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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Mind and Body feel detached
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
Mind and Body feel detached
by marie, Jan 21, 2000 12:00AM
My problem may seem strange and it's difficult to articulate so bear with me. To put it bluntly when I look in the mirror I don't recognize myself-it's like looking into the eyes of a stranger. My mind and body feel totally separate from each other and it frightens me to look at what I view as the 'stranger' in the mirror. It just doesn't seem like me. I only have these feelings when I look in the mirror so I have been avoiding doing so. I'm not sure if this is depersonalization in its purist form or if something else is going on. I am currently on 50mg of Luvox and was not feeling like this before I started taking it. In addition sometimes I feel removed from the activities I participate in like driving for example or sitting in a movie theatre. By removed I mean it's like I almost forget where I am and what I'm doing. I don't know what is going on so I hope you shed some light on my problem. Thank you in advance.
Doctor's Answer
by HFHS MD - RG, Jan 21, 2000 12:00AM
Depersonalization Disorder is a persistent experiences of feeling detached one's own mental process or body. Reality testing is intact that means you are not experiencing psychosis. And this causes clinically significant impairment in social or occupational functioning.Depersonalization Disorder is not due to any physiological effects of a substance.
However, you mentioned you only experienced the depersonalization after you started Luvox. Though Luvox is used for other psychiatric illnesses, you may experience an uncommon reaction to the medication.
You may want to re-consult your psychiatrist for a possible change of medication. Oftentimes, symptoms like what you experience when medications causing it are discontinued.
However, you mentioned you only experienced the depersonalization after you started Luvox. Though Luvox is used for other psychiatric illnesses, you may experience an uncommon reaction to the medication.
You may want to re-consult your psychiatrist for a possible change of medication. Oftentimes, symptoms like what you experience when medications causing it are discontinued.
