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Photo I Had A Nervous Breakdown ( Wish Me Luck ) Started By staples , May 03 2011 08 : 44 PM * Please log in to reply 6 replies to this topic # 1 I Had A Nervous Breakdown ( Wish Me Luck ): post # 1 staples staples Regular Contributor * [ default large . png ] * DPSH Members * 153 posts * LocationMaryland Posted 03 May 2011 - 08 : 44 PM Well after two years of this distressful DP / DR and anxiety , I finally had a nervous breakdown at the age of 24 . I was battling with my psychiatrist to find a medication that would at least try to lessen the persistent feelings of spaciness and the dream - like state ( I ' ve been on 10 different medications within 2 years ) . I ended up having a major panic attack that put me into a great deal of depression last week . I guess the constant worry , obsession , and ruminative thoughts about if I ' ll ever find relief from this torture just sent me over the edge . I haven ' t eaten much in the past week and I ' m down about 12 pounds . My mother has never seen me this way , so she was extremely worried to say the least . I finally opened up to her and told her everything that was going on , and what Depersonalization and Derealization meant , how dreadful it was , how depressed I was , and how I felt like I was in this pit that I ' ll never be able to come out of . Starting tomorrow , I ' m going to be doing extensive outpatient therapy , Monday - Friday for the next 2 - 3 weeks depending on how severe my symptoms turn out to be ( we ' ll say 3 weeks lol ) . It ' s group - therapy , which causes me an uneasiness but I guess it just goes along with the anxiety and the whole atmosphere of CBT ' s approach . I figure , hey , maybe I ' ll find someone else who ' s suffering from the same exact disorder as me ( fingers crossed ) ! I tried the whole talk therapy , that didn ' t seem to help the anxiety for me . They say that even if one has Depersonalization Disorder , it ' s considered an obsessive - compulsive spectrum disorder in many of us . CBT and Acceptance used together can hopefully defeat this burden . Also , a study was done that was mentioned in Jeffrey Abugel ' s latest book " Stranger To My Self " ( which is definitely a recommended read ! ) . A group of 20 some patients that fit the criteria for Depersonalization Disorder were given on average , 12 sessions of CBT , and after those sessions , about 30 % no longer even met the symptoms for DPD . It didn ' t mention slight improvement ( which slight is better then nothing ) or none at all , so the other 70 % , who knows ? Wish me luck , I ' ll be letting everyone know how everything goes and I ' ll keep editing this thread weekly . * * Back to top # 2 I Had A Nervous Breakdown ( Wish Me Luck ): post # 2 Guest Lisa32 * Guest Lisa32 * * [ default large . png ] * Guests Posted 03 May 2011 - 09 : 49 PM Do you know what triggered your DP / DR to start with ? You are definitely a strong person to have kept this from your mom for 2 years . We can ' t do it alone . We need a lifeline and am happy to hear you are doing group therapy soon . I have not tried CBT yet . . so will be interested to see how you do Good luck and please keep us posted . * * Back to top # 3 I Had A Nervous Breakdown ( Wish Me Luck ): post # 3 staples staples Regular Contributor * [ default large . png ] * DPSH Members * 153 posts * LocationMaryland Posted 03 May 2011 - 11 : 12 PM I wish I honestly knew what triggered it . I had verbal abuse throughout my childhood , but never dissociated due to it . When my mother was diagnosed with cancer in ' 04 that gave a good grounds for starters . I guess work , family , what I ' m going to do with my life and the anxiety of moving out and becoming 100 % independent all had me stressed . The first time I dissociated was in ' 08 and lasted for 2 weeks . A year later I dissociated consistently up to now . Maybe it ' s anxiety fueling the fear , or something else . I can say I did have forms of OCD throughout childhood . Even today I ' ll double and triple check if I locked the doors . I will definetly keep everyone posted . * * Back to top # 4 I Had A Nervous Breakdown ( Wish Me Luck ): post # 4 Visual Visual Senior DPSelfhelp.com Member * [ photo - thumb - 34707 . jpg ? r = 14155033 ] * DPSH Members * 1749 posts * LocationNew York Posted 04 May 2011 - 06 : 46 AM I wish I honestly knew what triggered it . I had verbal abuse throughout my childhood , but never dissociated due to it . When my mother was diagnosed with cancer in ' 04 that gave a good grounds for starters . I guess work , family , what I ' m going to do with my life and the anxiety of moving out and becoming 100 % independent all had me stressed . The first time I dissociated was in ' 08 and lasted for 2 weeks . A year later I dissociated consistently up to now . Maybe it ' s anxiety fueling the fear , or something else . I can say I did have forms of OCD throughout childhood . Even today I ' ll double and triple check if I locked the doors . I will definetly keep everyone posted . Yes , wish you success ! You mentioned you have tried a lot of meds . What are you taking currently ? * * Back to top # 5 I Had A Nervous Breakdown ( Wish Me Luck ): post # 5 staples staples Regular Contributor * [ default large . png ] * DPSH Members * 153 posts * LocationMaryland Posted 04 May 2011 - 04 : 31 PM Yes , wish you success ! You mentioned you have tried a lot of meds . What are you taking currently ? Right now , I went back on Cymbalta as of yesterday . I ' ve been on Zoloft , Paxil CR , Effexor XR , Pristiq , Cymbalta , Lamictal ( as a combo ) , Luvox CR , Lexapro , and Celexa . Out of these I ' m sure I didn ' t give them enough chance for all of them to work . I ' m very sensitive to medication side effects which doesn ' t seem to help either . * * Back to top # 6 I Had A Nervous Breakdown ( Wish Me Luck ): post # 6 staples staples Regular Contributor * [ default large . png ] * DPSH Members * 153 posts * LocationMaryland Posted 04 May 2011 - 04 : 35 PM Update : Go figure the doctors weren ' t too familiar with Depersonalization as a disorder in its own right . The fluorescent lighting made everything worse and I just feel like I ' m on automation right now . My memory is absolutely screwed and I ' m 10/10 detached . My eyes are very sensitive and I have to wear sunglasses just to be able to some what focus . * * Back to top # 7 I Had A Nervous Breakdown ( Wish Me Luck ): post # 7 Visual Visual Senior DPSelfhelp.com Member * [ photo - thumb - 34707 . jpg ? r = 14155033 ] * DPSH Members * 1749 posts * LocationNew York Posted 05 May 2011 - 09 : 02 AM Update : Go figure the doctors weren ' t too familiar with Depersonalization as a disorder in its own right . The fluorescent lighting made everything worse and I just feel like I ' m on automation right now . My memory is absolutely screwed and I ' m 10/10 detached . My eyes are very sensitive and I have to wear sunglasses just to be able to some what focus . Re : Dopamine It seems that the serotonin and norepinephrine stuff tends to make things worse . Too bad Wellbutrin was rough ( norepinephrine ) since it is the only dopamine boosting thing you have tried . Have you tried Selegiline ? It is very mild . There is a patch out now that is used mainly for depression ( and , of course , $ since Selegiline is dirt - cheap ) . Some expressed help from Adderall . I haven ’ t tried it but it boosts dopamine somewhat . The hallmark booster is carbidopa / levodopa ( Sinemet ) – but it would take a ‘ creative ’ doctors to try this for you . I find low dosages help visual disturbances as well both calming and emotionally stabilizing . One thing helped with vision was sensitivity , but this was further helped with Gabapentin . You mention restless leg – there are a couple dopamine ( D3 agonists ) meds out there . I ’ ve tried Requip and it definitely affected vision but not as good as Sinemet . And the XL is too strong . Some doctors will prescribe Sinemet for RLS . Was wondering if you could describe your visual disturbances in more detail ? ( sounds like sensitivity and slightly drunk like ) * * Back to top Back to Discussion * [ twitter . png ] * [ digg . png ] [ delicious . png ] [ reddit . png ] [ stumble . png ] [ email . png ] [ print . png ] [ download . png ] [ blogthis . png ] 0 user ( s ) are reading this topic 0 members , 0 guests , 0 anonymous users Reply to quoted posts Clear 1 . Depersonalization Community 2 . → Welcome ! 3 . → Discussion * RSS Feed * Change Theme + IP . Board Mobile + IP . Board 3 + IP . Board 3 ( Pre 3.2 ) + Airex ( Import ) * Contact Us * Help Community Forum Software by IP . Board Sign In * Need an account ? Register now ! * Username * Forum Password I ' ve forgotten my password * [ X ] Remember me This is not recommended for shared computers * [ ] Sign in anonymously Don ' t add me to the active users list Sign In Terms of Use Copyright Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Data Manage Consent