Ocular conditions and derealization

[gtp40]

Hey all,

I recently hit a low in my scrupulosity, and I believe it may have something to do with the fact that I've been feeling derealized quite a bit every day for quite a few days.

I know that certain things with lighting and my vision can cause me to feel derealized/depersonalized but I've never had it for this long before (that I can remember). So I have a theory. I haven't gotten my hair cut since December 2006 and my hair grows fast. Just recently it's reached the point where it's driving me nuts and covering up my eyebrows, and I can see it. I think that my decreased peripheral vision is causing the derealization. I coulda swore that this has happened before when I've let my hair grow out previously. Other things that cause DR/DP (so much easier to use acronyms lol) for me is right around dawn when the blinds are open and it's dark outside and the lights are on inside. Also, certain types and colors of lamp shades can cause it depending on what type of light is coming out of the bulb underneath it, or in other words the light put out by certain lamps.

So I guess what I'm wondering is...

Does depersonalization/derealization affect your scrupulosity?

And do certain lighting/ocular conditions affect you if you suffer from depersonalization/derealization?

Thanks!

 

[goldenviolet]

usually, to my knowledge (of my little brain ) depersonalization is caused by stress or lack of sleep. however, people can have dissociative dissorders, in which they have triggered episodes. i think you should ask a therepist. my guess is there are a few exsplainations; of which only a professional can get to the bottom of.

 

[junezephyr]

gtp, fluorescent lighting tends to make people in DP/DR states feel worse because the light source is at a constant flicker (even though we can't necessarily see it). It is also known to trigger seizures in some people.

Epileptics actually commonly suffer from DP/DR. Both are due to electrical misfirings/perception disturbances in the brain.

We've got a thread going about DP/DR over in the anxiety forum if you ever want to check it out.

 

[stacii]

Now, I only get my feelings of scrupulosity during episodes of derealization. I didn't notice that visual disturbances necessarily affected me until I read this post, but thinking back on it, I am always anxious to get away from flouresent lights that are about to die, because the flickering is so noticeable. If I can't get away I have a sure panic attack accompanied by derealization every time.

I also get super freaked out and derealization occurs almost for sure if I'm in a big, sort of empty warehouse place. There is a DSW shoe store by my house and I won't go in there any longer. The place is so big and the racks are so small that all you can see is this gigantic store with crazy high ceilings...and you'd think since it's so big I wouldn't get all crazy in there. The last time I was in there I felt so detatched from reality I ran out of there and didn't recover for two days...

Okay, the main reason I'm telling you this, is because it can be caused by a lot of different things for everyone. You are totally normal, and you know yourself better than anyone else. Congrats on figuring out a possible trigger!!