Derealization and Self identity - Panic Disorders Message Board

Jennaca21 · 04-17-2003, 12:55 AM

I've been in a constant state of derealization for over 4 years now..It comes in goes, and varies in intensity, but for the most part I'm always in that detatched/dream like state to the point where I feel as tho I can differienate from reality..I'm so scared I'll never come out of it..I Just started on Celexa again for the second time, and am waiting (hoping) that it will eventually kick in and help alievate this terrifying symptom somewhat..Even when I'm not having a panick attack tho I'm still in it..I also have ''identity'' issues I guess you call them? Maybe its just correlated with the derealization, but sometimes I dont even seem familiar to me..Like I feel I should be talking/acting different, and am Just some unknown person trapped inside my brain..Does anyone eles expierience this? Plz help ~Jenna~

Jennaca21 · 04-17-2003, 01:13 AM

cant* is what I meant to say..Cant differienate from reality.

Graciecat · 04-17-2003, 10:13 AM

Jenna,

I've had that feeling of not being real.
It's almost like if I touched my arm my fingers would go right through it.
It's so hard to explain...it's like my body is in one room and my head is in another...that's the best way I can put it.
It is very scary, but you just have to tell yourself that it's all part of the panic disorder and no matter how strange it feels, it won't kill you.
Like I said in my other post, if you haven't already seen a Doctor, my best advice to you would be to make that your number one priority.

Jennaca21 · 04-17-2003, 10:20 AM

Hi Gracie..I have been in and out of the Dr's for the past 4 years, trying to find a medication that will work properly for me..I'm losing hope..Celexa, which I'm currently on worked ok for me the first time, and I only stopped taking it due to the fact that I moved out of the state, and didn't get a refill, or checkup with it..I was just put back on it last week..I know that it takes 4-6 weeks for any SSRI to kick in, but having to suffer each second and struggle to get thru the day is SO HARD..I fear that I'm schitzophrenic or something and that I'll never come out of this derealization state..is there ANYTHING that helps you during that period?

Graciecat · 04-17-2003, 03:44 PM

Jenna,

I hope your medication works for you this time too.
I tired Zoloft and Paxil, but there's something in both of them that I have an allergy to, so those are out.
I've taken Xanax off and on for almost 20 years.
I've never had any kind of problem with it what so ever, but I asked my Doctor about switching to something else, because of how addictive the Xanax is, but mainly because I have OCD and they tell my I'm slightly Bi-Polar...( as to the Bi-Polar thing...I didn't know you could be "slightly" Bi-Polar, I thought you either were or you weren't ) and the Xanax doesn't help with either of those things.

How do I deal with the not feeling real thing?
They are very scary, but thankfully that feeling doesn't seem to last very long for me.
What I do is take really slow deep breaths and that seems to take care of it.

On a side note...
Had a strange experience today.
I know that some people have a real problem with the lighting in stores, it's never bothered me before today.
We went to "Lowes", it's a home improvment store.
The lighting in there was SO bright, at first I was fine, then all of a sudden I got dizzy, sick to my stomach, the numb tingling feeling in my face.
My Husband told me I was as white as a sheet.
I remebered what I'd read on here about the lighting, sure enough I walked out of that store and within 10 minutes I was fine.
It's so strange the things that can trigger an attack!