Amazing DPDR Recovery story | How Kirsten Recovered from Derealization by learning to surrender

[@ashleyfeinberg2988]

The acceptance is totally the key for me. Acknowledging it's there, accepting that it's there. "This sucks, I'm very uncomfortable. I'm not going to fight it or try to fix it or fixate on it. I'm just going to let it be there." That was the beginning of me feeling better.

[@StephanieLuna-o7z]

What did you feel? Did your body feel shaky? And tired when you learned to accepted?

[@StephanieLuna-o7z]

@ashleyfeinberg2988

[@frankiel9879]

I find it’s a feeling of relief that you no longer have to fight. Fear colours your perceptions of life and death negatively.

[@sethmichaelpinder]

I'm almost there myself! 10 months of recovery and therapy. Be patient, do your exercises and most of all try to control your anxiety! You all got this. Nothing is forever.👍👍

[@kirstencorbett2289]

a few more tips i'd like to mention in hindsight but i had to rush to a meeting right after our interview! this might all sound corny. • The world we live in right now, especially with current state of affairs, don't create anymore resistance for yourself. Be the softness you need (without being a pacifist/victim). • See this as a chance for change. A lot of people lament and grieve the life they had before DPDR. I'm going to tell you right now - that's done; in the past. It's gone. These are your growing pains and a chance for you to grow into something bigger, brighter and better! • There's no harm in getting checked by your GP/family doctor, to rule out anything. By this I mean a blood test for example. How are your vitamin levels, or your blood sugar levels? Etc. Fixing these might not cure you (that's an internal process) but they might benefit you in the long run anyway! • Ask yourself: when you've dissociated, what's the worst that has happened to you? Objectively and without hyperinflating it due to your emotions/subjectivity, what is the WORST thing. I bet, for the majority of you, you have just been extremely uncomfortable. That's all. Discomfort won't kill you, you just fear it atm. i leave you with a quote i came across recently and i really like it: "failure only becomes permament when you fall and refuse to get back up." (i'm watching this and realising how nice the thumbnail's selfie is and then the lighting in my room today as i recorded this with the sun blinding me 😅)

[@cargarbinx]

You remind me so much of myself and how I've processed DP/DR. I've had it since March and it's been extremely up and down for me. Unfortunately, I've always been a bit of a pessimist so it's not been easy for me to accept and my brain stubbornly refuses to believe I will ever recover. It's been about 9 months and compared to the mess I was in the beginning, I know I've gotten better, but I'm concerned it's turned less into something I'm afraid of and more into something I have been learning to manage and not necessarily overcome (does that make sense?). Like, I'm just succumbing to living miserably with it because I can't fathom ever recovering. I'm not sure why I'm fighting the possibility so strongly :/. Is there anything you would tell yourself or do when you had similar thoughts of not being able to recover? I think it's the only thing holding me back at this point. (* also, I'm so happy for you! I've watched several of Robin's recovery videos but yours has really struck a chord with me. Thank you for your willingness to share your experience)

[@kirstencorbett2289]

​@@cargarbinx I have been through a LOT in my life, and as a result, I default to cynicism also. I used to always power through and struggle but this 2nd bout of DPDR led to total victim mentality. Even having thoughts "I deserve this", or, "My luck has run out and now I must suffer." That isn't to say I never had these thoughts before, but I used to be able to move on. This year, I felt truly stuck in my rotting. Have you read Shaun's DP manual? He's advises more on the distraction side, which has its merits, but sometimes it seems too much like running from the issue at hand. Anyway. He also says that, like Robin, recovery starts when you stop fearing it. You see it as more of a nuisance than this big monster. Ultimately, I think "resigning" and succumbing to it is better than being a victim, but also, recovery can't happen without hope and faith. Ask yourself WHY you don't feel you'll recover first. What's the belief you won't? Is it you've been hopeless for too long? And so, can you counter it with evidence against this belief? What I did every day for a month before that course I went on was affirmations. The channel for dpdr (SwamyG I think is the name??) has recovery affirmations for DPDR! Robin has some too, but I discovered Swamy's too. I'd light a candle and rewrite those affirmations every morning. Not sure if the candle is necessary but it created cozy vibes! I sort of fell out of the habit of doing it and I need to get back into it. Like I said in this video, I'm 85 - 90% recovered but I'm soooo sick these days and any period of time spend rotting in my bedroom from sickness is NEVER good for my mental health 😂 Enough rambling from me. Challenge the belief firstly and then come back to me (: Sit with the thought of "I'll never recover" and see what comes up. A lot of belief changing comes with sitting with the thought and seeing what layers of it get shed and uncovering where the fear comes from. E.g. fear, lack of confidence, no hope, etc (:

[@PurpleGlobe]

I like that last point. I'll try to remember that one.

[@gustavorodriguez3953]

This comment alone has helped me inch even closer to inner peace once again. Thank you for the insight Kirsten!

[@kirstencorbett2289]

you're so welcome, I wish you a happy recovery ❤ ​@@gustavorodriguez3953

[@holdenbarbarino]

Thank you Kirsten your advice is extremely helpful!

[@PaytonConnelly-b7g]

I feel like i’m getting there but the worst thing for me is the feelings of dread and just frustration with myself. Things also just look of and faces don’t seem right. I feel like i’m getting better but at the same time i still don’t know how to deal with these feelings…

[@kirstencorbett2289]

This took me a while to figure out as well, and something I'd always ask Robin for help with but then I realized what I was asking her contrasted her teachings and methods. Why do you want to "deal" with it? What does dealing with it mean, that you want the sensations gone? That's a perfectly valid desire, but when you get to those roots of the desire/need to deal with it, it's coming from a place of terror and resistance.

[@pauloooferreira]

I have a question. I’ve had dpdr once in the past and i overcame it. About 3 weeks ago I had a panic attack and got it again, it was more severe but it’s gotten better and more manageable. I’ve practiced not being afraid and going on with life but it’s still a little bit present, it isn’t as scary anymore but it is annoying, so do you know what my next steps should be in order to get it completely away?

[@kirstencorbett2289]

Well, what have you done thus far to get it to this more manageable level? Knowing that it is truly temporary is key. Notice that dpdr peaks and dips, it gets very bad sometimes and other times, it isn't. This proves the transient nature of this condition, and your job is to ride the wave :)

[@pauloooferreira]

@@kirstencorbett2289 Basically I stopped categorizing it as dp/dr and started calling it anxiety, i’ve also just kept going about my life as usual and i know it isn’t permanent. It’s just kind of a re-occurring though. Do you have any tips?

[@cocosmokes]

im so miserable and lost in life :(

[@kirstencorbett2289]

From DPDR? Robin has a great video on the five steps to recovery. You're allowed to suffer first, that's okay. It's awful to go through this, but then you got to start making changes. Nothing changes if you change nothing (:

[@rahm8427]

Hie Robin,how do i get in touch with you?

[@BenedettaCarrieri-ml1ti]

Ciao. I sottotitoli in lingua italiana sarebbero fantastici

[@francescadoesyoga]

Ciao Benedetta, anche tu hai i sintomi di depersonalizzazione e derealizzazione?

[@BenedettaCarrieri-ml1ti]

Si ho sintomi di ansia e DP e DR.Resta il fatto che non potendo comprendere i video perche' sprovvisti di sottotitoli nella mia lingua non posso comprendere le vostre conversazioni

[@ashleyen3]

Hi Kirsten, My existential ocd/dp exploded after I tried getting off anxiety meds. Ive been back on the meds for about 8 weeks and still not ok. Ugh. Last time i came off meds it happened but i was back to normal in 3 weeks. Not sure whats happening.

[@kirstencorbett2289]

I'm not qualified to comment on this. Tapering off meds should be done under the guidance of a professional. I can't explain why this is happening, I'm afraid.

[@ashleyen3]

I think there's a misunderstanding. I am no longer tappering. I'M back on the meds (8 weeks now) and i did taper with doctor supervision. Anyways, i understand if you cant comment. I know im not the only one who has suffered dp/dr due to med changes. It just sucks. Thanks