[gnomebella]

I have been feeling for about three days now that i am not really attached to myself. It's as though I'm watching someone else's life. Everything feels very distant,. It's like it is not me feeling things, but someone else. Like I don't actually feel much of anything. Then I'll get these strong emotions of sadness or anger that feel like they could knock me over. Does anyone know what this might be? Is this normal? I posted this here because of a highly likely diagnosis of bipolar.

[glok]

Hello, gnomebella.

Bipolar Disorder, Coping with Bipolar and Manic Depression
In-Depth: Understanding Dissociative Disorders | Psych Central

[Curiosity77]

Sounds like dissociation or depersonalization.

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[usehername]

Originally Posted by Curiosity77

Sounds like dissociation or depersonalization.

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I agree. I feel like this when I take decongestants or cold meds.

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[gnomebella]

Does this happen to anyone else? Is it a part of the bipolar? I didn't see it on any of the articles for bipolar.

[pawn78]

ARe you on any medications? Some medications can cause those symptoms you describe. I don't think those symptoms are typical of bipolar.

[wildflowerchild25]

I feel like that sometimes, often in times of terrible depression. It's as if my brain short circuits. It takes a few days/weeks to reboot. This has happened to me since I was a little girl though. I believe it is part of a trauma response - the first time it happened to me was when my father died when I was ten. I remember feeling like I was floating outside of my body. Since then every time I became overwhelmed by emotion I would dissociate.

So I don't think it's necessarily bipolar but I understand what you mean.

[swheaton]

It happens to me. I am just coming out of a spell of it. For me it's the warning of a depressive episode and it needs to be dealt with.

[elevatedsoul]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depersonalization
This article is about the psychological symptom. For the diagnosis, see depersonalization disorder.

Depersonalization (or depersonalisation) is an anomaly of self-awareness. It consists of a feeling of watching oneself act, while having no control over a situation.[1] Subjects feel they have changed, and the world has become vague, dreamlike, less real, or lacking in significance. It can be a disturbing experience, since many feel that, indeed, they are living in a "dream". Chronic depersonalization refers to depersonalization disorder, which is classified by the DSM-IV as a dissociative disorder. Though degrees of depersonalization and derealization can happen to anyone who is subject to temporary anxiety/stress, chronic depersonalization is more related to individuals who have experienced a severe trauma or prolonged stress/anxiety. Depersonalization-derealization is the single most important symptom in the spectrum of dissociative disorders, including dissociative identity disorder and "dissociative disorder not otherwise specified" (DD-NOS). It is also a prominent symptom in some other non-dissociative disorders, such as anxiety disorders, clinical depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia,[2] borderline personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, migraine and sleep deprivation, and it can be a symptom of some types of neurological seizure. It can be considered desirable, such as in the use of recreational drugs.

I have lived with derealization for decades. There is a forum that you might find helpful: dpselfhelp.com

[gnomebella]

I'm on lamictal. 300 mg i'm als on 75 mg of trazodone. I see my Dr. hopefully soon.

[roads]

I've been Dx'd bipolar for six yrs & never had that experience of no emotional responses of my own until I was put on Trileptal as a mood-stabilizer. I didn't care much one way or another ... zombi-like. Not fun.

[optimistic_dolphin]

god, i have been getting those moments recently too. Going about the day without much awareness. Like I am dead and another is living my life. Then suddenly i feel intense emotions. so strong and overwhelming