depersonalization

[psychologystudent800]

I must be very sensitive to substances that alter consiousness.. 4 years ago I experienced some sort of delerium from drinking alcohol.. this was a traumatic event for me and I felt bad for several months. It affected the balance in my nervous system and I had some panic attacks after that. I was prescribed an anti-depressant..and I took it for a few months.. and then everything was ok.. Now 2 months ago someone gave me cake in which they had put marijuana.. When I felt that feeling I started to freak out and thought I was going crazy. I started hyperventilating.. and couldn't understand what was happening to me. I had hallucinations and time went so slow. My friend reassured me and said it was going to pass. But I was affraid of dying and I think I really experienced a severe trauma there. The days after that I still felt like I was dreaming and I had trouble with my short term memory. I felt really bad so I consulted my doctor, but I didn't tell him about this incident because I didn't want my parents to know. My doctor found out my bloodpressure was low and prescribed me pills for that.. and also that anti-depressant because he said it must have helped me last time. I took it for like 11 days and it made everything worse.. I had panic attacks but since I already knew the feeling I could handle them... I told my doctor I wasn't feeling okay with those pills.. I had bad dreams and felt like everything was worse..like my anxiety increased. So he told me I could stop them...since normally I have no trouble with my health. I stopped those pills 3 weeks ago now.. and for two weeks I felt better..I could study well.. But I experienced some side effects, like dizziness when standing up.. tiredness... but the worst side effect is this feeling I have when I look in the mirror.. It's like I recognize myself but I feel detached from myself.. some sort of depersonalization.  I remember last time it went away by itself.. but now my question is what can I do about it? I'm under a lot of stress too for now because i have exams.. ( I'm a psychology student :) ) It's been two months now since I had that experience.. and I wonder how long it will take for me to heal... I'm taking iniciative by doing sports and drinking lots of water.. I don't avoid social contact but since I have to study so much I still don't go out much..  I show just mild signs of depression... but I think this feeling I have was a natural reaction to that traumatic event... or maybe a side effect from the fluoxetine withdrawal... I just needed a Doctor's opinion on this... I hope U give me some good advice...

Best Regards

[Savas]

You aren't by chance a controlling or obsessive type personality, are you?
I've noticed people who take certain drugs that relax the body/mind who are tightly wound tend to have reactions similar to what you're describing.
I think it has to do with the concept of relaxing and letting go. For someone with serious control issues, that can feel very much like death...which can lead to panic attacks.

If you've got low blood pressure, the faint/dizziness is fairly typical. I have to watch anything I put in my body, and have trouble if the bloody barometric pressure fluctuates majorly.

[marcatj]

sweetheart, there are no doctor's on this forum...

the only feedback i can give you is, no one (your doctors etc.) is going to be able to help you properly unless you tell them the truth.  i am certain if you tell your doc that you don't want your parents to know, he/she won't tell them (altho i kinda think you should tell them too - you did not know the pot was in tha cake...)

honestly, just by them knowing what you are going through - the fear - i think will make you feel a helluva lot better.  honestly.. you won't feel so alone, nor as afraid.

and as importantly, again, you can't really get properly looked at/treated unless they have all the facts.  you know that... (and trust me, they've heard it all..)

btw - anti-depressants normally take a few weeks to "work."  it' not a couple day thing.. it takes a fe weeks to "normalize."  not that you were on the right one, but i just wanted to make sure you had that info.

i really encourage you tell tell them the truth.  then they can really look at what's going on, and give you the help you need.

you will feel so much better..

take care,
mj

[GoingToMakeIt]

It seems unusual for this to last so long. I don't know what to tell you. New friends? Did you know the cake was laced? If you didn't, that's not right. They violated you by not telling you.
     You should be able to tell your Dr things. Let them know that they are bound by patient client law.
     As for the depression, there are some 'natural' things that might help you. L-Tyrosine an amino acid helps some. With your background (physically) I would just try a little at first. SamE 400mg helps too. Again start slow.