Freedom Files

This blog is devoted to the many people with Depersonalization, Derealization, Anxiety and Depression who are feeling the confusion and hopelessness I'm familiar with. My goal is to share my story and help anybody I can. PLEASE you are more than welcome to message me. I'd love to talk and share stories with you!

[simplyheavenlyfood]

[freedom-files]

Are you dp free?

That's a good question. I would say yes, but I've actually been getting episodes of dp back here and there. Fortunately I know how to make it go away sooner now so it doesn't consume my whole life like it used to.

[freedom-files]

Sorry for taking so long to answer some of your guys' questions. I've gone through a huge change this last month and have been pretty busy, but keep sending em' in cuz I check them almost daily. Thanks :)

[lifehacks247]

[lalalaluljetablah-deactivated20]

I am so sorry to all the people I hurt while I was hurting.

Unknown  (via slutstatus)

[freedom-files]

Depersonalization- Getting Through The Hard Days

Somebody recently asked if "You could give some examples of ideas/actions you keep in mind/things you do when having a really rough day?" So here it goes:

Although I’d say that I’m mostly living a “dp free” life now, depersonalization does roll around here and again, especially this time of the year when things seem to be a bit more stressful. When I’m really having a rough day, there are some things I do to help me snap out of it. The first thing I do is to recognize my emotions/feelings, accept them, and then remind myself to be strong. If you give in to the negative feelings you are experiencing, then it becomes much easier to get yourself into an even bigger slump. Remember that dp is not who you are, and that the sun will shine again. Although these days can leave me desperately wanting to stay in bed and hide my face, it’s important to not give in to that temptation. Once again, doing so will make it easier to slip into a more permanent state of sadness or confusion.

I then try to get my mind distracted by doing things that generally make me happy. For me, these things may include making hot tea, watching a good movie, playing piano, walking, taking a long shower, or hanging out with my best friend. Don’t give yourself room to overthink things. The most important thing that I cannot stress enough is: avert your attention/ ignore negative thoughts. DO NOT dwell on your feelings or emotions as they most often tell you lies and make you feel even worse ESPECIALLY on these days when you may be feeling downright hopeless. Whenever I notice myself starting to wonder about my depersonalization or begin receding in to my head, I have to quickly snap myself out of it. Soon enough, this will become easier and the dp feeling will lessen and perhaps go away completely.

Remember that whatever you allow in your mind controls your life. Dwell on dp and you will succumb to it. Think positive thoughts and you will be less likely to feel depersonalized. Don’t hesitate to take some personal time to relax and be alone, but also take a stand against whatever is getting you down, whether it is dp/dr or something else. All in all, what gets me through these days are some alone time, some fun time, and positive thinking! 

[freedom-files]

Depersonalization- Let's Get Serious

My real lifesaving moment from depersonalization came a few years ago when I was able to get over it through self help methods. But I've revisited dpd a few times since then, one of them being very recently. As much pain as dp brings me, I can also say I'm at least a little thankful because I am reminded how serious the disorder is and how those currently suffering with it feel. It makes me want to keep striving to help you guys and create a community where we can go through it together and don't have to suffer alone. Tonight, I just want to say that my heart goes out to all of you. If ever there is something you wish for me to talk about, or write about, or do in any form whether on my blog on one on one or somehow else, please let me know. This disorder needs a voice and you can count on me being first in line! 

[freedom-files]

Just checking in with my wonderful followers and saying hi! I haven't been posting as much due to the craziest that December often brings, but I hope you have all been able to enjoy the holiday/winter season in one way or another! Feel free to leave something in my ask if you wanna talk or ask a question or anything of the sort! Love you all

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My friend told me that she thinks she is suffering from depersonalization but she said she stops feeling that way when she's around friends. I never heard of anything like it. Is this depersonalization? If so, what is the best way I can help her?

It is difficult to say for sure. Has she told you what she feels like when this "depersonalization" comes over her? I can almost say I felt more depersonalized when I was around friends, but then again everyone is different. If she is naturally outgoing or an extrovert, she might feel more confidence when around other people which may make it easier for her to forget about the depersonalization. As far as helping her, this is another situation where everybody is different and will respond differently to any "help." I would suggest just letting her talk it out when she needs to. Be there for her whenever possible. Listen and respond with empathy. Depersonalization sufferers tend to feel alone so letting her know that you care about her and won't judge her can really make a big difference. I also suggest advising her to improve her mental and physical health by exercising more, doing more activities she enjoys, and eating healthier. This can make a big difference in anybody suffering with a mental disorder. I hope this helped and I wish the best for your friend! Feel free to ask any more questions you may have!

[fox-in-a-mug]

[violentwavesofemotion-deactivat]

I have a great yearning to write all my anxiety entirely out of me, write it into the depths of the paper just as it comes out of the depths of me, or write it down in such a way that I could draw what I had written into me completely.

Franz Kafka, from Diaries   (via manakahandmade)

[fitblrholics]

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My father was diagnosed with schizophrenia when I was a baby from a car crash. My grandma (his mom) suffers from something also I'm just not sure what... With all my dpdr going on i sometimes have other weird thoughts that I thought were part of it but also happen to be symptoms of schizotypal disorder. Do you think I'm just over analyzing this or should I try to seek medical help. I've been like this for 4 years and I heard it's possible to run in families.. I'm just scared and confused.

I don't know much about schizophrenia so I don't want to try to give any advice on that subject without strong knowledge. However, I would definitely recommend talking to a professional about it, especially if it runs in your family. What I do know is that dpdr has a way of making the mind very anxious and nervous even the individual doesn't notice it right off the bat, so it may be possible you are over analyzing the situation. I say this because I know when I had dpdr, and even afterwards when I was suffering more with anxiety, I had a tendency to over analyze lots of things, even silly things that didn't need to be analyzed at all. I think it would be good to talk to someone about your feelings just to take action and be on the safe side. And I know this may sound silly, but try to clear your mind even if for a few minutes and try not to focus on all of the stuff going on in your head. I 100% understand the being scared and confused part, but I learned that the only way you'll ever get past it is to stop giving in and to not let yourself be scared and confused. Everything will be fine, especially if you are proactive in improving your own mental health. If you ever have questions specifically about dpdr I'd be more than happy to answer them! 

[inspiration-daily]

[thereisnoimpossible]

[migrains-deactivated20190924]

little things that actually make a difference to general life happiness: •drinking lots of water •eating fresh fruit •thinking positively about yourself and others •washing your face twice a day •changing your sheets once a week •hot baths with Epsom salts •face masks using from things in your house •sleeping more than 7 hours per night •reorganizing your clothes, makeup, possessions etc •keeping your living space clean

[freedom-files]

Is it wrong to self diagnose yourself?? I'm very confident that I have dp/dr but can't get to a doctor or professional to clarify it. It just feels so weird to self diagnose myself. It makes it sound like I'm looking for something wrong with me to tell people even though I have no intention on telling anyone. I don't know why I feel like that when so many people diagnose themselves with things everyday...

I am actually so glad you asked this question! It's something I've been wanting to discuss on my blog for a while now. I plan on making a post about it soon, but I'll also address it now. I am also a self diagnosed dp/dr patient. I went to a psychologist but because she had never met anyone else with depersonalization, she didn't want to diagnose me with the chances of being wrong. Now, this is not necessarily a bad thing because doctors and psychologists/psychiatrists have a tendency to actually misdiagnose this disorder with things like depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. Although a patient with dp/dr might also suffer from one of these other things, the misdiagnosis fails to let them recognize the real source of their dp/dr feelings. 

Normally, I wouldn't recommend self diagnosing yourself, as it is important to get input from a professional. Unfortunately, it seems like a lot of the time, the dpd community doesn't have any other choice. I can't tell anybody it is wrong to give to name what they're experiencing, because I was once in the same boat and had to do the same thing. And if you or others are anything like me, you were questioning what it is you were feeling for so long that once you found the term dp or dr, you immediately identified with it and perhaps even felt relieved that what you were experiencing had a name and that you weren't alone!

Still, I understand that you want to be diagnosed professionally. Having a professional opinion makes it seem more official. It wouldn't hurt to try going to a professional if you ever get the opportunity, but also keep in mind that if they have a lack of knowledge about dp/dr, then they could refuse to diagnose you or might misdiagnose you. I know of people being correctly diagnosed with dp/dr as well, but I just want to make it clear that it doesn't end up like that in all situations. 

I think depersonalizations is one of those things that you just know you have once you read about it. That's how it was for me. It finally gave a name to what I was feeling and made me feel even a little hope that I wasn't alone. Self diagnosing isn't the best or only option, but in the dpd community it is pretty common, not to mention necessary. I can understand why you feel uncomfortable about self diagnosing. Just know you aren't the only one to do it with dp/dr and that you have a community of people to talk to if you need! I hope I answered your question and helped clear things up for you! Please let me know if there's any other way I could clarify this issue for you, or if you have any other questions. Thanks again and best wishes to you.