Many anxiety sufferers are familiar with the dreaded sensations associated with depersonalization. For those unfamiliar with DP (depersonalization) the experience can be very scary and intimidating. It is hard to describe exactly what being inside a DP experience feels like, but a good description would be feeling disconnected from the human experience. Some people describe feeling like they are in a dreamlike state, where their thoughts and actions aren’t really their own. Others describe the experience as watching your own life as if you were on a movie set and unable to have any say or direction on how the film is being produced. The feelings that DP produces are scary, but the good news is that if your journey has brought you to depersonalization you are ready to heal and master your anxiety.

In order to appreciate healing it helps to consider how deep the wound was that became healed. A large laceration that takes a long time to close can be seen as a more profound change than a small papercut that healed quickly. Depersonalization is similar to the natural healing process of the body, but the laceration is deep within our mind. Believe it or not, DP is actually a normal and healthy reaction to intense stress and anxiety. The ability to be disconnected from the emotions causing us so much discomfort is a way for our mind to protect itself. For some depersonalization can last a few minutes and for others it can last years. The required time for healing is all based on how deep the wound is that needs to heal.

So why do I say that depersonalization is a required step for healing? For starters, if you have been a long term sufferer of anxiety, chronic feelings of DP provide an indicator that you have hit rock bottom and your anxiety cannot go any deeper. Knowing this depth is a good thing because you have a foundation now to work from: work each day to feel more connected with yourself. There is no easy way to build on the foundation DP created for you, however goal setting can provide a great way to move more towards who you really are. Try yoga for 20 minutes a day. Use an eye mask and just be in a comfortable place for a while. In order to truly master your anxiety we must first admit that enough is enough, surrender to the experience and then be reborn as the warrior we are meant to be.

The good news is that DP and anxiety are exactly the same type of energy, but DP is the more intense version of an anxious state. Once you start you manage and overcome your anxiety the feelings you had with DP will just disappear like they never existed in the first place. Trust me when I say that you have the power within you to overcome the sensations. When I was at my rock bottom with anxiety I was convinced that I would be stuck in DP forever. One day I decided I had nothing left to lose so I started walking a lot and writing my feelings in a journal. Every day I made I little progress and I would smile and feel happy. Those small moments of progress made me believe in myself and my mission to overcome the things in life that were making me afraid.

No matter how intense the feelings are that you experience while in a DP state, remember that the REAL you is always present. You have to work hard to captain your own ship and convince the crew that you will see them through this challenge no matter what it takes. I know how hard the journey is under DP. Depersonalization can only ever serve as a safety valve not the entire ship. You alone control your destiny and journey moving forward. Always remember that you are a warrior and it will take more than some spooky feelings to knock you off course. Stay driven towards your mission of healing and I will meet you on the other side. It’s really nice on this end of the trail.