Depersonalization (DPDR) - Why you don't feel real and how to reconnect

What does depersonalization feel like for you? 🤔

I feel like I've finally found my people.. Does anyone else relate to feeling uneasy and unsteady in crowds. I'm 14 and walking in the school corridors always feels like a dream or like I've just woken up from a coma, I get SO confused and my head starts hurting. I don't recognise my family sometimes and all my teachers think I'm useless since all I do in class is blank out and cry my eyes out. It's like im living but half dead at the same time, know what I mean?

Coming back to this video 4 months later to say that I’ve finally recovered! No more DPDR or existential OCD, I get to live my life again! So thankful to have gone through this because thanks to all of it I’m stronger now. Sending love to anyone currently struggling with this. I know firsthand how scary it feels, but you can absolutely go back to how you were before, just live your life holding hands with your fear and give it space to leave naturally. Thanks for reading this, you are strong enough to handle this.

I’m tired of this, everyday gets harder. Stay strong guys.

I’ve been struggling with this since my early teens. I’ve tried to get help or seek counseling - but most of the therapists turned their back on me when I told them that I can induce these thoughts while thinking of it. You’re not alone as cheesy as it sounds. You are here, you are real.

i just started crying watching this because i have been dealing with a bad episode for the past week nonstop and i feel like i’m absolutely going insane and i finally feel like i’m not alone 😭

I remember when I was 15 explaining to my Doctor I felt like I was in dreamstates. Like I was detatched in my head asking myself if my surroundings were real. It happened everywhere. In fun activities or boring activities. It really happens in live places when I was in an audience. I treat it by acting like I do in a dream when sleeping. I just go forward and live and act in the feeling. I get distracted and it fades and I forget about it. The crazy part is I wasnt professionally diagnosed with OCD until I was 22. When I learned about OCD the feelings and things I experienced my whole life all made sense. OCD is an insane condition. For me its genetic. Runs in my family. My brother has it too.

The thing that makes the most difference is to make your feelings of DP your friend. I think it is amazing that this feeling is there protecting me when Im stressed or burnt out. Its like my own guardian angel giving me a super power. It is absolutely more than welcome to stay as long as it wants to. I totally misunderstood my friend in the past and was so so frightened but they come and go and are there when I need them the most.... What a friend!!!

I’m genuinely crying right now because I feel like I may not actually be going crazy, I’m not dead and I’m not alone..

One day something just clicked. And for the past two months, I’ve been seeing psychiatrist multiple times, and I was diagnosed with severe anxiety possible panic disorder which was causing bad dp/dr. Every day it’s me versus anxiety. Ever since this started happening, I just don’t feel the same. For me, I will start to feel not real when my body will start to feel very weird. When I’m walking my dog walking in a straight line along the sidewalk focusing to much I’ll feel like I’m floating and I need to stop to breathe. It has totally ruined my semester. It’s hard to go to class now being one of my triggers. Sometimes my vision will go blurry And peoples voices will heighten in my ears.I’ll feel like I have to pass out so I just run away and isolate in those moments. What helps me the most is laughing, playing my favorite songs, breathing, fresh cold air and water. let me know if anybody can relate to this because I feel like mine is very extreme and I’m really sad. I pray every day that this will go away.

ive had dpdr for almost over a year and a half and ive got to say it does get better, i didnt believe that when everyone was saying it but just focusing on life, going out and setting myself goals and things to do distracted myself enough to push through to where i am now.. its still bad but nowhere near as bad as it originally was and i cant wait for the day i dont have to think about it anymore, stay strong everyone you got this

To anyone reading this, have you felt like you don't recognize yourself in the mirror or in photos? Like it is not you, like if you are seeing someone else, or feeling your image does not reflect how you feel or how you think you look? And also, have you felt like your memories aren't yours really? And that makes you winder if maybe someone put them there?

i struggle with this along with existential ocd! one min i don't feel real and then the next im freaked out that i am real.

I really don’t know how to not think about it. My brain just automatically thinks about it.

I have watched this video a thousand times and the comfort it's relativity and humor brings is what keeps me going

I love this man, he’s helped me through so much, thank you for the work you do it’s so important and makes people going through feel validated and less alone

This is the best video on dpdr ive found. Thank you for explaining it so clearly! Saving this to send to friends.

Small summary of the tips, for people who want to translate it into their native language. Comment down below if you have other questions! 1. Try to stop controlling it. 2. Just notice it, it will pass. 3. Train the way your brain works, ‘I’m not going to do anything to fight this, and I accept it.’ By doing this your brain learns it. 4. Mindfulness: use the five senses to experience the hear and now. 5. The goal is NOT to get rid of this, but to train your brain. You can learn how to handle this.

Been searching on and on and this is the most relatable video thanks for educating me in these feelings

I feel this a lot especially when I’m driving. Like I could just close my eyes behind the wheel and not even care.