Depersonalization Disorder?!
Question: I have been doing a little research and I was shocked to find out that none of my counselors (I usually don't go for long, so I've had many) have ever brought this up, for I am thoroughly convinced this disorder is at the root of my 'issues' (which also include MDD & Social Phobia).
Does anyone have any personal experience with this? Anything that helps? I'm on Effexor, but dropped my last therapist a few months ago... don't really have a desire for another one right now.
(PLEASE, no Wikipedia or DSM regurgitation, as I work in in-patient psych and am pretty well-read.... thanks.)
Answers: I have been doing a little research and I was shocked to find out that none of my counselors (I usually don't go for long, so I've had many) have ever brought this up, for I am thoroughly convinced this disorder is at the root of my 'issues' (which also include MDD & Social Phobia).
Does anyone have any personal experience with this? Anything that helps? I'm on Effexor, but dropped my last therapist a few months ago... don't really have a desire for another one right now.
(PLEASE, no Wikipedia or DSM regurgitation, as I work in in-patient psych and am pretty well-read.... thanks.)
I cannot recall what MDD stands for at this time of 5:49am, Is it meant to be MPD (multiple PD)- as in DID (which I have been diagnosd, but doubt) you may have left a few things out, are you asking if you have Depersonalization DO(?)it is the heading, but then no more is it mentioned , such as your symptoms and why you feel they fit the criteria of D.D- I have experience with dissociative disorders such as depersonalization and derealization, which many in the field neglect to find. I was diagnosed incorrectly and they never knew what to do except drug me like a Bipolar with Panic and ADHD and PTSD. After over 10 years trial and error, I stumbled across my true illness by typing in my symptoms (which are feeling unreal, astral projection type sensations, foggy, loss of time, body seems foreign and people appear , unreal and robotic) these are related to extreme anxiety. many ppl with anxiety or panic do have these symptoms at times, if it is ALL the time, then it may be Depersonalization Disorder itself. It is very rare, how did you come to think you may have it? It all falls under the Dissociation umbrella. I have a Dissociative DO, they took FOREVER to discover and it was only then did it all make sense! I never did think I truly fit the Bipolar 100%.
They may not have brought it up because you say you never stay long and these type of things take a while in therapy to be detected due to rarity and the fact that the mental health field is a mess, HMO's etc...less time for patients etc.... I do not see how Depersonalization could be at the root of your "issues"- other than that you feel the social phobia is the result of feeling unreal and others seem fake and robots etc... I have a lot of experience (as was your request for a person w/ experience) what helps depends on many factors. Meds rarely help except to help with the anxiety etc... the treatment is long term cognitive-behavioral therapy for Dissociatives and depersonalization is a symptom of that. I would need to know more about what you are experiencing. Since you say you are well read and know the DSM- have you self diagnosed yourself? you feel out of reality sort of unreal? these experiences do occur in normal ppl from time to time- is it like everyday or once a week? What helps is unfortunately what you do not want. Therapy. Perhaps the counselors just never thought you had depersonalization so they never mentioned it. I hope you get well and find out the truth of your issues cause.
Many types of psychotherapy are available. Some focus on changing current behavior patterns and others focus on understanding past issues. See who may benefit from each.
Psychotherapy is a general term for a way of treating mental and emotional disorders by talking about your condition and related issues with a mental health professional. It's also known as talk therapy, counseling, psychosocial therapy or, simply, therapy.
Through psychotherapy sessions, you may:
Learn about the causes of your condition so you can better understand it.
Learn how to identify and change behaviors or thoughts that adversely affect your life.
Explore relationships and experiences.
Find better ways to cope and solve problems.
Learn to set realistic goals for your life.
Psychotherapy can help alleviate symptoms caused by mental illness, such as hopelessness and anger, so that you can regain a sense of happiness, enjoyment and control in your life.
Psychotherapy can be short-term, with just a couple of sessions, or it can involve many sessions over several years. It can take place in individual, couples, family or group sessions. Sometimes psychotherapy is combined with other types of treatment, such as medication.
Common types of psychotherapy include:
Art therapy
Art therapy, also called creative art therapy, uses the creative process to help people who might have difficulty expressing their thoughts and feelings. Creative arts can help you increase self-awareness, cope with symptoms and traumatic experiences, and foster positive changes. Creative art therapy includes music, dance and movement, drama, drawing, painting and even poetry.
Behavior therapy
Behavior therapy focuses on changing unwanted or unhealthy behaviors, typically using a system of rewards, reinforcements of positive behavior and desensitization. Desensitization is a process of confronting something that causes anxiety, fear or discomfort and overcoming those responses. If you have a fear of germs that triggers you to excessively wash your hands, for instance, you might be taught techniques to stop your excessive washing.
Cognitive therapy
Cognitive therapy is designed to help you identify and change distorted thought (cognitive) patterns that can lead to feelings and behaviors that are troublesome, self-defeating or self-destructive. It's based on the premise that how you interpret your experiences in life determines the way you feel and behave. If you have depression, for instance, you might see yourself and your experiences in negative ways, which worsens the symptoms of depression. Like behavior therapy, cognitive therapy focuses on your current problem, rather than addressing underlying or past issues or conflicts. Unlike behavior therapy, however, your experiences are an important part of the cognitive therapy process.
Cognitive-behavior therapy
Cognitive-behavior therapy combines features of both cognitive and behavior therapies to identify unhealthy, negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones. It's based on the idea that your own thoughts