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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Severe derealization
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
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.
Severe derealization
by hey_man_over_here, Jun 30, 2008 01:34PM
Hi, I have suffered from continuious moderate to severe derealization for 3 years. I cannot think of any event which would have triggered it, unless you count my past pot use. It is very debilitating, I have no life and I am very agorophobic due to unpredictible episodes where it escalates into what seem like seizures to me (feeling of the opposite of deja vu, much intensified derealization, and UNSPEAKABLE sense of impending doom... lasting 10 to 30 seconds).
Another way to describe it is it feels exactly like I am breathing nitrous oxide in the dentist chair. In fact, I thought of this analogy because when I had a cavity filled, I immediately blacked out when I was given the gas, whereas before I had these symptoms I used the stuff just fine. The dental staff was surprised that happened to me because it was set on the lowest setting. My doctor cannot think of a medical reason for this.
Basically I'm asking you, I know that therapy sessions are important, but I'm wondering specifically are there any drugs which are good for this? My family doc. gave me some Klonopin to try, but I am a little afraid of it. What can I take regularly to improve my symptoms? I am not really depressed or anxious except due the the "nitrous oxide" feeling.
Thank you
Another way to describe it is it feels exactly like I am breathing nitrous oxide in the dentist chair. In fact, I thought of this analogy because when I had a cavity filled, I immediately blacked out when I was given the gas, whereas before I had these symptoms I used the stuff just fine. The dental staff was surprised that happened to me because it was set on the lowest setting. My doctor cannot think of a medical reason for this.
Basically I'm asking you, I know that therapy sessions are important, but I'm wondering specifically are there any drugs which are good for this? My family doc. gave me some Klonopin to try, but I am a little afraid of it. What can I take regularly to improve my symptoms? I am not really depressed or anxious except due the the "nitrous oxide" feeling.
Thank you
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Jun 30, 2008 07:24PM
, Jun 30, 2008 07:24PM
To: hey man...
I believe that psychotherapy is your best bet in terms of mastering this experience, and the intense short lived panic feelings, and the agoraphobia. But if you were to try any medication, the first one to try would be klonopin. If that not work, you should see a psychopharmacologist who can try the other ones.
