Question: Hi,
I have severe depersonalization and derealization. I have a few questions concerning these two. When you get dp and dr from stopping a benzodiazepine like ativan during the withdrawal is that from the actual medication or from the anxiety itself that the benzo causes? Like when they say if you cure your anxiety you can cure the dp and the dr but I am also wondering if I can still have the dp and the dr even without the anxiety because it is actually from the benzo?

Also, more specific questions relating to the dp and the dr, I am getting more severe symptoms of dp and dr or I am guessing it is still dp and dr but not sure. My symptoms are like my face is distorted like my mouth isn't in the right place and sometimes it feels like I dont have a face at all if that makes sense. When I look at other people they look detached like their heads arent attached to their bodies and they dont have faces either or they look completely detached and distorted as well. I feel like I am in two halves like I have two brains at times. I also feel like my body doesn't know what is what kind of if that makes sense. Are these still symptoms of dp and dr or could this be something more? I have had an mri and that was normal but am wondering if dp and dr can still cause these symptoms or this could be something else?

Thanks so much.

Hi Dr. Padhy,

I think I talked to you earlier a few days ago on a similar topic. I know that dp and dr can occur in a host of other conditions but I definitely do not have it from sustance intoxication and schizophrenia. I do have anxiety of course but was wondering if I have dp and dr from ativan withdrawal or from the anxiety the ativan caused.

What is organic brain syndrome?

Also, I cannot take ativan as that is what got me into this mess and got me this way in the first place so needless to say I am not taking any ativan or benzodiapine again. Sorry I just wanted to let you know that and thanks though for the advice but I just can't take it again as the ativan is what caused all of this pretty much.

If the new symptoms are not dp and dr what else could it be then?

I have been evaluated by a psychiatrist and everything so I don't need to do that again.

Also, I think I asked you before but I asked about taking diphenhydramine to help maybe with the anxiety and to sleep and was wondering if that would be alright or it could make my symptoms worse as you mentioned about taking ativan but I personally think diphenhydramine is safer than taking ativan again.

Sorry for all the questions again.

Thanks so much.

Hi Dr. Padhy,

Thanks so much for the detailed response. A few more questions if you don't mind.

If diphenhydramine will help sleep then won't it help with the anxiety as well a little as I am hoping it will as it calms you as well right? I am sleeping a full nights but I am not sure if I am getting a good sleep though and also I did read somewhere that diphenhydramine might have a slight similarity to ssri? Also, thanks for letting me know that it shouldn't worsen my dp and dr as that is what I am really worried about I don't want to make that worse. I used to take it for a while way before I took Ativan but didn't have the withdrawal from the ativan.

If this is dp and dr then what you say it is and nothing worse and it is from the ativan withdrawal and not from anxiety itself then how much longer do you think I will have the withdrawal as I am going on about almost two years now however I stopped it cold XXXXXXX though?

Is there any possibility that the diphenhydramine might help with my dp and dr or not at all?

Is there a test to find out if I have organ brain syndrome or no?

Also, so you do think this is dp and dr or could it be something more than that still?

Thanks so much.