Depersonalization is just a product of spending too much time inside your head. It is from over thinking and it is a sign that you need to get OUT of your head and get focused on something else.

I could say the word "book" over and over again and if I say it enough, it will start to sound strange and weird and give me that "Woooooah....what's going on here?" kind of feeling. You can look at something too long, listen to something to hard, focus on something too intently, and it will ALWAYS end up seeming distorted. It happens to everybody on the planet. The problem is that with people like us, we get freaked out by it.

Have you ever seen those pictures at the mall where if you stare at them for a long time you start seeing a different picture? Well, that is depersonalization in a nutshell. Its not a big deal....very normal. Just a sign that you need to get your mind on something in the real world and get out of your own mind.

Thank you for your response, that helped to hear that. :)

I can relate, I experience that too when I am in my anxiety episode, it is scary everything seems louder and intensified. Try weraing a rubber band around your wrist and evrytime you get an anxious thought snap it real hard, it does work for a while.

I have had this since childhood, along w/ derealization I have trouble shutting it off, but other times it's the only way I can ever leave the house. It doesn't scare me since it's been my coping style since early childhood, but it still is strange.

omigosh, I remember once while I had been having long-term anxiety, my uncle was standing behind me and he opened a can of soda. The "pop" and "hiss" of the soda can almost had me clinging to the ceiling like a cat in a cartoon! To me it sounded WAY loud and unfamiliar, I literally didn't know what that "noise" was till he told me.

Hey I get depersonalized a lot and I think it's true that someone else said you just need to focus on something that will really take your attention away.

Sometimes I feel like my body isn't real, that's the kind of sensations I get. It's really ncomfortable. Maybe try doing some meditation and go to the gym or something? Then when you feel better go back to your music x

Hi...yes all this sounds familiar. I couldn't bear my husband to tap on the back of the sofa when I was anxious...the noise was inbearable. Also music did sound strange some days, and also when outside I sometimes used to feel taller than normal. When we are in anxiety states we are very much living on the 'inside'...if you can do something to distract yourself it really does help. What got me well was taking Vit B complex (100mg dosage...1 a day) and the book I keep recommending SELF HELP FOR YOUR NERVES by DR CLAIRE WEEKES...It is excellent, and she speaks as if she is sitting with you holding your hand...I wish you well, and hope this helps..Diana..