Posted by Tiss on January 23, 2004, at 9:33:48
In reply to Re: Depersonalization/Derealization » Craig, posted by matrad6781 on January 22, 2004, at 20:47:42
I had this terrible feeling from age 15 to my 30's after a horrible person slipped me some LSD (when I was 15)-that was in 1972. I was SO traumatized by this experience that I was in a mental hospital for 4 months when I was 15. It caused anticipatory anxiety for the next 20 years, everyday, 24/7. I started going to an excellent therapist ( in my 30's) that diagosed me with PTSD and I finally started getting better (took meds and had lots of therapy). On top of this, my mother was a bipolar alcoholic and I was sexually molested by my sister's creepy boyfriend (who later became her husband) from about age 12 or 13 to about 15 or 16 (hard to remember). So when you put all that together it's a bad mix. I began drinking at age 19 to stop those awful DP/DR feelings which of course was only temporary. I do think the DP/DR is associated with childhood neglect, and all kinds of abuse and other traumas. The good news is this: I am 47 , have had lots of good therapy and have found good medications for me- it is the benzos which I know is controversial but the SSRI's and other meds had too many side effects. I have not drank in 20 years. For all of you who are experiencing this totally anxiety producing unfortable feeling, I feel for you but THERE IS HOPE! Get with a good therapist and good psychiatrist to help find the RIGHT meds for you. You are NOT crazy but don't delay in getting help. I can honestly tell you that I've not experienced DP/DR in many, many years and I wouldn't have believed that I ever would be able to say that. I thought that I had to live this way FOREVER and that was intolerable to me. Another thing that might help is EMDR (rapid eye movement therapy) that is showing to prove helpful to many people with DP/DR. Good luck to all. My heart goes out to you. Again, DO NOT give up hope. Tiss
poster:Tiss
thread:8172
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040122/msgs/304585.html