Posted by nicky847 on February 21, 2006, at 13:01:04
In reply to Re: What causes depersonalization? » Maxime, posted by ace on February 21, 2006, at 0:06:47
From my experience, DP/DR is a symptom of a panic attack or a severly raised level of anxiety..when this happens..two things happen in your body that cause depersonalization..
1. blood flows to your extremities (arms and legs) b/c your body is preparing to RUN..not to think..thus, blood flows away from the brain and creates a light headed feeling..
2. hyperventilation occurs..which results in an overabundance of oxygen in the blood, which also causes light headedness and feelings of unreality...
when your body returns to a normal state (and it always does)..the feelings of depersonalization subside..
the thing is..the more you focus on and worry about the depersonalization feelings during an "episode"...the more your body's fight/flight mechanism kicks in..and the longer and more intense the feeling is...a therapist can help you get past the initial fear of these attacks, so that you are less alarmed by these feelings and they become less and less intense until they become wholly manageable..
good luck
poster:nicky847
thread:610973
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060219/msgs/611715.html