How to Unreality, Depersonalization‚ Derealization Viral Now
Contributed by – Barry McDonagh, the creator of the best selling anxiety treatment program “Panic Away”.
There
is a symptom not often mentioned in panic attack literature that I
would like to discuss. It is the sensation of unreality‚ this sensation
is called depersonalization by psychologists.
People who experience panic attacks become distressed by this sensation and feel they may be losing their mind.
People experiencing this report feeling disconnected or
having a sensation of unreality. The sensation is described as if the
world has become nothing more than a projection of a film.
This sensation is quite distressing as it often leads to
the individual believing that some permanent damage has been done to
their brain‚ causing for these sensations.
A typical manifestation of this depersonalization is when
the individual may be having a conversation with someone and suddenly
feels alarmingly isolated and removed from the situation. Once the
sensation arises it can make such an impact that it takes days to leave
the eerie feeling behind and stop thinking about it.
The sensation is caused by a delayed perception. While
under constant stress or anxiety, there is a build up of stress
chemicals in your system that cause for a delayed response in the
transmission of information between neurotransmitter sites in your body.
This slight delay between experience and thought can
create a momentary sensation of unreality. The same effects are
experienced under the influence of marijuana but people do not react
with fear in this situation because they are aware it is the drug
causing the sensation.
It is when the sensation arrives while you are doing your tax returns that things feel a little scary!
I mention depersonalization because the condition is not
often spoken about‚ and to reassure those of you who may have
experienced this sensation‚ that it is only a side-effect of excessive
anxiety and will pass as soon as the body learns to relax.
Once the body returns to normal levels of relaxation it then has the opportunity to dispel some excess chemicals.
It is very easy to start imagining all the terrible mental
illnesses that this could be but please don’t worry, you haven’t caused
any damage to yourself and you will return to the person you were
before depersonalization crept in.
You will have to trust me on that.
The quickest way out of this disconnected feeling is to
really accept it for the time being and have faith that it will pass
shortly. Shrug your shoulders and relax into it. You can take this
relaxed attitude because you know that you will return to normal when
you move out of this period of anxiety.
It is a phase you are moving through so be patient with yourself while you are in it.
What really moves people out of this sensation quickest is
adopting an attitude that all is well. And it is. These unusual
sensations of depersonalization are just a nuisance‚ but they will pass.
Not feeling connected to yourself in this manner is solely
due to the anxiety in your system and it is then reinforced by your
constant checking to see how you are feeling.
It is like you are over analyzing yourself all the time
and that can make you feel even stranger. I appreciate how uncomfortable
it can feel but don’t worry about it‚ it will cease.
Don’t let the thoughts sucker you into thinking you are
alone and stuck with this feeling of depersonalization for all your
life. Those thoughts are not valid. The more you can flow along with
them and not react, the quicker you will return to feeling more
yourself.
It takes a little practice but that change in attitude will make a big difference for you.
You will look back in the very near future and wonder
what all the fuss was about and that anxious person will seem like
a stranger to you.
For more information on how to cope with panic attacks