[peacedove]

I just freaked out and threw my book across the room. I guess I thought that would snap me out of my panic. It didn't. And now my boyfriend must really think I'm strange. At least I didn't scream like I have in the past.

This sucks. How can I prevent this? I mean I was reading and then the unreality just enveloped me. My therapist says my thoughts create the DP. Well that just doesn't seem to be the case. It just comes out of nowhere and there's no stopping it.

Does anyone else's DP peak into panic attacks? How do you deal with it?

I hope I don't sound too crazy.

 

[Sojourner]

Heck, I thought you were going to say you threw a book at your boyfriend.

If what you did worked for you, keep doing the same thing, but you may want to get a toy air-filled basketball thingy and one of those little hoops you can attach to the wall that come with little suction cups and shoot some hoops next time!

Honestly. Men chase a little white ball for miles and miles on a golf course and flip out when we throw a book -- and not even AT them.

Gimme a break. :lol:

But seriously, as to your question, I think it's a good sign that you have the panic, because it's from the other end of the feeling spectrum. If DP is 0, then panic is 10. But you want something between them. If you are able to experience panic (I think I'm trying to say this), then that PROVES that you are not STUCK in DP.

Do you know what I am trying to say?

 

[Lilymoonchild]

Honestly, the best way for me to get out of a panic attack is to do something else with myself. I know, easier said than done. But if you can really focus on something else (it helps a lot to have someone else to talk to, but NOT about how you're feeling), sometimes the anxiety lessens. Sometimes deep breathing helps, but not always. Just reminding myself that it's a chemical outburst that will subside in a while helps a lot. That's all I got. Hope that helps!

 

[peacedove]

Thanks for the replies. Sojourner... I know what you are trying to say. My therapist says the same thing. Basically if you are having a feeling you can't be DPd... but this doesn't make sense to me. Cuz during these attacks my DP and my fear are both at 10. Seems that way anyway.

 

[Lilymoonchild]

You know, one time I called my therapists office because I was wanting to cut myself (a rare sensation for me, and not one I give in to) and I told him I was dissociating. He said you're only dissociating when you are actually cutting. Which I think is a load of bs. How does he know when I'm dissociating, and why do I have to be cutting myself to do it? I don't believe you can't be dp'd when you're having a feeling. Either that, or fear is more than a feeling, which I've also thought....

 

[Sojourner]

Thanks for the replies. Sojourner... I know what you are trying to say. My therapist says the same thing. Basically if you are having a feeling you can't be DPd... but this doesn't make sense to me. Cuz during these attacks my DP and my fear are both at 10. Seems that way anyway.

You are now using a different spectrum than the feeling :arrow: unfeeling spectrum. You're using the normal :arrow: DP and/or panic spectrum. That's a measure of a different dimension of your experience.

I wonder if using spectrums could help people describe their experience better than words do.

Maybe we could develop a set of spectrums that people could use to indicate to doctors, therapists, and other interested parties the exact nature of their feelings, sensations, perceptions, and emotions.

Maybe:

• feeling :arrow: unfeeling spectrum
  normal :arrow: DP and/or panic spectrum
  euphoria :arrow: despair spectrum
  optimistic :arrow: pessimistic spectrum
  angry :arrow: forgiving spectrum
  peaceful :arrow: freaked-out spectrum