Is it possible to lose you own self awareness while suffering from depression?

Question

I have ben suffering from depression and anxiety for the last 5 years, but lately i have become unaware of myself, like i cannot give myself a pep talk anymore, it feels as though i am going insane. I find it very to focus my mind on anything, and my retention and concentration levels are non existant. I have not been able to watch a movie or read a newspeper for over 2 years now. There is this feeling of total unreality in my life now for 24 hours a day, and i finding it very hard to continue, i am on medication for depression but do not fell it is doing me any good

Answer 1

sounds like you have dp

have a look through this then go see the doc

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depersonalisation

Answer 2

It is very possible! At least it is possible to feel like you are losing your own awareness of self. I have had depression for many years now, and recently it has really reared its ugly head. It was if I could see myself vanishing, my sense of self was leaving, my need to communicate with others was almost gone, I was fading.
The reason why is becaues your depression is not being treated properly by the medication you are currently taking. Please keep in mind that I generaly take the biomedical approach.
I asked my doctor what I could do and he put me on Wellbutrin Sr, as well as the Cipralex I was already taking.
My overall perseption has changed, its not even close to perfect but it's better ( though the adverse effects are really bugging me)
Go to your doctor and tell him how you feel.

Answer 3

I believe that it is possible to lose your self awareness as you suffer from depression. I have struggled with the same things myself. A big part of surviving depression is to set very small goals and reward yourself for them. Ex: brushed your teeth, smiled at yourself in the mirror, drank a glass of water. Each day add one more SMALL goal, plus the one you reached the day before. Slowly you will find your ground again and start to re-identify with who you are as you examine the types of goals you set for yourself.
Don't worry about all the things that you should do, or could do if you weren't suffering from depression. Just focus on one small goal the first day and find peace and comfort in the knowledge that you accomplished all that you had to for today. Tomorrow you can add one more thing and at the end of the week you will have pride in the things that you set out to accomplish and did!
Hang in there! I know how rough it is, I'm still struggling myself. But, this concept is really helping me to get a grip again!

Answer 4

I really understand where you are coming from with this having suffered with depression in the past. Try talking to your doctor to see whether your medication can be altered in either level or the make as sometimes the Anti-D's can cause a feeling of 'zombiness'.

Also are you able to have any counselling? If not I would suggest looking into it as it can sometimes help get to the root of the depression and start dealing with it - helping you to re-empower yourself.

Answer 5

Yes, inability to focus or remember information is a big part of depression. In fact, I find in my case that the "sadness" isn't so much the major issue as my inability to really think.

I'm not a big medication fan (I refuse to bother myself), but you might see if switching medications helps. The research claims that most people are helped on anti-depressants--IF they can find the right one.

Answer 6

First you need to talk to your doctor and maybe a counselor.It may be something other than depression.I would think that if you have been on the same medication for as long as you have and it is not doing anything for then your doctor should notice and take you off of them.Sometimes it's good to get a second opinion.I wish you well!!!

Answer 7

Talk with the dr about the meds.. the rest of what you say sounds very familiar to me, see if you can be refered to a mental health unit where you can talk with a dr or cousellor on regular basis if you dont already. I'm sure you've herd it before but i 've been there too find a dr or cousellor to talk to and it is easier to manage your depression. i lost my job because of depression, it seemed like the harder i tried to solve a problem or remember something the further away it got from me. Talk to someone dont go thru this alone

Answer 8

Maybe the depression tablets are partly to blame for you feeling this way? Try coming off them. By the sounds of it you won't feel any worse than you do now. You ARE strong. You don't need the tablets. Try going for long walks and concentrating on each step to calm your mind. Do yoga or meditation. Try some sort of art work even if you aren't any good at it. Talk to your close friends & family about it. But do go to the docs before coming off your tablets. I wish you the best of luck.

Answer 9

your feelings of losing your self awareness was experienced by me when i became severely depressed. I too could not smell the roses of every day life.. just remember that it is the little things that you should focus on to find your magic to deal with life and know all things are temporary, and focus on positive thoughts and God.. you will get through..hang in there.. think positive..

Answer 10

Awareness is eternal... & never changes.
You say you're unaware, but this is impossible because you must be aware to realize you're asleep at the wheel...

THE CURE for all the problems you're describing, is to recognize what you are... you are awareness.

That's your answer, I hope it helps.

Answer 11

sounds like you need your meds tweaked a bit...after taking the same ones for along time the tend not to work as well anymore.
Call your counselor & Doctor and let them know how you are feeling ...they may need to adjust you meds

Best of Luck :)