I didn't want any part of this terrible affliction, and it made me vomit to think that I might only get partially recovered. I am 99.9999999% recovered in 10 months. No doubt. The only reason I leave that 0.00000001% is because I can remember the story well enough to write this. Mind you, I'm not saying I remember the feelings because I really don't. It honestly feels like a big ole bad dream at this point. As you get better, you realize just how crazy your thoughts were the whole time. You may be saying something that feels completely 100% logical in your head, but it isn't, and it just takes time to realize that. The reason no one ever posts when they are completely over DP/DR is because they just forgot about it. It is just no longer worth their time anymore.

 

My Biggest Issue

My biggest issue throughout recovery was my constantly thinking "am I better now?" or "is this it?? Is this normal?" Trust me, when you are back to normal, you will know with no doubt, so just wait it out.

 

My Advice to You

1) Try to give it as little of your time as possible. I know it sounds completely impossible, but start getting into projects. Getting back into college, for me, was a huge help.

2) Try to come up with a list of things you can do to better your health. Drink more water, exercise, eat better.

3) Cut out caffeine COMPLETELY.

4) Take the vitamins I listed every day.

5) Remind yourself that this isn't you. Just like your body can get a cold, your mind can get DP/DR.

6) Take your time to get better and enjoy life.

 

I will try my best to respond to comments and stuff, so feel free to ask me questions. I remember reading some posts like this one that just made me cry my eyes out because it gave me so much hope. Hang onto that hope!!

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR POST.

 

YEAH ABSOLUTELY, CUT CAFFEINE AND NICOTINE FOR ME, IT´S A KEY FOR RECOVERY, AS THIS CONDITION IS ANXIETY BASED, EVERYTHING THAT TRIGGERS YOUR ANXIETY MUST GO!!!

Only two months ago I want to commit suicide because I was having such bad DP and panic attacks. Like most of you I went to the doctor seeking help..... She wanted to give me an anti depressant. I refused and started researching my butt off because I knew something in my body is causing this.... There is a root cause!!!!!

I changed my diet completely to a paleo style type diet..... More AIP style diet because I looked up anxiety and paleo. I began eating 3 tablespoons of coconut oil a day in my food and water alone. Your brain needs fat. Your nervous system needs fat. I eat LOTS of veggies all day every day your body is lacking in nutrients. Your brain needs protein too..... The thing that lifted my brain fog is a high quality probiotic!!!! It might not work for you but this is what worked for me. I'm also taking a lab quality multi without iron and copper and lab quality fish oils and VIT D3, The people that made me not feel as crazy are Dr. Hotze, Melissa Ramos, and Dr. Isabella wentz, oh and Red River wellness center. There is hope. Please seek out a functional ND check your thyroid anti bodies not just a TSH you might have an autoimmune disease causing this DP or aka brain fog. YouTube brain fog.



"The conventional approach to treating mood and behavioral problems is to focus on the symptom. If you’re anxious, you’ll be prescribed a drug to calm you. If you’re depressed, you’ll be prescribed a drug to lift your mood. If your brain is foggy and your memory is failing, well... there’s not much conventional medicine can do for you at all.

In functional medicine, we focus on fixing the underlying cause of a problem—rather than just suppressing the symptoms. This leads to treatments that are safer, more effective, and much longer lasting.

According to the mainstream theory, brain disorders are caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. But over the past decade, a new understanding of what causes anxiety, depression, and cognitive disorders like A.D.H.D., autism, and Alzheimer’s has emerged.

Many scientists now believe that inflammation is at the root of all of these conditions. And in many, if not most cases, the inflammation originates in the gut. Researchers even coined a new term—the “gut brain axis”—in order to describe the important connection between gut health and the brain. And there’s also a saying in functional medicine which describes this relationship: “Fire in the gut—fire in the brain.”

Abnormal gut function has been directly tied to several brain disorders. For example:

Leaky gut is associated with nervous system problems ranging from Parkinson’s, to A.D.H.D., to epilepsy.
An imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the gut has been shown to cause both depression and anxiety.
84 percent of children with autism spectrum disorders have gastrointestinal symptoms.
Changes in gut bacteria that affect the production of neurotransmitters in the brain.
After working with hundreds of patients (including children) with brain disorders, I’m now convinced gastrointestinal problems are at the root of nearly all of these conditions. In fact, if you came to see me in my clinic and depression, anxiety, or cognitive/behavioral problems were your main complaint, the first thing I’d do is focus on healing your gut.

That is why my “secret weapon” for treating brain disorders is not a stimulant or a sedative—but a probiotic."





Your body wasn't born like this something caused it an it can be reversed. You might need better gut flora, you might need b vitamins, or D3 or maybe you have candida or parasites or even a food allergy! Please try to find someone to work with. If you don't have the money try and take out a loan! This is your health!!!!


INFO TO HELP:

http://www.redriverh...en-testimonials

http://www.hotzehwc....teoporosis.aspx

http://www.sexyfoodt...xiety-sufferer/

http://chriskresser....pplements/brain

 

 

AS A DPDR SUFFERER, i wont advice anybody to start making experiments with food and medicines, but you always can help yourself by eating healthy, exercise, play music like i do, singing helps a lot, go feed the duckies, just take it easy and don´t be hars on yourself, this thing go away, but the more you start trying all this ¨Miraculous medicines¨ that won´t work that well, you are resisting this condition and making yourself more stress, you don´t need more than Avoid Caffeine, Niccotine, High amounts of processed foods and sugars, any kind not just the regular white, drink plenty water, DPDR IS AN ANXIETY BASED CONTIDION, SO EVERYTHING THAT TRIGGERS YOUR ANXIETY, YOU MUST, MUST AVOID IT.

 

This is how i been making my path to heal myself, looking for the bright side on everything and practicing a lot the LAW OF ATTRACTION, WORKING ON MYSELF DEEPER, BEING HONEST WITH MYSELF AND WITH THE PEOPLE AROUND ME.

 

G.D BLESS.

Hey guys, little over a year since weed induced dp/DR.I feel really close to recovery and need some advice on what I guess falls under light sensitivity. I would like to hear from those who have recovered and experienced sensitivity to sunlight, moonlight, or an overall disconected/not right sensation produced from the sky in general. 

There are times of day or night when the lighting produced from the sky doesnt seem to bother me... Afternoon sunlight or a standard dark night sky seems not to bother me. But early morning bright sunlight, a well lit night sky from a large or full moon, oddly colored sunsets, can all produce an odd backdrop that I just can't escape a feeling of being disconnected from and produces that fake dreamlike state. This sucks because it feels as if I can't escape this sensation because it happens with day or night skies. 

As of latley it seems that every night is a full moon and I can't see how I never noticed or how I responded differently to this before...

Everything of course visually looks totally normal but for some reason the way I experience a bright moonlit night sky or the bright Sun coming through my Windows in the morning gives me a disconnected feeling. It seems like my brain is always activly scanning or searching for this. It's like my amygdala is trying to pick up on any changes of light. More examples would be noticing when I enter a brighter room from a darker room. Or a room with a large skylight letting in lots of sun.. Or looking out a window at night into a well lit night sky... 

I also experience the fluorescent light issue in stores as well.

Is this just par for the course with DR and is it anxiety producing my eyes to be on hyper sensitive fight or flight protective mode? 

Anyone that has shared this sensation and recovered please provide any advice you can. I feel this last hurdle always being there keeps me in the "I'm trapped in this" mentality...

What I would like to know.

-Did you just ignore it?
-Did you just lose your fear of this sensation?
-Do I somehow have to face the fear of this symptom more?
-How did this symptom go away for you?
-Did you notice it getting better or did you just have to forget about it then one day it was gone?

Thanks in advance for any advice!!!!

Also I'm considering this could be Lyme disease even though it was weed induced. Some dude said trauma from the bad panic could trigger underlying Lyme. I've had a crazy rash on my neck that's came and gone all year and I did get flu like symptoms right after my weed induced panic attack. Plus I sleep with my dogs and that could be an issue?

Hello.

 

I have the same, helped me a lot, i use glasses with transitions and my formula, but i got for $7.99 on Ebay, some good extra shades that you set on your prescribed glasses, with a clip, and when i use this ones in the sun light, it´s amazing!, takes away all the brightness that causes me headache, migraines, eye irritation, dizziness, eye tiredness, and all that you might experience with the hiper sensibility caused by DPDR. In the other hand, you don´t fight this, just ignore it, it´s not going to be forever, and the more you don´t pay attention to it, it will go away just like all the DPDR symptoms. Any Questions, PM me.

❤️🤪👏🏻😘💋💋💋💋💋

I am recovering myself by don’t giving too much a fuck about life, like stop being ocd about stuff in life, taking better care about myself and having lots of fun, I go dance more and do the things I love!, playing the violin and piano and singing!