- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 12h
PURE O + SEVERE DPDR / SLEEP ISSUES
About 5 years ago I had several massive panic attacks, and almost overnight developed severe DPDR and agoraphobia. The agoraphobia and derealization eventually improved, but my depersonalization has progressively gotten worse. I’m now almost completely emotionally numb and have a severely altered sense of familiarity, memory, and connection to people and places. I often feel like I’ve been living in a “dream” for years without my brain properly indexing the experience. My dreams are also extremely vivid and can stay with me throughout the entire day. I also have Pure O/existential OCD, and I increasingly realize how much of it revolves around doubt and internal checking: * How will I know when DPDR is getting better? * What will recovery feel like? * Am I really here? * Are my memories real? * Will I feel safe in a new apartment? * What does this feeling mean? My mind constantly monitors how I feel and tries to get certainty, which seems to create a self-reinforcing loop. I’ve tried IFS, Somatic Experiencing, EMDR, and ERP/NOCD, but recently became discouraged and stopped therapy. I’m considering trying specialized ERP again, specifically for the mental compulsions, rumination, and internal checking. Has anyone experienced severe DPDR alongside Pure O/existential OCD like this? Did targeting the mental compulsions actually help, even if the DPDR itself didn’t immediately disappear?