Anxiety and panic can disrupt everyday tasks, be a challenge to regulate, be out of proportion to the real risk, and may even linger for a long period. To avoid unpleasant sensations, you may avoid certain places or circumstances in other words avoid triggers that make us feel anxious. Anxiety disorders may include the following generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), specific phobias, and separation anxiety disorder.
Some of the attributes of having anxiety may include physical signs like headache, sweating, shortness of breath, muscle tension, and even increased heart rate. Mentally, the signs are a lack of motivation, excessive worrying, and having difficulty concentrating or focusing.
As for depersonalization and derealization, these are terms that can easily be mistaken for one another. They are both however often signs of severe anxiety.
Depersonalization is the feeling that you're a spectator viewing your thoughts, emotions, body, or parts of your body from the outside. Feel that you have no control of your speech and movements as if you're running on autopilot. Your body, legs, or arms look twisted, enlarged, or shriveled, or your head appears to be covered in cotton. Numbness of your senses or responses to the world around you, whether emotional or physical. A feeling that your memories are lacking in emotion and may or may not be your own.
Derealization on the other hand is feelings of being cut off or unfamiliar with your surroundings as if you're in a story or a dream. Feeling emotionally shut off from people you care about, as though you're divided by a glass barrier. Heightened awareness and clarity of your surroundings, or surroundings that look distorted, hazy, lifeless, two-dimensional, or artificial. Time perception distortions, such as recent events appearing to have occurred in the distant past.
Depersonalization-derealization syndrome episodes might linger for hours, days, weeks, or even months. These events can lead to continuing sensations of depersonalization or derealization in some people, which can grow better or worse with time.
There are instances where the risk of depersonalization and depersonalization may increase. For example, certain personality characteristics make it harder to adjust to challenging situations or make you want to avoid or reject them. Severe trauma may also contribute to a reason of depersonalization-derealization, whether experienced or witnessed as a kid or as an adult, such as seeing or suffering a horrific event or abuse. Severe stress is also one of the factors are well, such as problems with an important relationship, finances, or employment. Depression or anxiety, particularly severe or long-term depression, or anxiety accompanied by panic episodes. Using recreational drugs, which can lead to depersonalization or derealization experiences.
Temporary emotions of depersonalization and derealization are common and do not necessarily have to be a concern. HOWEVER, persistent or severe sensations of separation and distortion from your surroundings may show depersonalization-derealization disorders or other physical or mental health disorders.
~ Lavannia~
NOTE: When dealing with mental health concerns it is best to seek assistance with a licensed mental health professional.
Comments