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RealMudflapper t1_ivjpmfi wrote

Perfect. And depersonalization is awful; I had it when tapering off anxiety meds years ago.

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Racxie t1_ivmiyzu wrote

What's depersonalization?

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WaliBoi OP t1_ivo7i4b wrote

To answer your question, it's where you feel outside your body or that your world isn't real.

There are different causes for it, but they usually occur when you have a mental illness or taking meds for a mental illness (correctly with side effects or incorrectly taken.)

I've been experiencing depersonalization and dissociation lately due to my schizoaffective disorder, so my depersonalization may appear differently to other people's experience with this symptom.

I hope that answers your question.

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RealMudflapper t1_ivoac44 wrote

I haven’t looked it up in a while, probably because I’d rather not be reminded, but the doctor that oversaw my taper said I had derealization as well, which is exactly what it sounds like. But I think both diagnoses overlap? All I know is I grit my teeth whenever I hear someone is taking multiple benzos daily. They should be administered judiciously, or as a last resort. Tolerance is quick, even when not abusing them. Benzo withdrawal feels like the end of the world, and unlike hard drugs like opiates, meth, cocaine, etc., if you don’t taper it can kill you, just like alcohol cessation. GABAnergic drugs are no joke.

That’s why this artwork connected with me.

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Racxie t1_ivoi9dv wrote

Thank you for your reply. Can't say I've ever experienced something like that, though it definitely sounds interesting, almost like the experiences of people who take certain recreational drugs; though I'm sure it's always unpleasant.

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facubkc t1_ivncb7n wrote

Google is an amazing tool

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Racxie t1_ivntgh4 wrote

Sometimes it's better to ask people who have actually been through something than just Googling a book definition.

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B1tSane t1_ivlgixm wrote

Really cool portrayal!

The same happened to me less than 2 years ago, still struggling with it. Be careful when tapering off meds folks!

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RealMudflapper t1_ivm13c1 wrote

Hang in there! It took me a year to taper off completely and another year for me to feel nearly normal. Finding a new doctor who prescribed Mirtazapine helped a ton. It's a non-addictive anxiety medication that has no abuse potential and helps you sleep. I can't recommend it enough. It's actually used in Europe quite a bit for drug and alcohol withdrawal but it's not as well known here in the US.

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