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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Janelle on July 8, 2003, at 22:36:06
It feels like I'm finally clawing my way slowly out of a deep, severe and literally INCAPACITATING depression, and lately I've been feeling what I'd call an "unreality" type feeling. Sometimes I'll be doing something, like washing dishes, and suddenly feel like I'm not really doing it (washing the dishes). It's kind of like "doubting and checking" in OCD. I want to better describe it to my pdoc but don't know how. Does anyone know/understand what I'm referring to? How would you describe it? Is it derealization - what is that, anyway? Thanks.
Posted by ace on July 8, 2003, at 22:50:35
In reply to Is this BRAIN FOG, DEREALIZATION or something else, posted by Janelle on July 8, 2003, at 22:36:06
> It feels like I'm finally clawing my way slowly out of a deep, severe and literally INCAPACITATING depression, and lately I've been feeling what I'd call an "unreality" type feeling. Sometimes I'll be doing something, like washing dishes, and suddenly feel like I'm not really doing it (washing the dishes). It's kind of like "doubting and checking" in OCD. I want to better describe it to my pdoc but don't know how. Does anyone know/understand what I'm referring to? How would you describe it? Is it derealization - what is that, anyway? Thanks.
Hi Janelle!,
This would not exactly fit diagnostic criteria for depersonalization syndrome, but diagnostic criteria doesn't fit a lot of symptoms, and will be able to. I would say this is episodic depersonalization NOS, with possible concomitant OCD. It could well be a s/effect of a medicine, due to poor diet, due to inadequate sleep. Or it could be a clinical condition. Does it scare you immensly? In other words is their phobic anxiety associated with it. Or is it just 'wierd', but not painful or scary?
I can say I have had many strange experiences in life, and I can relate to feeling detached from my actions, body. Is that how you feel, detached from the person doing the dishes? Does that describe it well/poorly. If it is like that we are getting close to depersonalization but NOT derealization- by diagnostic criteria, which we have to work with a little bit.Let us know, and good luck to you, friend,
Ace.
Posted by bookgurl99 on July 8, 2003, at 23:21:41
In reply to Is this BRAIN FOG, DEREALIZATION or something else, posted by Janelle on July 8, 2003, at 22:36:06
I had symptoms like this when I was under a lot of stress and depressed several years ago. Suddenly I would become "aware" of myself; sometimes so much that I started crying due to the shock of how 'separated' from myself I had been.
I took Serzone for depression at the time, and it really seemed to help.
Posted by noa on July 9, 2003, at 8:22:44
In reply to Re: Is this BRAIN FOG, DEREALIZATION or something else, posted by bookgurl99 on July 8, 2003, at 23:21:41
Could it be from anxiety? I know that when I come out of bad, long episodes of depression, I develop anxiety. Also, I imagine it could be from a medication, but I don't know any specifics.
Posted by daizy on July 9, 2003, at 9:32:57
In reply to Is this BRAIN FOG, DEREALIZATION or something else, posted by Janelle on July 8, 2003, at 22:36:06
Thats eactly how I felt a few months ago. I felt like my anxiety&depression was getting better, yet I felt unreal like you do. I think its a stage you go to getting better, For me it was, the feeling lasted about two months, but as you get used to it, it goes away. Good Luck
Posted by Edgefield on July 9, 2003, at 15:31:09
In reply to Is this BRAIN FOG, DEREALIZATION or something else, posted by Janelle on July 8, 2003, at 22:36:06
Janelle are you taking anything that helps with that derealization?
I know the feeling that you are talking about. I feel unreal, spacey, like my vision isn't correct. I even went and had my eyes checked and purchased new glasses, but that wasn't the problem. I keep hearing that the less I think about this derealization the sooner it will go away. So I try to keep myself busy which does help, but I'm still aware of the feeling.
I read here tha Lamictal is good for this anxiety symptom and I'm waiting to hear back from my pdoc to get more information.
Please let me know if you find something that works. :)
Edgefield
Posted by Edgefield on July 9, 2003, at 15:34:04
In reply to Re: Is this BRAIN FOG, DEREALIZATION or something else, posted by bookgurl99 on July 8, 2003, at 23:21:41
Did the Serzone totally get rid of the derealization? Hmmmm!!!
Edgefield
Posted by Edgefield on July 9, 2003, at 15:36:15
In reply to Re: Is this BRAIN FOG, DEREALIZATION or something else » Janelle, posted by daizy on July 9, 2003, at 9:32:57
May I ask what you took to help this feel subside? I'm on Wellbutrin and Ativan and they do help...but if there is something else that I need to try I'm willing to discuss that with my pdoc.
Thanks for the information.
Edgefield
Posted by daizy on July 10, 2003, at 7:57:09
In reply to Re: Is this BRAIN FOG, DEREALIZATION or something else » daizy, posted by Edgefield on July 9, 2003, at 15:36:15
I wasnt taking anything specifically for that, just my TCA for anxiety, it too a long time to work, I think the feelings just went away as I becamse less anxious, however i do still get them from time to time. I heard Klonopin was good for DEREALIZATION? good luck
> May I ask what you took to help this feel subside? I'm on Wellbutrin and Ativan and they do help...but if there is something else that I need to try I'm willing to discuss that with my pdoc.
>
> Thanks for the information.
>
> Edgefield
Posted by Janelle on July 10, 2003, at 21:54:04
In reply to Re: Is this BRAIN FOG, DEREALIZATION or something else, posted by bookgurl99 on July 8, 2003, at 23:21:41
... a combination of anxiety (whenever I *emerge* from a deep long depression, boom anxiety pops back up; while I'm depressed NOTHING bothers me I'm 100% apathetic) and OCD tendencies that I know I have.
Thanks EVERYONE for your input!
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