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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Stace on October 6, 2000, at 12:47:21
Hi my name is Stacey and I have been experiencing unreality and depersonalization for the past 3 years. I want it to go away. Like Craig said when I am in
K-mart or Walmart the lights in the store make it so intense I feel like a panic attack will happen. I feel so detached from this world, especially in the afternoon or when I am really stressed out. I have had numerous tests ran, but noone can figure it out. I am almost to the point of going to the Mayo Clinic for intensive studies on dizziness. I also feel like Rene and feel like I'm on a free trip, but of course I'm not. Sometimes it comes with a bad headache. I take 10 milligrams of paxil and .25 milligrams of xanax every evening before bedtime. Does anyone else take any medications. Are there any other test that you have been through that I need to know about? Please let me know, I want this to go away so bad it hurts. This is a constant feeling of unreality that I have. Sometimes its worse than others. My vision get screwed up sometimes with it and I have dizziness, loss of balance with it. Please God give me some relief. I will do anything.Stacey
Posted by JackD on October 6, 2000, at 13:22:09
In reply to Unreality, posted by Stace on October 6, 2000, at 12:47:21
I feel this way when I have too much dopamine in my brain, whether it be from Ritalin, Marijuana, or whatever. It's VERY disturbing and I can definetely relate. It's almost like you're observing your thoughts and body from some other place. Maybe you have too much dopamine and should take an antipsychotic like Zyprexa. Do you feel this way without the Paxil + Xanax? Oh, you could even try depressants, like Klonopin or more Xanax, as increased GABA decreases dopamine (I believe). Also, too much seratonin can cause somewhat of a feeling of unreality, or altered reality, in which you're in a "bubble".
Posted by stjames on October 6, 2000, at 13:44:03
In reply to Unreality, posted by Stace on October 6, 2000, at 12:47:21
A shot in the dark, try taking this test "Indicators Suggestive of Subsyndromal Epilepsy" at http://www.dr-bob.org/tips/isse.html
Also, whta kind of doc is treating you at present
and for what condition ?james
Posted by JohnL on October 7, 2000, at 6:49:28
In reply to Unreality, posted by Stace on October 6, 2000, at 12:47:21
> Hi my name is Stacey and I have been experiencing unreality and depersonalization for the past 3 years. I want it to go away. Like Craig said when I am in
> K-mart or Walmart the lights in the store make it so intense I feel like a panic attack will happen. I feel so detached from this world, especially in the afternoon or when I am really stressed out. I have had numerous tests ran, but noone can figure it out. I am almost to the point of going to the Mayo Clinic for intensive studies on dizziness. I also feel like Rene and feel like I'm on a free trip, but of course I'm not. Sometimes it comes with a bad headache. I take 10 milligrams of paxil and .25 milligrams of xanax every evening before bedtime. Does anyone else take any medications. Are there any other test that you have been through that I need to know about? Please let me know, I want this to go away so bad it hurts. This is a constant feeling of unreality that I have. Sometimes its worse than others. My vision get screwed up sometimes with it and I have dizziness, loss of balance with it. Please God give me some relief. I will do anything.
>
> StaceyHi Stacey,
I think James hit upon a good point...that is, what kind of doctor is treating you? Your condition might be out-of-bounds for the average MD.That's not to imply that your problem is somehow serious or complicated. The cause is probably something very simple, yet not within the specialty of an average MD.
Tests often do not show anything wrong. I mean, unless they see a tumor, low thyroid, blood disease, or something like that, it's not uncommon for tests to prove useless. It is wise to rule out the obvious though. Testing can do that.
If all test come up empty, then it becomes a matter of probing with different medications to try to figure out what brain chemistry is at fault. The average MD is not likely to explore all possible avenues. I'll spare you the thousand words it would take to explain my reasoning, but these are medications I would be looking at...
Antipsychotics like Zyprexa or Risperdal (dopamine reducers, electrical smoothers)
Anticonvulsants (electrical smoothers)
Stimulants (increased brain blood flow, chemical replacement)
Any combination of two of the above.Least likely choices, as I see it, would be the very medications you are currently taking. I wish there were an easy answer. The dizziness thing is a real puzzle.
John
Posted by noa on October 8, 2000, at 10:15:20
In reply to Re: Unreality, posted by JohnL on October 7, 2000, at 6:49:28
This sure ounds like other people's descriptions of migraines, and perhaps certain stimuli (the lights in the superstores, for example) could be triggers.
I would consult a migraine specialist.
Posted by Flutterbee on October 11, 2000, at 12:19:47
In reply to Unreality, posted by Stace on October 6, 2000, at 12:47:21
I also, alot of times, get the feeling I'm not really here, like I'm looking at a movie or TV show.I had that feeling alot growing up as a child also. Sometimes things would be going in slow motion. Especially at night when I would try to sleep, it would scare me, I thought I was dying. I would be afraid to go to sleep. I would close my eyes and feel like I was falling back, like into the bed(in my head it was like falling into a hole). I never told anyone this so I never really knew what it was. Does that sound like a anxiety or panic attack?
I also get the feeling that the world should be a certain way and no other but the way I see it. That is probably different than the first thing I was describing, but no the less very frustrating.
Boy, after writing this I think I need more help than I thought. Hmmm.
Anyway, I am on Celexa (going on week 2) and I think it is helping me, I don't know yet. I feel I can handle life a little better, which I have a problem with dealing with everyday little things. I don't like the side effects so far (tired all the time, waking up at night, weird dreams) and I am so afraid that I am going to gain weight.
I always thought I had a "reality problem". Is there such a thing? thanks
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