Derealization – Learning How To Cope
Recovery from derealization can’t be done instantly. It is a gradual process that may take a while to accomplish. I will provide you with some valuable strategies that will help you recover.
- Write a diary that contains your general mood and symptoms each day. If the healing process seems slow, you can reference your diary to see if your condition has improved.
- Occupy your conscious mind as often as you can. Do something that involves judgement and interactive thinking. Video games did it nicely for me.
- Do the things you used to do before you got derealized. It is important to understand that derealization does not cause any harm to you what so ever.
- Try acupuncture or accupressure mats. Acupuncture provided great relief for me when i was anxious.
- Learn to recognize your symptoms, but don’t learn to fear them. They are not dangerous in any way.
- Magnesium and Omega-3′s are excellent brain food and will hasten the healing process in my opinion.
- Don’t do any drugs. That includes alcohol and especially coffee and other caffeine containing beverages.
- Don’t over analyze yourself. I know you are eager to get well again, but over analyzing will not get you anywhere.
- Don’t look around and wonder if you are derealized, this is counter productive.
- I started getting better when i stopped lurking on health forums.
I have been extremely derealized since June 2008 (it’s now Jan 2010). It started about 2 months after I stopped taking paxil and hasn’t left me. Everyone assures me it will go away someday, but the weeks keep passing with no relief. I just joined a group to help me stop drinking, and I don’t drink coffee, etc. Sometimes I feel a tiny bit better, but still very derealized. Most of the time I feel like I am dreaming and I feel anxious and scared all the time. I wonder if my brain is permamently damaged. I just want this to go away- 19 months or so is a long time to be CONSTANTLY derealized and I feel at my wit’s end. I am looking for anything that might help. Thanks. Lex
This migh sound strange as an idea, and might be something familiar if you have ‘joined’ a group to stop drinking, but have you though about the Al-anon group? That is free, there are suggestions as to how the groups run and they run on particular guidelines. Unlike some other 12 step groups they often have more women and one can feel nurtured. As anxiety is usually at the bottom of derealisation and other unpleasant experiences this might be somewhere where you feel comfortable and where other people will have also experienced what you have. It is just an idea. I can’t help myself right at the moment but this is something that worked very well for me for years.