Always searching old users posts hoping to see they’ve recovered

I haven't been on this forum in a while, but I just wanted to comment. I suffered from DP 6 years ago. I was in a constant state of detachment for 2 years while working and trying to do everyday things. I will be completely honest. It was the most awful experience because I had to go through the motions of life while feeling absolutely nothing and seeing everything through a veil. Over time, I learned to accept it, and the condition slowly improved. I will never forget the day I was standing outside and I finally felt connected to the vivid colors around me. This would probably sound boring and meaningless to people who have never been disconnected, but to me it meant the world. It meant that I was coming back and starting to feel alive again. Currently, I am struggling with anxiety, but I can feel emotions again. I just have to keep my stress level down and not let my anxiety get too intense. I just wanted to share this to give hope to anyone suffering from dp/dr. (I hate that I had to go through DP, but it has given me a new perspective on life. I look around at people who complain about insignificant things, and I am just thankful that I can experience life again.) There is something though I was not expecting---now, I am extremely sensitive to the energy of those around me. I feel very drained around certain people and I need a lot of time alone.

Hi, allison84. For the most part, it is gone. I am not detached anymore, and I feel connected to reality now. When I am in a situation that is stressful, sometimes I can feel the fight-or-flight sensation coming back. I just have to really focus and keep myself grounded in those moments. But, I have to remember that I am susceptible to dissociation because I have been through it before. During my recovery, I have just been dealing with my emotions coming back. It was overwhelming at first because I was numb for over 2 years. I was so used to feeling numb, and then gradually I started to feel again. I cried a lot during this time because it was so overwhelming. This forum helped me so much when I was suffering from dp, and that's why I come back on here to tell my story and help others who may have questions. (The hardest part of dp was that time had lost meaning. I also hated the veil. I hated feeling that barrier between me and the physical world. And, I do remember the delayed perception, too.)

How are you doing?