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Marijuana Induced DPDR
Marijuana can sometimes trigger Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder (DPDR) because of the way it interacts with the brain. Here's a more human-friendly explanation:
When you smoke or ingest marijuana, the active ingredient, THC, can alter how your brain processes reality. For some people, this can lead to feelings of detachment or unreality, like you're watching yourself from outside your body or the world around you feels strange and distant.
Marijuana affects areas of the brain that control perception, emotion, and cognition. In some cases, it can overstimulate these areas, causing a kind of sensory overload. This can make it hard for your brain to integrate experiences normally, leading to the dissociative feelings characteristic of DPDR.
Additionally, marijuana can increase anxiety in some people. High levels of anxiety can contribute to or exacerbate feelings of depersonalization and derealization. It's like your mind's way of protecting itself from stress, but it ends up making you feel disconnected instead.
Everyone's brain chemistry is different, so while some people might feel relaxed and happy after using marijuana, others might experience these unsettling feelings. If you already have anxiety or other mental health issues, marijuana might be more likely to trigger DPDR for you.
Is DPDR Permanent?
DPDR is not permanent people if you know how to recover from it. It often occurs as a response to stress, trauma, anxiety, or substance use and can be temporary. However, the duration and intensity of DPDR can vary widely from person to person. Here are some key points to consider:
Temporary Episodes
For many individuals, DPDR can be a temporary experience, lasting from a few minutes to several hours or days. These episodes often resolve on their own, especially when the underlying stressor or trigger is addressed.
Chronic DPDR
In some cases, DPDR can become more chronic, lasting for weeks, months, or even years. Chronic DPDR can be particularly challenging and may require professional treatment to manage effectively.
Treatment and Recovery
Many people with DPDR find relief through a combination of treatments, including:
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Therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other forms of psychotherapy can help address the underlying causes of DPDR and develop coping strategies.
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Medication: While there's no specific medication for DPDR, treating co-occurring conditions like anxiety or depression with medication can sometimes alleviate DPDR symptoms.
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Lifestyle Changes: Reducing stress, practicing mindfulness, and engaging in regular physical activity can help manage symptoms.
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Support Groups: Connecting with others who understand what you're going through can provide emotional support and practical advice.
Is DPDR permanent?
DPDR is not typically permanent for most people. If you have a proper recovery plan it should not persist. It often occurs as a response to stress, trauma, anxiety, or substance use and can be temporary. However, the duration and intensity of DPDR can vary widely from person to person. Here are some key points to consider:
Temporary Episodes
For many individuals, DPDR can be a temporary experience, lasting from a few minutes to several hours or days. These episodes often resolve on their own, especially when the underlying stressor or trigger is addressed.
Chronic DPDR
In some cases, DPDR can become more chronic, lasting for weeks, months, or even years. Chronic DPDR can be particularly challenging and may require professional treatment to manage effectively.
Treatment and Recovery
Many people with DPDR find relief through a combination of treatments, including:
-
Therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and other forms of psychotherapy can help address the underlying causes of DPDR and develop coping strategies.
-
Medication: While there's no specific medication for DPDR, treating co-occurring conditions like anxiety or depression with medication can sometimes alleviate DPDR symptoms.
-
Lifestyle Changes: Reducing stress, practicing mindfulness, and engaging in regular physical activity can help manage symptoms.
-
Support Groups: Connecting with others who understand what you're going through can provide emotional support and practical advice.
Depersonalization vs Derealization (DP vs DR)
Please note: Recovering from either condition is the same process.
DP and DR may feel different but they both are just symptons of Complex Trauma.
Depersonalization (DP)
Depersonalization is a feeling of being detached from your own body or mind, as if you are an outside observer of your thoughts, feelings, and actions. It's like you're not truly connected to yourself. Some common experiences of depersonalization include:
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Feeling like you're in a dream: Everything feels unreal or hazy, like you're not fully present in your own life.
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Out-of-body experiences: You might feel like you're watching yourself from a distance, as if you are not controlling your own movements.
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Emotional numbness: Your emotions might feel muted or distant, making it hard to feel joy, sadness, or anger fully.
Derealization (DR)
Derealization, on the other hand, is a sense that the external world is unreal or distorted. It's as if the environment around you feels strange or unfamiliar. Some common experiences of derealization include:
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Distorted perception: Objects might seem oddly shaped, larger, or smaller than usual. Colors might appear more vivid or dull.
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Time distortion: Time might seem to pass very slowly or quickly, making it hard to keep track of the passage of time.
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Sense of unreality: You might feel like you're in a fog, or that there's a veil between you and the world, making it hard to connect with your surroundings.
The Difference
While both depersonalization and derealization involve feelings of disconnection, the key difference is where this disconnection is directed:
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Depersonalization: The disconnection is from yourself—your own thoughts, feelings, and body.
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Derealization: The disconnection is from the world around you—your environment and the objects and people in it.
People with DPDR might experience one or both of these sensations, and they can be quite distressing. Understanding the difference can help in identifying and managing these feelings more effectively.
How long will recovery take?
Depersonalization varies from person to person, and predicting how long it will take for someone to recover is almost impossible. I have heard from most people that recovery can be as soon as one month, and the average is about 8-12 weeks. When I refer to recovery duration, I refer to when an actual plan is implemented. For example, if you had DPDR for five years but learned about a good recovery plan four years and ten months in, your recovery took two months.
For myself, I had Depersonalization for three years, but when I put a real plan into place and learned how to recover correctly, I will be healed within about six weeks. While others may take up to six months to recover, recovery is dependent on how much trauma someone has and how dedicated they are to sticking to their recovery plan.
Can LSD Trigger DPDR?
LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) can potentially trigger or exacerbate symptoms of depersonalization-derealization disorder (DPDR) in some individuals. DPDR is characterized by persistent or recurrent feelings of detachment from one's self (depersonalization) and/or the environment (derealization).
How LSD Can Cause or Exacerbate DPDR:
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Altered Perception: LSD profoundly alters perception, cognition, and mood. These intense experiences can lead to feelings of detachment and unreality, which are core symptoms of DPDR.
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Stress and Anxiety: The experience of a "bad trip" or intense anxiety while under the influence of LSD can trigger or worsen DPDR symptoms.
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Latent Vulnerabilities: Individuals who have a predisposition to dissociative disorders or have underlying anxiety or trauma may be more susceptible to developing DPDR after using LSD.
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Neurological Impact: LSD affects neurotransmitter systems in the brain, particularly serotonin, which plays a role in mood regulation and perception. These changes can lead to dissociative symptoms.