How to Overcome Depersonalization

How to understand and overcome depersonalization. Step by step description of how this anxiety symptom manifests itself and why there is no cause for worry.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Willingness to participate.

1. Understand that this "anxiety related" symptom does NOT indicate illness. Although you might feel spacey or "unreal," there is a logical explanation for this sensation. Do not be fooled into believing you are ill or suffer from an emotional illness.
2. Realize your mind is simply tired and taking the break it requires to refresh. Stress, worry or even a minor emotional shock has resulted in this reaction and continues to fuel the sensation. It is the culmination of extended tension or stress and although it may temporarily feel strange, it does not indicate physical or mental illness. Nothing serious is occurring and you are not "losing it."
3. Worry only prolongs this anxiety reaction. It further exhausts an already tired mind. Learning how to counter this behavior will relieve feelings of depersonalization. The longer the worry, the longer symptoms linger. Therefore, in order to eliminate these sensations one must:
   - Give up the attitude of worry. Accept the fact that although you feel "strange," it is not a sign of illness.
   - Apply behavioral modification skills to counter anxiety reactions, thus relieving an already tired mind of added stress.
   - Use a nutritional neutralizing diet to boost serotonin levels naturally, deflect feelings of depersonalization and prevent their return.
   - Begin naturally boosting serotonin in general, as it will often drop when under stress. A few examples of serotonin boosters are: exercise, light, diet/nutrition, music, repetitive motion.

Tips & Warnings

• Learn to shut down anxiety as this will also aid in relieving depersonalization.
• Avoid excess sweets (both sugars and especially sugar substitutes).
• Exercise in sunlight 20 minutes daily as this also boosts Serotonin.
• Lose yourself in an interest, a cause or something bigger than you. It helps.
• Stop checking in. This will eventually go as it came. Let go of the worry.
• Try a natural approach before rushing into medications. Adverse reactions, withdrawal symptoms and general side effects often hinder recovery.