link to pictures of a DP brain VS "normal" brain
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That study has actually been around for a while (circa 2000). I had a PET done, well actually its less expensive cousin SPECT, and it showed similair things, as well as a pattern eerily similar to patients with Temporal Lobe Epilespy and Parietal Lobe Epilepsy. Really, I think people with hardcore, non-drug induced (and some with drug-induced) DP have a simple sub-clinical seizure problem. This is why the only meds to touch it are anticonvulsants, like Lamictal and Klonopin. The symptoms arent just similar with DP and TLE - they are the same. I imagine Janine will say that the brain findings are simply a product of our thoughts and actions. And in many cases, that could be true. Think about a certain thing, a certain part of the brain lights up. But in true brain pathology, you cant help BUT think about a certain thing, because that part of the brain is always lit up whether you want it to be or not. You'll be thinking existential thoughts about whether you exist, and you cant help it. In those cases you can have therapy until Freud's second coming, but you will always be using a flawed canvass. Certain personality traits and brain diseases are inherited. Chicken or egg? Nature or Nurture? I'll say that the brain scans came first and in primary DP, its the nature and not the nurture.
Peace
Homeskooled
Peace
Homeskooled
G
Guest
·I think what it means is not that the parts of our brain are misshapen, lead to other parts of the brain in wrong ways.... I think those colors are there for brain activity.... meaning a part of our brain is just being used too much compared to other people's. I think i read its the metabolic rate of the brain cells (basicly meaning certain areas are more "turned on" than other peoples, and certain areas are more turned off)
Probably just meaning were psychologically damaged, not that our brains are physically damaged
Probably just meaning were psychologically damaged, not that our brains are physically damaged
G
Guest
·Funny, i've just arrived at the university of miami. And I feel as if dp/dr are what I've been suffering from for 5+ years now, maybe i'll feel comfortable going to the counseling center now. Feeling like shit as always =/
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It IS an error in metabolism. Whether that is an inborn, genetic trait or simply that you have poor voluntary thought patterns is the question. Conscious thought, however, doesnt actually manifest in the parietal area of the brain, as on the scans. Our perceptions of our bodies (which isnt under our control) as well as muscle control and our "body map" occur in the parietal lobe. This probably explains the odd sensation of not existing or not having a body that some people with DP have.
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Homeskooled
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Homeskooled
I'm very much with Homeskooled on this one, particularly the last sentence.Homeskooled said:
Also, I emphasize that this does not necessarily mean our situation is "hopeless". I have had DP/DR for 30+ years. Had it on and off in my childhood. I am also anxious and have some mood problems.
There are two research institutes dedicated to DP Research -- Mt. Sinai in NYC and the IoP in London. That research has been going on for years. But we also can't forget research into all psychiatric and neurological disorders that have truly begun to take off, also a far greater understanding of genetics than even 10 years ago. The 1990s was "The Decade of the Brain" -- sort of a kick-off for things to come.
If you really want to understand this business about body perception, I highly recommend this book by neuropsychiatrist, V.S. Ramachandran:
Phantoms In The Brain
It is not difficult to read. It is about Dr. R's extensive research into the experience of those with phantom limbs -- that is individuals who have lost a limb and still experience its presense/sensations/pain, or even those born without a limb who yet still feel the presense of that limb.
Our brains have created a "map" of our bodies, our brains like/need/are evolved to "fill in the gaps." The opposite of that would be the lack of that ability, an inability to perceive the SELF properly and yet be aware that this is not normal.
I also believe this comes in so many different forms -- as reflected on the Board here -- but that there is likely to be some common pathway, glitch, malfunction, etc.
And DP/DR comes in varying degrees here. Some chronic, some episodic. Some say their anxiety is worse than their DP/DR. For me my most debilitating symptoms are my DP/DR and always have been. Some have absolutely incapacitating DP, etc.
Some dream in DP, some don't. Some are riddled with anxiety, some aren't. Some of us here are depressed, some aren't.
Bottom line, for a good many here there are many treatment options, and I believe in the future there will be many more.
If we understand the complexity of any illness in the human body, we must understand a brain that isn't functioning properly is extremely difficult to understand -- we can't get in and poke around at everyone's brain in the way we can operate on any other part of the body. It is a very difficult task to deal with. Yet, I have come to believe that DP/DR -- the symptoms are as HS says some sort of metabolic glitch, or it could be that in some of us we have minor changes in brain morphology.
I highly suggest reading the Ramachandran book. It is wonderful in helping one understand how the brain works. Also Ramachandran's book, A Brief Tour of Human Consciousness briefly discusses DP/DR. Also, look at the articles posted, books mentioned here -- check out the bibliographies. There is a massive amount of research going on. The bibliographies will lead you to more and more articles.
See the Links Section to the IoP. There is a whole list of articles on DP there.
And again, this doesn't mean our cases are "hopeless". Therapy, CBT, medications, etc. are all helpful in helping us cope with this, and there are many stories where DP/DR has been eliminated.
Best,
D
Song in my head at this moment, go figure,
"I won't give up if you don't give up...
Oh I am calling all you angels..."
I'm fairly surprised that they've had these pet/spect scans for over 5 years now, and no effective treatment, for the masses. Especially considering this was done with Daphne Simeon.
Second is a question. Could DP/DR have different levels or types? Such as diabetes?
I would venture a guess of yes, as many illnesses are. Which leads me to wonder that for the recovered, i.e Janine, perhaps like the lesser of the two diabetes (not to diminish what she went through for 20 years), hers could be beat w/ psychotherapy and various methods of focusing outwords and what not (diabetes: good diet, exercise). But for the more seriuos types, we/they might have to take insulin, i.e meds.
thoughts?
Second is a question. Could DP/DR have different levels or types? Such as diabetes?
I would venture a guess of yes, as many illnesses are. Which leads me to wonder that for the recovered, i.e Janine, perhaps like the lesser of the two diabetes (not to diminish what she went through for 20 years), hers could be beat w/ psychotherapy and various methods of focusing outwords and what not (diabetes: good diet, exercise). But for the more seriuos types, we/they might have to take insulin, i.e meds.
thoughts?
G
Guest
·i had a EEG & a Catscan done and all doctors said my brain looked perfectly normal, so I don't get this " DP BRAIN" bullshit
G
Guest
·i don't understand????????
Maybe this* just proves that I should never, ever be allowed to become a brain surgeon, but if we know that we all have too much activity in the such and such an area of the whatever lobe, can't we just,... Hell, I don't know, shunt off some of the blood flow to those areas or something to slow them down to normal? Makes sense to me. Now... who'll volunteer to go first?
*Along with the fact that my GPA pretty much sucked.
*Along with the fact that my GPA pretty much sucked.
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