Anyone here have long term derealization or depersonalization?

Do you have access to an instrument... if I were facing what you are dealing with I think I would try to learn to play an instrument
It would make your brain work in a different way and it may open up pathways that could help you to feel again.

My other suggestion would to learn a new language.. anything that triggers the brain to retrain or do something new.

look at photos, magazines, flashcards any thing big or maybe small that may evoke a feeling.

Im hoping that there is something, that will help you.
Take care.

Aerose - Had that for about three years when this first started years ago. Not sure why, but it cleared, though still left me dealing with other Lyme issues. It was like living in another world.

The way I felt, it was as though I was standing near myself watching the world. Very surreal feeling all the time. That is the only way I can explain it. Wish I had an answer for you, but good news is it did clear.

Girlie said...
I was going to say I haven’t experienced it - but now I remember when I first got lyme symptoms - I remember saying to my husband that it feels like I’m on the outside looking in at my life -
That I didn’t feel like I was really part of anything.
Also said “I don’t know who I am anymore”

Not sure if that is derealization/depersonalization

Feeling a disconnect with yourself is very depersonalization.

CalmLittleBuddha said...
Hello, so sorry that you are feeling this way. I have been dealing with derealization for many years now, the best way that I can describe It is that everyone around me feels fake, it is a very isolating feeling because no one truely understands how bad I feel, it's awful to deal with. I have never experienced the feeling of no emotions like you mentioned, its weird because I have the opposite where my emotions feel really intense, it's like instead of feeling empty I feel too full. I do also believe that this feeling is in part caused by a build up of toxins in the body. I have the MTHFR mutation which means that my body can not detox properly, were you ever tested for that before Some of the things that help me get by are going to the sauna, getting good quality sleep, doing yoga, and having a connection with at least one person. I wish that I had more help to give you but try and hang in there I know it's hard, sending you hugs!

Thanks for the kind response. I do have a double MTHFR mutation and I know toxins are a huge issue. I detox regularly but have to be careful as too much electrolyte loss causes long term effects.
It's been many years now, all my friends are gone. They have gotten promotions, started families or moved on with their lives. I've been living in my truck for about 5 years because I can't work but no one knows that- I don't talk to anyone. I did have one friend left up until about 2 years ago but she got engaged and I never heard from her again. I understand it, they have lives to live.
I understand that inflammation in the amygdala causes apathy and anhadonia and that stuff started after the encephalitis so I guess it makes sense. I do whatever I can to be productive in little ways but it's minimal. Forging ahead and trying to figure this out is my main focus

Sorry that you are dealing with this too Jova. Stress dose make me feel a lot worse as well and I agree it is a very scary feeling. I have tried many supplements for stress including Valerian, kava, gaba and ltheanine but I have not found a magic bullet yet. If stress makes us feel worse do you think cortisol could play a role, has anyone ever had their levels measured before? I know aswaganda is good for stress and lowering cortisol, maybe that could help us. I might try cucuamin next, I have heard that it is good for bringing down inflammation. Too bad that supplement didn't help you Jova, I read that inflammation in our gut can cause inflammation in our brain, maybe if you treated both it would help. I found this online about brain inflammation, it is from an article called Brain on fire...
"One of the most common symptoms of brain inflammation is brain fog, that feeling of slow and fuzzy thinking. Other common brain inflammation symptoms include depression, anxiety, irritability, anger, and fatigue."
Kind of sounds like what we are dealing with.
Hope you all are doing ok today.

Post Edited (CalmLittleBuddha) : 11/6/2019 9:19:24 AM (GMT-7)

Unsightly, I am thankful for the people on this board as well and yes focusing on your health is the most important thing right now, that goes for all of us. Any advice that we can share with each other is helpful and I am praying that one day we will all be back here sharing our success stories!
Jova it is interesting that you brought up childhood trauma because I also experienced emotional abuse when I was younger and that is one of the issues listed as possible causes of depersonalization/derealization...
marijuana and hallucinogen usage
sleep deprivation
severe stress/anxiety
major depression
childhood interpersonal trauma (emotional abuse),
migraines,
epilepsy
OCD
The symptoms are sometimes described by sufferers from neurological diseases, such as ALS, Alzheimer’s, MS, neuroborreliosis, Lyme disease.

Post Edited (CalmLittleBuddha) : 11/6/2019 12:27:54 PM (GMT-7)

Unsightly, you sound like you've had a really tough upbringing, I'm sorry that you had to deal with that. It's sad, I think our childhood really dose affect us for our whole lives. Try and hang in there.
Dose anyone know anything about the vagus nerve I just came across this information "The vagus nerve is always at play in people with gut problems, food sensitivities, fatigue, anxiety, depersonalization, and brain fog".

Post Edited (CalmLittleBuddha) : 11/6/2019 2:11:47 PM (GMT-7)

There is so much information out there on this topic. I have been reading up on vagus nerve stimulation. I learned that things like yoga, deep breathing, laughing and zinc are helpful and I will for sure try the cold shower method. Also back to the topic of inflammation in the brain I came across this "Taking curcumin and krill oil supplements can also significantly reduce inflammation in the body and brain." I think I will try curcumin next. Hope everyone is having a nice night.

Post Edited (CalmLittleBuddha) : 11/6/2019 8:21:21 PM (GMT-7)

JovaLyme said...
Cat's claw and Lion's mane repair brain and nerve damage?

I didn't know that.

Is there anything else that does a similar thing?

FYI - there are two different Cat's Claw species. One is Unicaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis,

The tomentosa is part of Buhner's Lyme protocol.

I know what you mean about feeling like your brain is full of soup. I had such a severe case of brain atrophy, the doctors thought I had some kind rapid degenerating brain disease. I couldn't do much more than think about what treatment to do next, and sometimes I couldn't even do that.

I had some short term memory loss. I had problems doing any kind of task that required mental work.When I was really sick, I couldn't follow a recipe—but my biggest problem was I would see someone one day, and not recognize them the next.

But my cognitive function has pretty much completely improved now. My reflexes are still a little slow, but a lot of it is that I probably don't get as much sleep as I should.

I think it is strange that being sick brought me closer to God also—but pretty amazing. I'm so much happier now than before I got Lyme. It's like I'm not confined to the ordinary now, since I started trusting God. Funny things started happening to me too (good things). God definitely wants good things for everyone, except it's hard sometimes to accept the gifts he is giving (sometimes it's hard to tell what the gifts are).

Following a recipe? I would struggle with remembering if I put the baking powder into the bowl -with the flour...and then try to decide if it’s best to add it - and possibly be doubling it or leave it out and possibly have none in there.
I ruined a lot of biscuits, cakes etc.

Really interesting unsightly! I never used to believe in premonitions and things like that until I started experiencing them myself. I think helping people with our gift is really important! Do you know what Myers Briggs you are, that might be why we seem similar, I am an INFJ? I should give God another try, I never completely stopped believing I just struggle.

Post Edited (CalmLittleBuddha) : 11/9/2019 4:46:12 PM (GMT-7)