has anyone gotten better from feelings of persistent depersonalization/derealism?
I've met others with this horrible feeling and they have the bartonella/lyme combo like myself. I've also heard doctors like Dr. B say this is a symptom from the combo.
After nearly two years of trying antibiotics (oral, IM and IV), then herbs (cowden and byran white) and now homeopathy, nothing will touch it (or my other symptoms, but this is the killer symptom I want desperately to go away).
wondering if something else can be causing it? anyone in this same boat?
Thanks!
Posted by jwall (Member # 22999) on :
are you on a benzo -- ativan, klonopin, xanax? These meds cause that symptom if you are in tolerance withdrawal.
Posted by never-give-up (Member # 34721) on :
I was for years but it never really helped so i weened off. rather be off and feel like this then on benzos and still feel like this.
i'm still on effexor which takes the edge off. i have learned to cope but am wanting nothing more to be able to find out what the problem is that causes it so it can be treated.
after years on ABX it's hard to believe infections are causing this and not think there is an underlying issue that has yet to be dealt with, like mold or something else.
thanks!
Posted by lymielauren28 (Member # 13742) on :
Hmmm...I had bad depersonalization for a couple of years and abx never really touched it either. What finally got rid of it for me was my rife machine. Within a couple of months of rifing it was completely gone and has never come back.
Even the best of abx have a hard time crossing the blood/brain barrier. Rife machines treat the WHOLE body, including the brain. Something to look into.
Posted by never-give-up (Member # 34721) on :
thanks for the words of encouragement Lauren. I have been really contemplating trying rife. I am SO glad for you that the horrible symptom was resolved with the use of rife. i am hoping to find someone in NH near me who has one so I can try it. I have failed so many treatments I can't afford to buy something that may not work.
thanks again. Hope you are well from all of your symptoms!
Posted by jwall (Member # 22999) on :
Could it be the effexor? I have never taken it, but know that my neighbor did and she said it contributed to feelings of "not really being able to feel and detachment."
What does the depersonalization feel like to you? Like you are sort of just floating around or like you are in a dream? Have you been treated for babesia?
I do get this from time to time still, usually in the afternoons, early evening. but my feeling ism ore just a sort of out of it feeling and have visual problems along with it. It's almost like what I would call brain fog with a visual distortion. I do not have the feeling of seeing myself walking around or out of body experience which is what I would say depersonalization is. Mine is more of a slight detachment and brain fogginess. When I quit klonopin though, I had severe derealization which was terrifying. It eventually, over many months, subsided.
Hard to say what is causing it as I'm still on neurontin and I think this contributes to my sort of there, but not there feeling.
sorry I cannot be of more help. I do know how awful a feeling it is though.
Posted by never-give-up (Member # 34721) on :
thanks jwall
i don't think it's the effexor. i've had persistent depersonalization since 1996. i've tried other anti-depressants and benzos and nothing has helped.
the effexor at least takes the edge off so the anxiety is muted. for me, the feeling is a disconnect from my body. it's like my seed of conscious resides in my head and the rest of me is along for the ride. i just don't feel connected to myself.
and then things don't feel real either. like i'm in a dream-state (nightmare as the case may be). for years i went misdiagnosed so was told this was an anxiety disorder. i did years of therapy and have great coping skills, but you can have all the coping skills in the world and still have the feelings if an infection is the cause.
i have been treated for babesia but am not sure it's gone. i never did have a positive test, but was clinically diagnosed. i've done months of mepron, zithromax, arteminisin, byron white babs and coartem and possibly some others that i'm forgetting about.
the night sweats resolved but have come back at times, so it's hard to say if it's actually gone. my guess is i still have it, but who knows.
i'm sorry you know how it feels. no one should have to deal with this. thanks for your input!