Thank you both. For me, the derealization happened only occasionally, as episodes, between the ages of 8 and 26. By the time I was 26 I was a full-time mom and wife, working hard at maintaining my home and family, and was very tired (and battling anxiety). The episodes came more often. Eventually they never went away. So for the past 26 years (I'm 52) the derealization has been constant. Klonopin helped some for 2 years, but stopped helping after that and with all the many meds I've been on, nothing (including AP's) has ever touched the derealization.

I am an experienced meditator...been practicing meditation since I was seventeen. I really like what you posted, roads: 'Work with one sense at a time and work to get past that glass pane. For example, play music that has special meaning for you. Really hear the separate instruments, imagine being in the performance and sense each musician and each instrument. Hum or play bits of the music if you can. Do the same thing with a painting or photograph: try to physically connect to every experiential as an immediate reality for you.'

I figure the dereal. is either some kind of defense mechanism (dissociation), as you suggested roads, or it's literally a neurological issue of some sort (any testing I've had done has not conclusively proven anything, but then so little is really known about the brain & how it functions...frustrating).

The Jungian group sounds fascinating.

The only thing I can think of that I'm avoiding is finding out the root of the severe anxiety I struggle with. But then, it's a chicken-and-egg thing...does my brain just produce anxiety, or is something actually making me anxious (something that I can change)?

Very helpful feedback, roads and AlwaysChanging2. Thank you