Hi EFTers, Just curious to know, has EFT worked for any of you with derealisation or depersonalization? I have had derealisation since May 2007 when my obsessive thoughts about me as a person got completely out of hand. One night about 11:30 I just got into such a huge panic and the next few days, I began to see everything around me in 2D, like it wasn't quite with me properly, it was distant, same with sounds. If anyone has derealization, they'll know exactly what I'm talking about. It's quite common, especially for chronic worriers like me! I was worried I was a psycho, pervert, evil sadist and everything else under the sun! This is what drove me to the point of derealization - derealization is your body's way of shielding you from the painful reality/ painful thoughts but unfortunately, it doesn't actually get rid of the thoughts, it just tries and instead, just makes objects 2D etc. I know Gary Craigs EFT has worked for me on smaller issues but I can't get right to the bottom of what exactly has caused the bigger issue - derealization. I find it hard to take myself back to that night in May 2007 when I got the Derealization so I find it hard to remember what exactly was going through my mind and how I was feeling physically. If anyone knows if Gary Craigs brilliant technique EFT works for Derealization/depersonalization, please let me know, thanks. Also, if you have any good ideas, please let me know what affirmations I could do to help. All the best, ted.

Hi Ted 1986

The absolute best thing you can do for yourself right now is to get ahold of a Centrum Silver vitamin and a good Vitamin B complex vitamin, Eat something and then take 1 of each, within about 4 hours you should be able to calm down enough to think a little clearer about your problem. The derealization as you call it should soften enough to where you start feeling a little more in control of yourself within three days life should be a little easier and the whole going out of your mind feeling should subside enough to be able to completely zero in on feelings and thoughts. Right now everything is just going around in circles.

Every time you start to feel yourself getting out of control do this exercise below after awhile it will become automatic and you should start feeling a calm beneath storm , the most important thing is to slow down the whole racing thought thing that happens before an episode, once you start calming your mind you will notice that it all starts with one negative thought and then proceeds from there, the game is to grab that thought and fix it before it turns into a full blown episode of disaster, fear and chaos.

Do 3 complete rounds of each/ as you tap make yourself do it slowly/ breathe before and after you speak(slowly)/ listen to your voice and try to zero in on the words that are coming out of your mouth. Although the urge to race through it will be strong ignore it the best you can. As far as  EFT working for issues like derealization I don't know, but it did help with me hearing voices which is similar in it's own way to derealization but the worries are definetly the same.

 Even though I cant control these thoughts I still deeply love and completely accept myself  

Even though I cant control this derealization I still deeply love and completely accept myself (for me it was hearing voices)

Even though I'm completely overwhelmed with all these thoughts I still deeply love and completely accept myself

Even though my mind is racing I still deeply love and completely accept myself

Even though I cant calm down I still deeply love and completely accept myself

Even though I'm going out of my mind with worry I still deeply love and completely accept myself

Even though I don't want to calm down I still deeply love and completely accept myself

Even though I cant relax I still deeply love and completely accept myself

Even though I have to fix all these problems right now all at once I still deeply love and completely accept myself

Even though if have fix all this crap right now I still deeply love and completely accept myself

Even though If I don't fix all of these worries immediately this very second the world will come to a disastrious end I still deeply love and completely accept myself

Even though it's more important for me to keep myself in a state of panic and distress than actually fix these problems I still deeply love and completely accept myself

Even though I cant calm down I still deeply love and completely accept myself

Even though I cant relax I still deeply love and completely accept myself

Unfortunately there may be a very bad side effect which is you may be asleep by the end of all this and might have to make it a little more suitable so you can stay awake for your situation.

Hi Kimberly, Thanks for your reccomendation, I will try out your affirmations. However, I'd just like to let you all know that I am no longer in a whirlwind of worry any more, I just have the derealization remaining from when I was worrying. This is why it is difficult for me to get into the worries because I have now gotten over them, it's just this cursed awful feeling of derealization/depersonalization is still with me and I want it to go away because it stops me from feeling like I'm in the moment so I can't enjoy things properly like I did. It's also irritating looking at objects in the room and they look 2D and not as sharp/real as they did before. I'm sure lots of you have had this at one time or another. I know that everyone experiences it at some point, just most people experience it for minutes or hours and no longer. If anyone has had success in this area with EFT, please let me know, I'd love to hear from you. I've already read one case on here about a person who had been derealized since 1978 who after applying EFT for a few days saw everything the way they did before 1978, however, this did only last for 15 minutes but still very enlightening, there's definately a lot of truth in EFT, no doubt about it.

I know that EFT is touted as something that is free that you can do for yourself. However, you are dealing with a core issue and looking at it as if you can tap on the symptoms and make it go away.

Here's the trap.

The symptoms are what are keeping your repressed emotions at bay. You clear the syptoms and the scary repressed emotions start to get out, so you pull the defense mechanism back up.

Find a good professional to help you clear the core issue.

Hello Ted -   This is very curious -  I have suffered DP/DR since about 1975 -  I am now 57 -  I agree it is (as I call "a living death!")    I have worked with the Maudsley hospital in drug trials to no avail.  I have sought many alternative therapies even Shamanic journeying and EFT and Neurolinguistic programming.  I think I am a little better than I was early on but as you say it is "the anxiety"  of what is happening -  have I died -  why can I not connect with all my friends/family, I am just an observer to life.   I first got DP and then it went onto DR as well.  Even looking at a sign post which was for my home town looked so unfamiliar and unreal  I am sure you know.

 My attempts with the medical profession have resulted in two suicide attempts (drug induced), two episodes of psychosis and 12 rounds of electric shock treatment.  I know (on looking back) they were only trying to help but I now realise (sorry for the pun!) derealise! that I was merely a guinea pig.

 Shamanism looks at "Soul Loss" and this is what I think DP may be?  When a trauma occurs part of the soul leaves because it cannot cope with it so leaves to enable to person to survive.   I have had two soul retreivals and shortly after did feel better but it did not last.

EFT -  I am qualified to level 2 and I cannot understand why I have not tried it on myself -  having read your site and the messages from others I will try.  But I wonder if "secondary gain"  maybe comes into play -   I say this because the only "remedy" I have found is alcohol.  I hate myself because I drink every night and make the excuse that it is because I have had such a "shitty day"   'PRETENDING TO EVERYONE THAT I AM FINE AND ENJOYING EVERYTHING .. BUT I GUESS YOU KNOW THAT LIE TOO-  This is also very exhausting I think although now I am unable to "feel my own SELF/body and even the lack of energy -  something just drives me forward -  people think I am fine?

I think the worst thing is that I have owned my horse for 15 years (my husband died the year after I bought him)   I obviously love him so much because he has helped me and supported me -  even down to just being a reason to get up in the morning but I DO NOT FEEL this affection for him.  He must know it is there and the only time I get close to "getting close" to this affection I just burst into tears! 

Comment from any other EFT -ers would be appreciated here

NLP -  not really any help because again the "connections" (brain wise) are not made?

 My only recommendation (apart fromt he alcohol) and really when you think about it -  now at my age it is quality rather than quantity of life and having to drop all the "pressures and personal constructs"  society has put on us all - is

Please visit www.hearthealing.ca    This will introduce you to Jill and Joe -  She is an extremely talented lady and psychic beyond all psychics -   she can see all the energetic bodies around a person.  She sees that back in 1970's my heart was responsible for closing my body down (as in DP/DR because if it had not then I would be dead -  overwork, etc.   telling myself that my marriage was great (not!).   Also I fell from my horse when aged 12 and was in coma (this goes back to the Shamanic training I have done) and part of the soul leaves to cope.   She has written a book explaining just how the heart field is far greater than the brain and explains how to swap thinking for feeling!!!   I have been fortunate to go on 3 of her workshops -  I should not (that is another message in my brain from parents!) have done that because I could not afford to do it but somehow my heart has told me to go -  this is how I have learned so much -  if only (another rubbish two words)   I could have known this 30 years ago!

 So I would only encourage you to go if you can afford it -  She has one in Glastonbury (which I would love to attend)  but I am on benefits and cannot -   If  you have the funds please enrol because you will learn so much (not necessarily about DP/DR but about yourself.  Also she is able to read your energies and will tell you just what she sees and Joe will tell you just what he feels -  he is clairsentient and also a brilliant reflexologist. The course only attracts lovely people   

I now realise that despite the many theories they are perhaps "the same"  and my main problem has always been that I have tried (as I think you have done is to look back as to what "caused it!".   I think the main thing is to FORGET that totally because one will never know and just like putting labels on illnesses does it matter.   The way forward is to get better.    There is only the NOW -  past has gone and who knows we could be dead tomorrow.  This is where DP/DR is so cruel because I think it does not permit one to be  "in the moment"   -  when discussed and described to others they are unable to understand.  I am the first to admit that I would have just said to someone "pull yourself together and get on with your life"  had it not happened to myself.  

The only upsides of DP are I think -  maybe making me a more understanding person but then that is just false because (as above)  I am not there to appreciate it.  Memory only!!!!!    Jill has picked up my "thinking powers" and that they are not good -  The Heart serves you far better than the brain -  please read her book -  it is amazing and illuminating and try to get to the workshops -  on workshop one everyone noticed how I changed during the 5 days -  Jill is able to "up the energies" by linking all the participants' hearts together and on day two I went out and saw  "a real tree"

I think you will appreciate what I mean?!

I will close now and hope:

a)  You have recovered

b)  Talking is good and it would be good to correspond -  my email is   judieregler@btinternet.com    I live in Lincolnshire England

Best wishes

Judie  

Ted, I just wanted to ask how you are doing. I am pretty knew to the post so have been reading some to learn more about myself. This post caught my eye because I have had some real struggles with this. If you don't want to respond, I understand. You posted over a year ago. I just really understood what it feels like for ME when I race. It is what has kept me agoraphobic for 27 years. I do not like that racing feeling that leads to the derealization. I just wanted to add that when I had my non stop episodes of derealization, I found out I was allergic to most of the foods I was eating. I had to go to a pretty strict diet, it was hard, but it changed my life to find what was causing the worst of those long term episodes. Now I still had to deal with racing thoughts and panic and that out of body stuff, but I could/can get it under control better, depending on how my self talk is and how I have been eating and sleeping AND EXercising!!  For me it is not the affirmations that help, it is the space to grieve, and I mean, just crying, waling, letting it out, whatever is stuck inside that needs to be let out, released. I hope you are much improved, or all better. I am using the EFT for many things. For me, I do see the incremental changes, and some of them are amazing. I tap on issues(in private) I have with one of my kids, like anger at one of my daughters, and without talking to my daughter, that issue gets resolved, where she was angry she gets calm.

EFT is not a quick cure all, but it helps me resolve my mountain of issues one boulder at a time, where as before eft I felt like I was sifting through sand! Take care all