[dragonfly2]

Hello everyone -

I was wondering if anyone here suffers from depersonalization or derealization. I had a very traumatic accident when I was three years old and believe that's when the dissociations began. They have progressed and worsened as I have grown. I am now 40 and on disability for both bipolar disorder and dissociation.

I've read some studies on using the drug naltrexone to help treat the DP/DR symptoms and my doctor has agreed to try it. I'm hoping it helps.

[constantdreamer]

I too experienced trauma when I was little, I believe I dp-ed then and went in and out of it for many years whenever I needed it, my brain made me kinda disappear... Then when I was 12, in April actually, so this is typically a bad month for me... I think my brain decided that it had had enough, and decided to stay dp-ed... I've tried many things, not that med though... I have some hope, now again... I've started EMDR, And I hope it helps... It's supposed to heal the trauma so I don't need the dp to protect me anymore... Let me kniw how the med works for you, okay? I hope it does...

[dragonfly2]

Thanks constantdreamer - I hope you find some relief with the EMDR. I had it almost 10 years ago and it did help with the anxiety I was struggling with. I haven't tried it as a general treatment for the dissociation, though...that's an interesting idea I'll have to explore. Lots of things trigger the episodes, so it might be hard for me to pinpoint what to focus on in a session. I'm slowly titrating up on the naltrexone dosage, but I'll let you know how it goes. I'd love to hear how the EMDR works for you.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by dragonfly2

Hello everyone -

I was wondering if anyone here suffers from depersonalization or derealization. I had a very traumatic accident when I was three years old and believe that's when the dissociations began. They have progressed and worsened as I have grown. I am now 40 and on disability for both bipolar disorder and dissociation.

I've read some studies on using the drug naltrexone to help treat the DP/DR symptoms and my doctor has agreed to try it. I'm hoping it helps.

I never tried that medications but some antidepressants/anti-anxiety meds do help me with my dissociation problems. It doesnt help as in stopping the disociation.

the way it works - The meds help me to feel less anxiety, less anxiety for me means less depersonalization from things that trigger my anxiety.

There is no medication to combat dissociating per se. but dissociation can be triggered by trauma, depression, anxiety and medication so doctors treat those things to alleviate dissociation problems.

here in the USA naltrexone is primarily used to treat drug and alcohol abuse/dependancy. the way it works is it stops the cravings for alcohol and drugs. should the person choose to use drugs and alcohol it makes them extremely sick so they dont want to drink or use drugs.

this medication isnt used alone because its only used for a short time, therefore people on this medication in the usa also go through therapy / classes to help them better manage their problems.

for some people this drug like any other medication does cause the same symptoms of depersonalization such as numbness, disconnection to the world around them, feeling hung over, slow motioned, like the world is not real.

[Can't Stop Crying]

I don't have DID, but do dissociate frequently. I have not tried any meds for that specifically, more to target the depression/anxiety. I use therapy to try to identify what is triggering the recently more frequent occurrence of these episodes. Let me know what you find out....dissociation is disturbing to say the least

[Jewels]

(((((cantstopcrying)))))

we all dissociate to some degree or another...we dissociate when we daydream, or look out the classroom window and suddenly find ourselves floating away on the clouds, or when we are driving and all of a sudden and find ourselves miles from where we were last cognizant of being...but i hear you hon, being dissociated is very unsettling...as you say, disturbing to say the least...i understand that all too well...

i DO have DID...dissociate a lot during the day, and at night, but find that coming out of a nightmare or extremely difficult dream state all i want to do is hide from the memories that it has brought forward...

sometimes i have people tell me that i have said such and such and I tell them that I have not said anything like that and they look at me like I am one marble short or something...but I don't remember it...which is really bad...so I try really hard to stay to myself and not go out to where I am not put in a position that I might regret later...so, I am working more on being present during times when I go out, which is difficult when I have those inside that like to go out and be noticed...

if i had my way, i would stay inside and never go out and about to be around people...but I sorta have to because I have my T appointment and other dr appts, so I have to be me when I go out...when Im in the house, it's anyone's guess...

what i guess im saying is dont be so tense about dissociating...you are who you are and there is a reason you dissociate...just go with it...you will understand it when you are ready to see it...

Jewels

[anderson]

You are not alone, we all have learned to cope with life and all the curve balls that it has given us. It just takes time and self acceptance to allow healing and growth to take place.

[dragonfly2]

amandalouise wrote:

There is no medication to combat dissociating per se. but dissociation can be triggered by trauma, depression, anxiety and medication so doctors treat those things to alleviate dissociation problems.

here in the USA naltrexone is primarily used to treat drug and alcohol abuse/dependancy. the way it works is it stops the cravings for alcohol and drugs. should the person choose to use drugs and alcohol it makes them extremely sick so they dont want to drink or use drugs.

____________________________________________________

Yes, I am aware of the "on-label" use for naltrexone. It is an opiate antagonist, and is also used to combat alcohol addiction. It has also been studied specifically to combat DP and DR in people without drug addiction.

In many people, the DP/DR is caused by anxiety. In my case, it's often the DP/DR that comes first, causing the anxiety. I have a PRN benzodiazepine that I use once the anxiety sets in, but from the studies that have been done, my doctor and I are hopeful that the DP/DR won't happen in the first place, therefore eliminating the anxiety altogether.

Jewels wrote:

we all dissociate to some degree or another...we dissociate when we daydream, or look out the classroom window and suddenly find ourselves floating away on the clouds, or when we are driving and all of a sudden and find ourselves miles from where we were last cognizant of being...

If this were just a mild sort of brain fog or perception distortion I experienced, I could work through it, and I do try to use grounding techniques when I feel it coming on. I've spent years robotically functioning through the episodes, raising a family and up until recently, holding down a job. The problem is that it has progressed to where, in the bad episodes, my mind completely shuts down and I am unable to speak, move or even hear very clearly. So, I'm hoping the new med will help to alleviate it.

Thanks for everyone's input.

[constantdreamer]

If this were just a mild sort of brain fog or perception distortion I experienced, I could work through it, and I do try to use grounding techniques when I feel it coming on. I've spent years robotically functioning through the episodes, raising a family and up until recently, holding down a job. The problem is that it has progressed to where, in the bad episodes, my mind completely shuts down and I am unable to speak, move or even hear very clearly. So, I'm hoping the new med will help to alleviate it.

Thanks for everyone's input. [/QUOTE]

This is my biggest fear!
I've had chronic dp for 21 years... sometimes it gets worse, sometimes stays the same, rarely gets a tiny bit better... I am so scared the eventually it will get as bad as you were describing, dragonfly... I hope you can find a way to stop your dp episodes soon! Very, very soon!