![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
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 ichiru on May 4, 2006, at 11:56:05
Hello everyone,
I have been struggling with chronic dp/dr for the past 2 years post a period of high stress, bad diet, and what I've come to realize was severe depression. I read this board a lot and while a lot of people are depressed, I don't see much mention of dp/dr. My psych however insists that it's just a symptom of my depression, and has so far ignored my requests for a referral to neurology (TLE being one possibility since my symptoms include extreme sensitiviy to artificial lighting, esp television screens, seeing things indoors as dark or shadowed.)I am med-phobic in general and the only med that I've been relatively comfortable sticking to so far is Klonopin. Any attempt at taking SSRI's is usually ended abruptly by me. Lamictal was stopped recently as well. I've come to realize that meds can't help me because I'm simply not comfortable taking them, and probably never will be. I'm wondering how common dp/dr and my main symptoms above are for everyone here with any kind of depression, uni or bipolar...and, has anyone had much success with alternative treatment, if so, which?
Thank you!
rula
Posted by nolvas on May 4, 2006, at 14:44:51
In reply to depersonalization/derealization, natural cure?, posted by ichiru on May 4, 2006, at 11:56:05
Anxiety causes abnormal breathing patterns, shallow breathing. Learning to breathe correctly will help to alleviate the symptoms caused by hyperventilation and shallow breathing. Even though the link I'm providing specifically mentions Panic Attacks it's equally as useful for treating symptoms of anxiety through correct breathing. This is not pseudo science it's well known that retraining your breathing can reduce the severity or eradicate symptoms of stress.
http://www.power-surge.com/educate/panicattacks.htm
I also include this link as the method is slightly different (exhaling first)
http://www.anxietycoach.com/breathing.htm
Have a look at those and practice, practice, practice. It takes time to get it right when it works it works good.
Posted by Declan on May 4, 2006, at 15:06:29
In reply to depersonalization/derealization, natural cure?, posted by ichiru on May 4, 2006, at 11:56:05
Hello Rula
Exercise and accupuncture (depends on the accupuncturist) have been useful. Getting a good sleep every night. Sedative herbs such as skullcap and zizyphus. Zizyphus would be included in Chinese herbal mixtures for this purpose. Withania perhaps.
Declan
Posted by ichiru on May 4, 2006, at 19:27:52
In reply to Re: depersonalization/derealization, natural cure?, posted by Declan on May 4, 2006, at 15:06:29
Thank you both for the suggestions. I've suspected for some time that sleep deprivation is a big hindrance to my recovery (noisy Manhattan + 2 cats taking turns sleeping on my chest) Disrupted, shallow sleep is also tied to hyperventilation, which might be directly responsible for my blurry vision and buzzy head in the morning. I'm going to give my Buteyko Breathing exercises for hyperventilation one more chance, although it's actually me who doesn't commit long enough to see results :) the herbs I have to lookup, all new to me.
Still wondering though, how common is it for anxious/depressed people to feel agitated by a TV screen and flickering lights, or to see things as dark/shadowed? should I buy into any theories that I might have a form of epilepsy, or are these sx pretty common/most likely hyperventilation related?
thks...rula
Posted by Declan on May 4, 2006, at 19:45:46
In reply to Re: depersonalization/derealization, natural cure?, posted by ichiru on May 4, 2006, at 19:27:52
When I feel depersonalised it is as if lights are flickering and there's a general waviness everywhere. Maybe you are sensitive to the TV and flourescent lights because they remind you of that unpleasant state. And they aren't natural. Or very nice. Think of the natural restful things...the sound of the ocean, wind in the trees, a stream running over stones. Could that be it?
Dunno about seeing things as dark/shadowed though.
Declan
Posted by nolvas on May 5, 2006, at 17:06:01
In reply to Re: depersonalization/derealization, natural cure? » ichiru, posted by Declan on May 4, 2006, at 19:45:46
Sensitivity to light is common with anxiety. I always feel less anxious when in a dark environment.
As for breathing techniques I highly recommend >
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1564557308/102-2867763-4694518?v=glance&n=283155
The breathing technique for relaxation takes practice as with anything worth doing. I will describe the steps (It's worth buying this CD as Dr Andrew Weil goes through the process of breathing correctly in much more detail)
1. Touch your tongue to the ridge of flesh inside your mouth just above the teeth, for the whole of the breathing process/technique described.
2. Exhale noisely.
3. Inhale through the nose to the count of 4
4. Hold your breath for a count of 7
5. Exhale for the count of 8 (important that this is double the inhalation count, so 4 * 2 = 8:) )
6. Repeat until you feel relaxed. Keep practicing this every day even when you don't feel ill/bad.
This seems to be the best description of using breathing to relax. Learning to breathe correctly and change thoughts that lead to anxiety are two of the best ways to combat anxiety. It takes time and I must admit I'm nowhere near perfect at it yet. (Only properly started using breathing techniques to combat panic disorder/anxiety in the last couple of days)
If you visit www.pubmed.com and search for "panic breathing" you will see there's plenty of studies relating incorrect breathing to anxiety and panic. Even studies as recent as March 2006.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Alternative | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.