[Linus]

Hello everyone,

I have depersonalisation for 15 years now. It started when I was 18. I only found out about the condition about two years ago when I read a newspaper article about it (none of the five or so psychiatrists I saw gave me a correct diagnosis). My current psychiatrist has confirmed the diagnosis.

I am here to give some advice. I hope it will help some people by first not making a terrible mistake and second to offer a treatment option.

- First of all, DO NOT take any kind of psychotropic medication (antidepressants, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics or whatever). They will mess you up, they do not cure your dp/dr and once you take them and realise this you will have to go through the hellish ordeal of withdrawal.

I am slowly tapering of escitalopram (from 30 mg to 1.8 mg now), recently I find I have less dissociation with every cut I make.

If you already are taking antidepressants go to survivingantidepressants.org and get help coming of these terrible drugs. Or go to benzobuddies if you take benzodiazepines. If you take both, first come of the antidepressant.

Second, therapywise, find a Somatic Experiencing therapist or a Sensorimotor Psychotherapist

(https://www.sensorimotorpsychotherapy.org/home/index.html). They are specialists in treating dissociative clients.

If you can not find one nearby, you can always go to this website: https://irenelyon.com

Lots of free info and if you wish an online course.

 

[Flavius]

I'm not against medication with severe state of Dp when you completely cut of from your self and cannot function. I think you can go without medication with mild depersonalization.

I was 7 months on AD Mitrazapin and started to tap slowly for one months. Nothing terrible happened. Now I'm on benzos but I'm very carefull about dosage.

 

[Broken]

Hmm very interesting. I have become more open minded to absolutely anything helping my DPD recently, and believe psychotherapy may hold a far larger ability to help me with this than I was willing to be honest about. I think part of my issue was it was easier to slip into theories that allowed me to continue playing the victim, such as vitamins, genetics or trauma's. I took the perspective that I was a victim to my biology or circumstances rather than an individual with the power to make positive changes in my life.

I think with that I am starting to slowly rebuild a sense of self. Starting simply with what my core virtues and beliefs are, and detailing why my life is worth something to me. It must be because I haven't killed myself, despite being very very depressed for many years. I would recommend reading and watching Jordan Peterson's videos and books, it is really helping to see that the only way out of this is to take responsibility and change the patterns in my life that are sustaining this god awful disorder. I will also be looking into Sensorimotor Psychotherapy on youtube and have a therapist not too far away. Have you had any sessions yourself?