It really isn't. It's a mental disorder usually caused by severe trauma which leads to distorted emotional development. It's about coping with severe inner pain and fear of dying because of it.
Don't smoke any more weed at least for a little while if you can until you feel more grounded again. Your brain is still developing and it can cause more anxiety, so will likely make your derealization worse. It's okay to smoke from time to time but it's better to do it again only once you've learned to self regulate a little better so you don't get stuck in a vicious cycle. It's very helpful to do something grounding every day even if it's just for a few minutes. This could be self massage, walking barefoot, going outside, reducing social media (very big factor in increased derealization because it makes you very dissociated), singing or humming (stimulates the vagus nerve for relaxation), light exercise, swimming, petting animals... Whatever it is that helps you to get into the body in a comfortable and soothing way is really good and if you cannot stop with the smoking at the moment because the craving is too big then do it if you really need to but make sure to do some grounding (see things I mentioned) beforehand and make sure to have a very comfortable setting (nice light, enough to drink, good food, feeling safe in your body in general). Derealization comes from not feeling safe in the body and "escaping" into your head, so it's crucial to get acquainted with your body in a very slow and gentle way 💕
Actually it's way more likely to have twins when there are already twins in the female ancestral lineage so she has a point
You know, most of the time it's not black and white. It's not "I am either victim or perpatrator", unless it's an abusive situation. Life is messy, relationships are messy and complicated and take constant work. I think that's getting lost in the mental health hype a little bit. Relationships are not about being right or about who takes the blame. It's about really trying to understand each other because we care and sometimes we bring out the worst in others and sometimes others bring out difficult sides of us. It definitely sounds like there's a lot of blame involved on both sides in the conversation you're describing.
My parents used to be the same way. They call it a problem, I call it "system buster". What they're really saying is "You're causing them problems of having to confront their own actions". And I get why they don't like it! Because it makes it so they can't hide from the shit they've done when it's right in their faces. Don't let them gaslight you! I think you can be so proud of yourself for seeking counselling and for not keeping up with their emotional abuse anymore. I wish you so much strength and a lot of healthy and nurturing experiences on your healing journey and hopefully your siblings maybe take it as an inspiration to get help as well. You don't need your parents approval for it ❤️
Well okay then. All the best.
Okay, now you're just throwing around kitchen table psychology, depression and especially PTSD are NOT a chemical imbalance. We don't even know what the appropriate amount of neurotransmitters is for one specific person. That's partly why 50% of people don't have any effect at all from SSRIs (myself included). This has been debunked over and over since the 80s. SSRIs are also not creating more Serotonin, they're inhibiting the reuptake, so there's a larger concentration in the synaptic cleft. Johanniskraut is recommended by the psychological association in my country, which is quite advanced in mental health care. I don't know about the US in this case, I've not heard of FSA until now. But it seems quite funny to me since the US has very low restrictions on food quality in general compared to other westernised countries. Let me just say we wouldn't be allowed to sell your tomatoes here. But I think it's very good that you shared your criticism (even if I find the attitude a little off-putting). Now people will be aware of both sides and be inclined to check for themselves, which I think is actually what we both wanted. Like I said, I've taken medication myself, it's neither good nor bad per se. All the best for you and good for you that you've found medication and treatment which works for you!
Edit: I've just checked and Johanniskraut is actually being recommended by the American College of Physicians - American Society of Internal Medicine (ACP-ASIM) in their treatment guidelines, however they're criticizing that quality control is not as sufficient in the US as compared to Europe. So everyone should definitely double check on your own.
It's not my personal opinion at all, it's simply the current state of research. I've quoted the articles, so everyone can read into them on their own and make up their own mind. Rebound effects are also a very valid concern. As I said, medications can be helpful for a certain amount of time as an addition to therapy. I also suggested specific ones above as you can see. I personally have taken different sorts of medication in my life, didn't have any effect from the SSRIs and minor effects from others which had too many side effects for me personally (fatigue and loss of libido). Johanniskraut worked for me personally which I took for a few months. Medications are needed sometimes but they're definitely not THE solution, especially since there's a huge bias to mainly publish articles which are pro medication/ pro FDE. We shouldn't recommend anything without a levelheaded look into it. They cause people to SOMETIMES take their own lives (if not accompanied by professional support), you don't think that's appropriate to mention? Wow.
I'm so sorry you went through this as well and you can be very proud of yourself too, brave little rockstar 🫂
Gosh, you're brave. I have so much rage for this pathetic weasel after reading how cowardly he took advantage of you. It really sounds like grooming. This is insanity. What a pathetic excuse of a human being this monster is. Do you have a friend who can support you when you have to meet this disgusting piece of shit again? I wish we could all go with you (and mentally we will). It's totally fine to not interact with him at all, as well. Please do everything you can to stay away from him as far as possible. I'll be thinking about you the next days and keep sending you lots of warmth and comfort, little warrior. You're going to get through this. I know, you have no clue how life can continue from now on but it will. I promise you're gonna be okay. It wasn't your fault. Not even 1%. Nothing was your fault. Holding you tightly ❤️
No, this is false. I still see this myth a lot even from doctors and therapists even though the research and patients experiences clearly tell a different story. See Giovanni Fava et. al in "Psychotherapy and psychosomatics" for example. Or a more recent article by Read et. al in "International journal of mental health nursing", where they showed that more than 50% of participants had mild to severe withdrawal symptoms. And that's while considering publication bias, which is very strong when it comes to FDA interests as has been shown (I can link some articles here if you're interested).
I refuse to believe they even as much as touched who I really am. They have no power to change the fact that I am unapologetically and uncompromisingly, completely fucking alive. Despite everything they did. Despite the disgust and sadism and the perversions and grief and anger and numbness and even despite the wish I wasn't. Or wait, if that's what they wanted to take from me, then I'll be even more alive now! This they can never take from me! I refuse to kill my own aliveness in their name no matter how much this makes it hurt to still be alive. Yes, they abused me severely. Yes, they hurt me more than words can ever express. But they cannot ever taint who I am. Alive, no matter what and my heart belongs to no one else but me.
It depends a lot on your individual situation. First of all, we don't even really know how these medications work exactly. They have an effect for about 50% of the people who try them generally. They come with side effects sometimes and should be taken generally only as an ADDITION to psychotherapy, not as a means on their own. This is especially important at the beginning when they cause higher levels of energy but the mood hasn't caught up yet, so it can cause suicidal ideation and even actions in that phase, which is why professional assistance is important. They also can cause a rebound effect when you get off of them, which means that then the original symptoms come back stronger (e.g. more panic attacks than before taking them compared to a placebo group). If anything, I would suggest them for a very short period of time only because depending on the type they can be very addictive. As a short-term solution they can be supportive and helpful but they should never be the whole treatment and never be taken for longer periods of time. One thing you can try is taking Lecithin (here a generous dose is totally okay, it cannot be harmful) and Johanniskraut, these are both freely available and derived from plants and help the nervous system stabilize. Lecithin helps build the neurons and the protective layer around the neurons and Johanniskraut is basically a natural antidepressant (it's quite strong, you should do some research before taking it because it can interfere with contraception etc.)
Tell your children. Tell them until they're unbelievably annoyed about it (even if that isn't possible)! They know the difference intuitively. You knew because you knew back then. You know what I'm talking about, we felt it suck the life out of us.
Personally, I believe npd and bpd have the exact same underlying issues: a lack of sense of self (no approriate mirroring in childhood), deeply internalised shame and fear of abandonment. The difference is that narcissists create a "mask", sort of a super-ego or grandiose fake persona to compensate for the lack of self worth and overwhelming emptiness and lack of sense of self they're experiencing while people with bpd don't. They try to manipulate others into providing the positive mirroring they so desperately lack. Narcissists become *vulnerable" (this actually doesn't exist as a clinical definition) when they feel they're falling short in comparison to their fake persona. People with bpd don't cope like that, they act out their affects completely unfiltered.
No I'm totally fine with it. I just disagree with you and find your post arrogant.
This has nothing to do with what you posted... Of course your ex shouldn't have been emotionally abusive towards you but your post is about something completely different. Having made a very negative experience in a relationship doesn't give you the right to shame and generalize everyone who has the disorder, which you seem to not understand very well in the first place.
Personally I find that eye contact really helps me make the symptoms better. Even if it's just my own reflection. Try it and see what it does for you.
Ugh, this is so horrible. I'm really sorry this is happening and honestly the way she handled it completely sucks. No one should treat a friend like that. It's such petty, mean girl behaviour. She sounds like a complete asshole.
Yeeez, honey, I can't even keep my flat clean without having children. And it's definitely not acceptable that your husband is so unsupportive! Sounds like you really do need a little bit of rest ❤️
Cptsd doesn't fuck my life. It literally saved my life. Abuse and abusers fucked my life - not the effects it had on me. I needed to dissociate in order to survive. Without cptsd I would be dead, addicted or psychotic.
CPTSD fucks your life because, you’re basically trying to live by avoiding real life. That is not a good thing
CPTSD