There tends of be a LOT of confusion out there about Depersonalization, what causes it, and if recovery is possible. So let’s clear this up once and for all: Yes, Depersonalization recovery really IS possible. And here’s why, in 3 simple steps! 1. It’s Caused By Anxiety Firstly, so much of the fear about Depersonalization […]
How Depersonalization affects Sleep and Dream Patterns _____________________________ Depersonalization / Derealization (DPDR) doesn’t just affect your waking hours — it can also impact your sleep patterns and even your dreams. From nightmares that reflect daytime stress to the sensation of waking up feeling detached, DPDR’s effects on sleep can feel frightening but are always but […]
If you’ve been smoking weed and feel like you’re still high the next day, you may be experiencing a weed hangover. But what if it’s more than one day later and you still feel high? If it’s days or weeks after the weed and the feelings are still present, these lingering effects might not be a […]
Depersonalization recovery is a transformative journey. In this guide, we’ll explore the stages of recovery, what DPDR feels like, and how to reclaim your life! What Is Depersonalization? Depersonalization (and Derealization) refers to a feeling of disconnection from yourself and the world around you. It is generated by the body’s fight-or-flight response, and is part […]
Blank Mind? Why Your Brain Feels Empty and How to Fix It _____________________________
One of the most common questions people have about DP/DR is: What’s the difference between Depersonalization vs Derealization? Are they totally different symptoms? Can they happen separately from one another? And do they have to be treated separately too? First, let’s look at both symptoms: 1. Depersonalization is a feeling of disconnection from yourself. You […]
Why Does Depersonalization Cause Vision Problems? ________________________ Vision problems are some of the most commonly reported symptoms of Depersonalization / Derealization. I experienced it myself and I hear it from sufferers all the time: My eyesight is is ‘off’ I have blurry vision My vision is foggy / distorted I can see visual snow / […]
Depersonalization – The Questions ARE The Condition _____________________________ During my recovery from Depersonalization / Derealization, one of the single most important rules I discovered was this: In order to recover from DPDR, you absolutely MUST stop researching it. But sometimes that’s not as easy as it sounds… When the very first edition of The DP Manual […]
DPDR sufferers regularly experience problems with their memory. But is there REALLY a link between Derealization / Depersonalization and memory loss? ________________________ Of all the strange symptoms that accompany Depersonalization and Derealization, there is one that seems to be particularly common and extremely distressing: memory loss. I hear it from DPDR sufferers all the time: […]
Depersonalization: Three Reasons You’re NOT Going Crazy ________________________ It’s the question that everyone asks themselves when they first experience Depersonalization: Am I going crazy? One of the most common symptoms of Depersonalization is having constant racing thoughts, intense self-analysis and weird existential fears. Things that are usually perfectly normal and everyday can seem bizarre. When […]
Depersonalization: Existential Thoughts (And How To Stop Them!) One of the most disturbing aspects of Depersonalization / Derealization is the existential thoughts that come with it. I hear about these scary, intrusive thoughts from DPDR sufferers all the time. Here are some of the most common: Am I Dead? Am I in Purgatory? Am I […]
Taylor’s Depersonalization Recovery Story _____________________________
Six Reasons LSD Causes Depersonalization (….and the ONE reason you can recover!) _____________________________ While weed is the drug most commonly associated with triggering Depersonalization / Derealization disorder, psychedelics like LSD and mushrooms are a close second. Relative to weed, acid is a much less commonly used drug. But I regularly hear of and from people […]
Ethan’s Depersonalization Recovery Story _____________________________
Is Driving with Depersonalization Safe? _____________________________ One of the most consistently stressful things for sufferers of Depersonalization / Derealization to do is drive. Sufferers regularly report that the simple act of driving your car from one place to another can cause intense anxiety, resulting in increased depersonalization and derealization. Feelings of dissociation while driving can […]
Chris’s Depersonalization Recovery Story _____________________________
PROOF that Depersonalization Is NOT Dangerous _____________________________ Please Note: This article is NOT a recommendation to take drugs, illegal or otherwise. If you are suffering from drug-induced Depersonalization, please do NOT take more drugs to try and alleviate the condition. This could set back your recovery and possibly trigger another DPDR episode. _____________________________ The antidepressant […]
NFL Star Ryan Seymour’s Depersonalization Recovery Story _____________________________
Mo’s Depersonalization Recovery Story _____________________________
Can More Drugs Cure My Depersonalization? _____________________________ For those of us who have developed chronic Depersonalization / Depersonalization at some point in our lives, there’s often a long, frightening phase where you’re trying to desperately find out what’s wrong with you and how to deal with it. I experienced this myself and believe me — […]
Lately I’ve been coming across more and more stories about people worried that they have ‘Extreme Depersonalization / Derealization’. What is Extreme Depersonalization / Derealization? It’s the idea that there is some variant of DPDR that only a few people get, that is worse than most (and possibly all) other cases, and is either extremely […]
Let’s take a look at two of the symptoms that you don’t hear about too often when it comes to Derealization + Depersonalization: Fatigue & Muscle Pain. DPDR sufferers often tend to get caught up in the mental aspects of the condition. Which is totally understandable — the existential thoughts that often accompany it can […]
Is Depersonalization Permanent? No, Depersonalization is not permanent. Like other anxiety-spectrum conditions (like GAD and agoraphobia) it can persist if not addressed properly, but like those conditions it can be managed, reduced and stopped. It’s the most frightening aspect of developing a condition like DPDR — the possibility that it might last for the rest […]
DEPERSONALIZATION FEARS (and how to deal with them!) Why do so many Depersonalization / Derealization sufferers have so many fears in common? And why do people so often have one specific fear that can feel like the hardest to tackle? I recently received an email from a depersonalization / derealization sufferer who said that, while […]
Can Alcohol Cause Depersonalization? _____________________________ We already know that there is a direct link between drug use and Depersonalization — but what’s mentioned less is the possible link between Depersonalization and alcohol. DP sufferers often report feeling more Depersonalization after drinking. So can alcohol cause Depersonalization? Can it make it worse? Can it make it […]
What Causes Depersonalization Disorder? – The 3 Most Common Triggers _____________________________ What causes Depersonalization Disorder? In almost all cases, Depersonalization is caused by stress and trauma (barring a physical cause like a major head injury). The three most common triggers for this are: 1. Panic Attacks 2. Bad Drug Experiences 3. Accumulated Stresses So why […]
Note: I am not a medical professional and the information in this article is presented purely as advice. I am basing this advice on 15+ years of experience, both with taking medication for Depersonalization myself and dealing with thousands of DP sufferers who have (and have not) used them. However, the decision to take or […]
Depersonalization WILL NOT give you Multiple Personality Disorder_____________________________ For people who suffer with Depersonalization, the fear of developing Multiple Personality Disorder (now more commonly known as Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID) is incredibly common.
I recently came across this article in Elle magazine on Depersonalization Disorder.Although the article had originally appeared in 2007, it has lately been doing the rounds on DP forums and Twitter accounts.Mainly it seems to be about Sandy Gale and her terrible experience with the condition; she hasn’t worked in ten years despite having been […]