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Suffering From Depersonalization And Derealization. How Long Will It Take To Get Cured?

Posted on Mon, 27 Aug 2012

Question: Hi, I have a question about something that happened to me tonight. Hopefully I can ask this in the right way so you can understand. I was talking to someone and got a little upset over our conversation and for a little bit during our conversation I was alright but then all of a sudden while I was talking it felt like a switch in my brain, like my brain shifted and I felt like a completely different person and didn't recognize anything around me at all. Now I still feel the same way like still a different person and still really don't recognize anything around me in my own home. What could this be? I have had depersonalization and derealization before but not like this and this is something I haven't experienced before, more than my normal dp and dr. Could it be something more serious and if so what and if not then how long would it take for my body to calm down?

I wasn't sure if I should select neurologist or psychiatrist for this but if a psychiatrist can answer better please refer this question to them but was thinking neurologist would be better.

Thanks so much.

Answered by Dr. Susanta Padhy (1 hour later)

Hi XXXXXXX

Thanks for the description of your difficulty

It seems a part of depersonalization and derealisation. More of derealization symptoms where you feel the things surrounding to you have changed, people around you have changed etc.

It can occur in some anxiety states and is usually transient, can last for few hours to few days. If there are no other symptoms currently, or in past, then it may not be anything serious. And this should subside on its own or can be better with low dose benzodiazepine.

I assume there is no history of substance abuse or withdrawal

Hope this will help you

I am available for further query

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Susanta Padhy (9 hours later)

Hi Dr. Padhy,

Thank you for getting back to me. I just have a few more questions if that is alright. I just haven't had derealization come on so fast like that and I was upset but not too much anxiety though. I am unable to take benzodiazepine because of previous withdrawal from presciption from a dr so this has to go away on its own and hopefully soon. I have been more upset than last night and that is the first time that happened to me that quickly.

If it is not derealization what more could it be then? What other things besides derealization could this be if you know? What other symptoms are you talking about?

This is something brand new to me that I experienced and also it isnt the normal dr that I usually it is worse and it changed my attitude as well, like my thinking in a way if that makes sense out of nowhere like a quick shift in my brain. If it did cause a shift in the brain what are things I can do or eat to get into back to normal and/or to shift back to normal I mean besides reduce stress of course?

Thanks so much.

Answered by Dr. Susanta Padhy (2 hours later)

The point that you are mentioning as your attitude have changed, your thinking has changed, make me to ask few questions below:

Does your friends and family do say to you that these days your personality has been changed ? your behavior has changed ?

Alternatively, such symptoms may be a part of complex partial seizure. But the fact that you are able to write the sentences, able to do other routine activities normally etc makes this possibility less likely.

Invariably, derealization not accompanied by any other symptoms goes away, in some cases it might take few weeks.

Maintaining a healthy diet (e.g fresh fruits, XXXXXXX leafy vegetables, sea fish in small quantities, good hydration), good sleep hygiene and brisk walk (if physically you feel ing O.K) should help. Of course, avoiding alcohol, cigarette, or other substances.

Hope I was some help to you in answering your query

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Susanta Padhy (3 hours later)

Hi Dr. Padhy,

No not that they have mentioned but it is mainly my husband and he hasn't said it though but I know I have and feel different all of a sudden since yesterday. Also, wanted to mention that text like on here look smaller then it normally does as well. It looks alot tinier than it should. I just don't know it was like someone turned a swich on in my brain all of a sudden. Not sure what is going on. I am actually getting an eeg tomorrow but I know sometimes that doesn't show stuff and you can still have stuff going on even if that is normal. So not sure if it is that or derealization but just haven't experienced anything like it before. So if it is not derealization then it could be some type of seizure and nothing else or are there other possibilities?

Thanks so much.

Answered by Dr. Susanta Padhy (15 hours later)

Hi XXXXXXX

Text or things looking smaller than as they are can be "micropsia" . It occur in some ocular (eye) problems. You can also discuss with your doctor that is there any need for referral to Ophthalmologist ?

At the same time I am glad that you are undergoing EEG. When EEG is done in close proximity with the symptoms occurance, then, it is more likely that, if any problem is there in brain , it will detect.

So, I would say, hold your nerves. Let EEG report come out.

Thank you and wish you a good health

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar