Help, anyone else got it?

Question

does any one else have derealilzation, and anxiety disorder, my lexapro has been upped to 20mg, but im so sick of the derealization its drivin me mad! each day seems like a blur to me, and the thought of getting up in the morning to go to school is such a struggle to me. i feel like ive forgetten my life. ive been to see a phycharist but she just upped my lexapro. does anyone else have derealization, please tell me. thankyou

Answer 1

I had it for a couple of months when I was mistreated in a psychiatric hospital (I did need to be there, I'm bipolar, but some of the untrained staff were very emotionally abusive when the nurses & docs weren't around). Those folks really retraumatized me (I have a severe sexual abuse history, and they got all that buried stuff going again). The weird dream world didn't go away until I started taking prozac, a tricky thing when you're bipolar. Then time did some healing. Also, I sent letters and met with the administrator of the hospital and my medical records backed up what I said, so I was able to take some control of the situation. It didn't help me at the time, but a few months later, it did. It drove me nuts, I felt like I was in a movie or a dream all the time. I don't know if it's like that for you, but I can see how miserable it can make a person. The derealization went away before the exaggerated startle reactions and other stuff (still have some of that, 2 years later.)

Here are my anxiety tips (and maybe they will help with derealization?)

Try turning the heat up in the house or dressing much more warmly. It is hard to feel anxiety when you are too warm. I was able to cut out ativan use altogether by using this trick. Saved me big $$ too, because pills cost way more than heat. Hot baths work too, and in a pinch, like at work/school, you can try running hot water over your hands.

Avoid caffeine like the plague. Also, some cold remedies can cause anxiety. Look for the "agitation in children" warning on the box. Adults can get problems too. (My psychiatrist can't take sudafed, for example).

Try meditation tapes like progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery. They may seem silly at first, but they work!! They help reduce stress, big time. I made my own by getting the "anxiety and phobia workbook" (library may have it) and reading the guided imageries in there into a free computer program called "audacity" (you can download it) and burned it onto CD. You can get a friend to read it, or digitally alter your voice with the program (drop the pitch, raise the pitch) if you can't stand to hear your own voice. Or, the library may have some of these tapes/cd's available, ready made.

Go out with friends, and if you don't have any, find a club to join and MAKE yourself go until you actually look forward to it. Isolation makes things worse. If nothing else, you get a good break from your symptoms.

Exercise at least 1/2 hour a day, and anytime you feel really hyper or depressed. Exercise is a great mood stabilizer and cuts down on anxiety a lot.

If your anxiety makes it hard for you to sleep, here are some good "sleep hygeine" tips so you can sleep better. Like go to bed and get up about the same time each day, even weekends. Don't use your bedroom to watch TV and read and use the computer and all that-just use the room as a bedroom normally would be used. Don't do stuff that pumps you up right before bed, like exercising and using the computer. You want to use that last hour to wind down. Take a bath? Make the bedroom really dark, cover up the clock radio, even so the light doesn't shine at you. If you live in the rackety city, use a noise generator (makes wave sounds and the like) to cover up the city sounds. Avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening.

Put a lot of colorful things around the house, happy type things, and keep the blinds open and let the sun in. Get yourself some flowers. Put on some pretty clothes. Make a list of things that make you happy. Here's some things on my list: A basket full of fluffy kittens, bread fresh from the oven, Fireworks popping on a warm summer evening, The first fireflies of the season, the scent of Jergen's cherry almond lotion, The crisp sound of a saltine cracker breaking, fresh sheets on the bed, etc. Use all your senses and read that list when you are having a hard time.

Work on time management if being overwhelmed and late for things and too much to do is getting to you. Cut back on other responsibilities temporarily so you can spend more restorative time with friends and family.

You got a significant other? (dunno if you are school-age or college age) Extra physical touch is very helpful. Most people in the US or UK are touch deprived, so hold hands more, hug more, give shoulder rubs, etc. A pet is good to cuddle with, too, if your home situation allows you to get one. (I'm an animal lover, don't get one if you can't commit to it for 15 years) If you already have a pet, fluffy or spot will love you for the extra pet jobs.

Good luck! I hope there are a couple suggestions there that you can try and that they will help. All the best to you!

Answer 2

I have anxiety disorder. I think it is different for everyone. I worry alot about all the what if's in life. "oh no, what if this happens, what if that happens, then I do this, and then someone else does that: then what will I do?

I also take 20 mg Lexapro. I've heard many ppl say that Lexapro doesn't help them. Its done a lot for me. Just not quite enough. But my shrink says the State (Maine) won't let me have any more if I pay for it myself. So I'm stuck.

Pysciatricts are big on Lexapro. Lots of them REFUSE to change it. I'm not sure why. If you don't think you are getting through, then find someone else if you can.

I just found my shirink a few months ago after being with the last one for over a year. I felt like he wasn't listening to me. I kept complaining about a med side effects and he just kept upping the dose.

Answer 3

I deal with Derealization, Depersionalization and the whole nine yards, but I'm Multiple (Dissociative Identity Disorder). I also have 3 or 4 different anxiety disorders, so I know how just living can drive you insane! If Lexapro isn't helping, TELL your doc, and if she won't listen, FIRE her and find a new one. I didn't know I could do that, but you can, and your mental health is the most PRICELESS thing in the world!

There are a couple of sites that may help, the first is a specific support "group", and the second is an explanation of the flavor of that type of Mentally Interesting. ;-)

Answer 4

You are either not on a high enough dosage of Lexapro or else the medication is not working for you. There are other (and I think better) medications than Lexapro for this problem.

I know it is not much help when someone just tells you to see your doctor, but that is the only way you will get the medication that you need.