[agentcooper]

i very rarely start topics here...usually i just post on other peoples' topics but i've had an interesting morning and i thought it would be nice to write about it.

as some of you know, i have always said that my dp/dr isn't caused by anxiety. i sometimes get anxiety from extreme dp/dr but unlike most on here, it's never gone the other way around.

well, this morning my alarm went off at 6 a.m. and i hit the snooze button (like usual). it takes me about 1/2 an hour to get to school (i'm a junior high teacher) so i figured i had a little bit longer to sleep. i woke up at 8 a.m.('cause my alarm never went off)....10 minutes after school starts. i'm supposed to get to my school, at the latest, at 7:30. i threw on some clothes and started speeding to school. as you all can imagine, i was pretty panicky, speeding to school. the more panicked i felt, the worse my dr was getting. i finally realized, about half way to school, that my panic was doing me no good and i managed to calm myself. after i felt more calm, my dr went completely away. sooooo, i suppose now i can see the connection between anxiety and derealization...

anyhow, i thought it was an interesting example.

 

[mcsiegs]

Definitely an interesting example. I am glad you were able to calm yourself. Being late to anything always brings me a great deal of anxiety.

Let us know how the rest of the day went. I have a feeling that calming yourself was a precursor to a great, calm day.

 

[agentcooper]

well, my last class is almost over and so far my day is going better than my morning. i'm working for 16 hrs today, though, so it's probably not going to be the best day in the world. tonight should be fun, though. i'm going clubbing.

 

[Ben]

Work hard, play hard - eat greasy food after - that's my motto.

Good clubs in Salt Lake City? By clubs I guess you mean dance clubs - I want to go to Ibiza, Spain sometime (I hear there's some interesting clubs there). The trick, for me, would be to not get my drink spiked or I'll go off the deep end.

As you can imagine (an extension of a previous topic), no good clubs in Lincoln, Nebraska. Some fairly good bars - but I kind of tend to shy away from the college bars a bit as they're not really the scene I'm after (basically a lot of insecure people trying to get laid - yet doing very poorly at it). Clubs - for whatever reason - seem to be a lot more laid back, less aggression (if you wanna get laid, you usually do - so, I guess, no worries) - or maybe it's the ones I've been to (in California).

Here's an interesting question for those who socialize at places like that - do you tend to find your DP more heightened in one-on-one situations, or in large groups? For me, I do much better sitting down with a couple people and just talking and getting to know them....I guess I kind of got tired of the meat-market-love-me-please scene. I get frustrated if I can't talk to a girl.

 

[dakotajo]

Hi Cooper,

Sorry to hear you were late for school. I love the ol' snooze bar too. Im sure your students werent too disappointed..lol.

I think its very difficult for dp/dr to exist without a certain amount of anxiety. Ive been told by several doctors that a person can become "accustomed" to a low level baseline anxiety and not even realize it. Once that baseline is heightened(like your morning) its just enough to tip the scales and set this mechanism off.

I do believe your theory on the hormones connection. I just read an article on some new findings on a womans "cycle" and how it has a dramatic effect on brain chemistry. It sort of poked fun at the fact that woman now have an excuse for why they are so crabby during PMS.

Joe

 

[agentcooper]

hey ben, yes there are some good clubs in salt lake and some "meat-market-love-me-please" :lol: clubs as well. we generally just go to smaller bars and see local bands. i go dancing occationally 'cause i know a couple of deep house djs that play here quite often. that's always a good time.

i didn't live in ibiza but i lived on the mediterranian by valencia and i can tell you that spaniards know how to party!!!! they party all night and into the next day...you'll even see really old people (like 60-80 yrs old) out dancing at like 6 in the morning. fun!

hey joe, i'm positive my dp is hormone related. i may have a very low level baseline anxiety but it truely doesn't seem like i do. hmmm...dunno.

 

[kchendrix]

Well glad you made it to school, and the school teacher learned a lesson...cool! Anyway I know mine is anxiety induced, but the anxiety comes from the ocd thought ,, I'm not real,, or I am losing my sense of self, of some other scary repeating tormenting thought that I will no longer be me soon......

It is hard not to listen to those dumb thoughts... That gets the anxiety going and then that gets the dp/dr...

what a cycle... I have been trying to go out and do things, but I can't seem to break the thought pattern.

good luck

KC

 

[agentcooper]

Well glad you made it to school, and the school teacher learned a lesson...cool! Anyway I know mine is anxiety induced, but the anxiety comes from the ocd thought ,, I'm not real,, or I am losing my sense of self, of some other scary repeating tormenting thought that I will no longer be me soon......

It is hard not to listen to those dumb thoughts... That gets the anxiety going and then that gets the dp/dr...

what a cycle... I have been trying to go out and do things, but I can't seem to break the thought pattern.

good luck

KC

ha! i guess i did learn a lesson...just wake up when the alarm goes off!

don't get me wrong, i definately get anxiety when i'm feeling very dped but i just don't think i usually get anxiety unless i am already feeling dp/dr.

 

[kchendrix]

With your situation, dp/dr do you ever find yourself questioning your reality...or did you at one time.... I haven't had this but on and off for a couple of months... And like I mentioned in my earlier reply, Mine tends to start with thoughts, like Am I real, or will I loose reality, or My sense of self completely, etc... I think you get the idea.... I almost feel like I am alone questioning like that.... then I sit back and say ok I know I am real because my name is, I work at , my phone number is ..., my social security number is.... all these reassurances....

Just was wondering.

And thanks if you have time to respond

 

[agentcooper]

mine is more of a processing issue. its like i just can't process what i'm seeing and hearing...or even feeling. i feel like i'm going to go stark raving mad in the next minute or two. sometimes i don't even understand how i can control my actions and i get really scared that i'll do something i regret. i never go crazy and i've never done anything that i regretted but it's just terrifying, none the less...you know?

 

[kchendrix]

I think sometimes, this stuff happens to the best people to, the ones that don't deserve it, but maybe it puts us in the frame of mind to appreciate the somewhat normal times we do experience. You are obviously a good person and the kids you teach are lucky to have a sensitive person as a teacher. I know exactly what you mean... I so hope that one day we all can step back and say I don't know what that was but I am glad it is over!

I wish you all the best in what you are doing. My Daughter is currently teaching Autistic Children as she makes her way through school to become a teacher....

Thanks for getting back to me... !!!

 

[agentcooper]

thanks so much

i share the same hope. i have beat this before and i know i can beat it again.

i wish your daughter luck. teaching is a very rewarding profession (though not monetarily rewarding :? ).

 

[Ben]

AgentCooper,

My parents are both teachers: music teachers actually (go figure). It's very unfortunate teachers aren't paid more - it's the greatest profession; cheers to you for sticking with it. AND Cheers to you for supporting local bands - keep us alive (you mentioned you see a lot of local bands at your small bars).