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health advisory Hospital Mental Health 2007-11-15 19:00:37

I always think that I'm not real and my whole life is a dream. I have breakdowns and I'm tired of it. I've been to doctors taken medicine for bipolar disorder and depression but nothing helps. I am fresh out of ideas and no one's ever heard of what I'm going through. Can anyone relate or tell me what's wrong?

Answer:

What you describe sounds like Depersonalization Disorder which is actually classified as a Dissociative Disorder in DSM IV. It tends to be a reaction people may have to stressful situations in it's milder form but it can also be a symptom that is indicative of a more sever dissociative disorder or Panic Disorder. I would suggest that you discuss Depersonalization Disorder with your therapist who has far more information on your history and perhaps discuss taking the DES (Dissociative Experiences Scale) by Bernstein to help better identify other symptoms that may lead to a more specific diagnosis. There is too little info here fir me to be able to adequately assess further and since those symptoms may be part of a panic disorder or one of several dissociative disorders, it requires a much fuller history.

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the world does not revolve around you. get over yourself.

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The hardest thing to do in life is to face ourselves, our inner demons, if we are not taught good coping skills as a child we have ultimately created a new unhealthy way to deal with our stressors, and life is jammed packed full of them. I would venture to say that this dream state you are in is your way of coping, by remaining a bit detached. It has kept you alive this far, but sounds like it is starting to fail you. I have struggled with depression for 23 years, and I am 37. It is a battle you have to fight on a day to day basis, if all you can do is wake up and say I'm here, then thats a start. Be honest with yourself and others about your feelings. Keep trying different meds, therapist, self help methods, do no give up. You can IM me if you want, have lots of advice, running out of room to type. Good luck sweetie, hang in there!

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You have a detachment from reality. This is something to take VERY SERIOUSLY. Uncorrected, you could stand to lose a great deal of your quality of life if not your life itself. It will take several diagnostic tests and maybe some blood tests to pinpoint your problem(s) but get started on it. There are many psychiatric disorders that can present symptoms such as yours and all should be treated with care. One is schizophrenia, but as you mentioned bipolar disorders and depressive episodes can also lead to detachments from reality.

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You must be in denial. Learn to cope.

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That's called depersonalization, I think. I think there is something called derealization, too. If you google depersonalization, you should find descriptions of what you're going thru. It's usually a symptom of post traumatic stress disorder. I had that problem for awhile after I was seriously mistreated in a mental hospital.