[Guest]

Is derealization/depersonalization dangerous?!?! Like can it turn into some other mental illness or phsycially harm you??

Thanks for any replies!

 

[Da'Burgh]

Nope!

 

[LOSTONE]

Like can it turn into some other mental illness or phsycially harm you??

I'm not sure, but I have had dp/dr for 8 yrs and it hasn't changed much for me. It has caused me a lot of depression and paranoia though.
I think if you get any other mental illness because of dp/dr, it would just be as a side effect.

Is derealization/depersonalization dangerous?!?!

I think that depends what you consider danger to be.
As far as I am conserned it is very dangerous, just because of the potential it has to ruin your life. But I don't think that dp/dr can in anyway actually control your actions. Also I think that dp/dr is very different for each individual.

 

[Guest]

Anyone else???

Thanks
-Angela :lol:

 

[Sojourner]

If you want state-of-the-art understanding, consult a professional who has the experience and the resources to synthesize for you the latest thinking on the subject. Google can often be helpful in this regard. You can look for the prominent health institutions in your country and their work on the subject.

Anything that makes you feel "unwell," if left alone to fester chronically over time can injure you long-term. "Stress" that we feel is the BODY speaking to us, so yes, stress can injure and harm permanently if left unchecked.

 

[Guest]

id say it can be dangerous, because suicide would be easy from the level of depression it can cause.

 

[Guest]

Hi.

I do go to a counselor and he said it is a side effect of the panic disorder and depression. I have also been to the emergency room and they said it is caused by severe depression. I am in the process of doing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. They don't seem overly concerned about it at this point.

Thanks

 

[Guest]

Anyone else??

Thanks

 

[Da'Burgh]

When you ask is it dangerous, I'm guessing you mean "Is it gonna make you go crazy?" "Is it physically harming me?" "Is it a progressive organic illness?"

No, no, no.

It's from anxiety. It's from trauma. It's not some brain disease or anything. Take care of the anxiety or w/e is bothering you, (mainly fear) and the DP cannot survive.

That's my theory and I'm stickin' to it.

 

[Guest]

Thanks everyone for your replies.
If anyone else has any more info I would appreciate it!

 

[Sojourner]

I do go to a counselor and he said it is a side effect of the panic disorder and depression. I have also been to the emergency room and they said it is caused by severe depression. I am in the process of doing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. They don't seem overly concerned about it at this point.

There's a huge amount of information on the Internet available. What are you specifically looking for? Have you searched for it in Google, for example?

Do you not believe what your counselor and the doctors at the ER have told you?

 

[LOSTONE]

Missangela I just remembered a book I read about anxiety I can't remember the name but the book did say that anxiety can kill you if you let it get out of control. I remember reading an account about a guy that was almost dead and when the doctor told him he was going to die he got completly better. That guy said that he got better because once he knew he would die, he had nothing to worry about anymore. Once his worry was gone, his anxiety dissappeared and then his physical illness went away. I think that the moral to the story is that if you worry a lot you will cause yourself to become sick than you worry about being sick and just make matters worse.

Dp/dr is just a feeling mostly but it is how you react to this feeling that can cause you harm. Try not to worry so much and you should be ok.

Missangela I think you should tell us your symptoms, if you want to.
This way we can better understand what you might have.

 

[LOSTONE]

I found the book finally, it is called Dale Carnegie's lifetime plan for success. Dale Carnegie is the author obviously. This is one of the best secular books I have ever read. I think everyone on this board should have a copy.

 

[Guest]

During a panic attack I get...

numbness
fast heart rate
trembling
feel like i am gonna go crazy
feel disconnected
throat feels tight

And sometimes even when I am not having an attack I feel disconnected. Like nothing is real. Then i start to worry I am losing my mind and then a panic attack sets in. Its like a cycle.

I am currently taking Lexapro 5 MG and Lopressor 25 MG twice a day. I am getting ready to go off of the Lexapro to try another AD.

I have had the following tests done:
4 EKGs
24 hour Holter Monitor
Echocardiogram
CT Scan of my head
CBC Blood tests
Eltrolyte Blood Tests
Thyroid Blood Tests
Sugar Blood Tests

........................................

Thanks

 

[Sojourner]

Angela, If you don't trust your current therapist and doctor, find people you can trust.

 

[LOSTONE]

Angela if you get bad panic attacks you should get a copy of that book at the library. Half of the book is subtitled how to stop worrying and start living.

Don't worry so much about the dp/dr or the feeling of being disconnected,
you won't go crazy from this.

The next time you have an attack just try to meditate on your breathing and try to forget whatever is bothering you. I do this a lot and it always helps.

 

[Universal]

As far as I know DP/DR is not dangerous. Mind you I have a chemical imbalance in the brain, but the DP/DR itself is not dangerous. All that's dangerous are potential reactions you might have after being DP'd. ( like suicide or cutting yourself)

 

[Guest]

Thanks everyone!

I will look into getting a copy of the book. It sounds like it may be helpful.

 

[rainboteers]

Dp/dr is just a feeling mostly but it is how you react to this feeling that can cause you harm.

This is so true, reminds me of my favoirte quote, "The secret of life is not what happens to you, but what you do with what happens to you.

There is nothing I know of that we can do right now to stop the dp/r feeling, we have no control over that, but we can control how we react to it, and that fact helps me so much. I can let this ruin my life, or I can make the best of things. It's so hard to go through this but it feels good to realize that I still have some choices, and MissAngela so do you. :wink:

 

[Guest]

Thanks guys, you have been a big help!!!