I am trying to figure out if I have depersonalization/derealization. The first time I saw it was researching disorders online for personal interest. I ran across it and it was described as feeling out of place, apart from reality, things are blurry. Your descriptions were very good, but I was hoping maybe you could describe a little more detail about it? I have a history of having hysterical attacks and general anxiety including social anxiety disorder (actually especially that.) I have overcome all of this now and am very social, but I am still always stressed from life in general. I also have excessive dreaming.
But in my life in general I just always feel like things are kinda hazy and i'm not really living. I always figured it's because of excessive dreaming (so lack of good deep sleep) or caffeine or fatigue something. But those explanations never really worked. I mean I'm on break and relaxing and it's still like that. So do my symptoms match the disorder sort of, or if I had derealization I would definitely know what it was because it would be obvious?
Rob, just wanted to tell you that I've been going through the exact same derealization and visual issues for eight months now. You described it perfectly. My eyesight also moves in fragments and I become terrified by sudden separations from my surroundings. This goes beyond annoying; it's horrifying most times that it happens. I also experience strange muscle sensations, like there's something wrong with my nerves or spine. But it's the derealization and the feeling of blacking out that really challenges my resolve to believe that it's all just anxiety. Whenever it hits, I feel like something is neurologically wrong with me. But I've had every test under the sun. I'm completely healthy. I've promised myself that I'm going to acknowledge this problem as anxiety and accept it as a part of my life. I've never been a religious man, but I see this crisis in my life as a test. Despite how hard it is, I'm going to carry on. I'm only given one life and I'm not going to waste it rumminating on these symptoms. Best of luck to you. Send helpful tips my way if you come across any. I'll do the same.
Derealization is very frightening, I'm sorry you are having to deal with it. Many of us with anxiety/panic issues deal with this frequently. You are certainly not alone! It is very common and once you understand (and accept) that anxiety is causing it, it becomes a bit easier to get through it. I'm glad you are seeing a therapist, they will be able to help you work through this. Hopefully you will soon be back to work. I wish you the best on your recovery.
Peace
Greenlydia
My symptoms usually seem to be mostly a visual perceptual problem. It's not as if my vision its self is messed up, but rather the way my brain processes the scenery. Everything may seem to move in fragments rather than a smooth transition, and it takes longer than it should for me to adjust to what I am seeing. Consequently, in complex situations I become overwhelmed and have a derealization attack where I feel extreme terror and separation from reality...lights overwhelm me, if i close my eyes I can still see a light inside my head, nothing feels real around me but I don't exactly feel separated from my body.
When it hits it can be frightening. I used to get it a lot. Not these days. It more or less just stopped the more I accepted it for what it was. But trust me in the days when it used to hit I would want to be at home. Nearly got me knocked down once. I was crossing a road. Though a car was much further away than it really was. The car skidded to miss me. Then I snapped out of it. I used to find changes around me would trigger it off. A silent room suddenly turned noisey and so on. It was like things were much further away from me. Sounds were louder but more of an echo. Lights were brighter. I felt as if I was on the verge of passing out. You know just before you faint. But I would stay that way. In that state till I snapped out of it. It was enough to drive me indoors for years. I can't give you any magic cure. It suddenly stopped as quick as it suddenly started. But I'm with you on this one. Used to be like life was going by at 1,000 mph and I was only at 1mph. Frightening experience.