Blog

Jacqueline's Story: Tempo
Heather Perkins Heather Perkins

Jacqueline's Story: Tempo

Jacqueline has found fulfilling her dream of learning to play the piano to be an important part of her DPDR journey.

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Howard’s Story: The New Path
Heather Perkins Heather Perkins

Howard’s Story: The New Path

For those that are new to the condition, or have only now just put a name to it, you're now on a new path.  I have been diagnosed with this condition for a number of years – and if DPDR is connected to anxiety, controlling that did not help. I think this might be because reaching out added to the condition and highlighted other people not understanding – shrugging their shoulders, or the doctor saying, “take two of these and see me in the morning.”

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Jacqueline’s Story: The Peculiar Grace Of Talking To Others
Heather Perkins Heather Perkins

Jacqueline’s Story: The Peculiar Grace Of Talking To Others

*Trigger warning: mentions of suicide, self harm, abuse & psychological distress

At the moment, I speak to the Samaritans nearly every day. I’m not suicidal. I do not want to hurt myself. I am really feeling alone. I have been lonely before: in fact, in my family of origin I was so used to it that I didn’t really see it for what it was or how it made me behave.

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Alli’s Story: Putting The Pieces Back Together
Heather Perkins Heather Perkins

Alli’s Story: Putting The Pieces Back Together

*Trigger warning: mentions drug use

I would like to start by saying to anyone feeling incredibly hopeless about their DPDR experience: after five years with this condition, I am better. By that, I mean - I am able to experience clarity, perspective, space, ease, a sense of self, and, crucially… connection with myself and others. Not all the time, and not always fully, but the fact it is possible is enough. Suffice it to say: Feeling better is possible. There are tools and techniques. There is hope.

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Kian’s Story: Photography Gives Me     Connection to the World
Heather Perkins Heather Perkins

Kian’s Story: Photography Gives Me Connection to the World

The Dissociation Photography Project is something I have been working on for a couple of years now. From 2021 onwards I have been on a journey of self-exploration. Photography is something I was able to find in the midst of my darkest days, my connection to the sunsets, forests and the moon allowed me to start feeling a part of the greater world - us humans are a part of nature, just as much as anything else.

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Emily’s Story: Coming To Terms With DPDR
Heather Perkins Heather Perkins

Emily’s Story: Coming To Terms With DPDR

*Trigger warning: mentions mental health and struggles with DPDR*

My name is Emily, I am 29 years old and I have Sensory Processing Disorder and I am Autistic. I live in the UK and have always struggled with my mental health since my early teens. I had never experienced dissociation until September 2020. I described it as having had ‘a flash’ of it (a 'flash’ meaning a feeling which last just a few seconds).

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Kimberley’s Story: A Psychologist’s Perspective
Heather Perkins Heather Perkins

Kimberley’s Story: A Psychologist’s Perspective

*Trigger Warning: contains references to drug usage, psychological distress and physical health concerns.

When I was 18 years old, I tried cannabis with my then partner. Moments later, I experienced intense panic and a sense of unreality that left me terrified and literally shaking for hours. This state unfortunately persisted for months. Over this time, everything felt distant, like I was in another dimension, or weird dream.

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