I am on a program for anxiety, stress,and depression.

Depersonalization and derealization are both symptoms of an
underlying anxiety disorder. Without an underlying anxiety disorder,
these two symptoms can not be experienced.

They are caused
by a shift in the intensity and regularity of anxious reactions caused
by an inappropriate anxiety reaction. Sufferers generally experience
either anxiety disorder or panic disorder. The symptoms of
derealization and depersonalization occur due to changes in the levels
of chemicals in the blood which alter the perceptions of reality in
such a way as to adjust the sufferers perception of themselves and the
world around them.

In anxiety disorders, depersonalization
and derealization are symptoms of the underlying anxiety disorder which
means that they diappear when the anxiety disorder is eliminated.

Derealization
and Depersonalization are very disturbing symptoms of anxiety, they
cause the sufferer to feel frightened and confused, however, both are
harmless and transient.
These are both symptoms, which affect the way you experience yourself. Derealisation
is the sensation that you and everything around you is not real or dreamy,
as if you are seeing everything through a fog or some kind of filter. It
has been noticed that people experience both depersonalisation and derealisation
during panic. It seems that some people dissociate first which then causes
panic and derealisation.

It is not important to try and understand the physiology of the human body
but it is important to remember that every symptom you experience can be
explained. Do not dwell on what you are feeling, instead, project yourself
into more useful subjects, do something constructive, exercise, learn a skill
or craft and escape the body trap.
Feelings of unreality are also experienced in
ordinary people under extraordinary and/or traumatic circumstances –
both good and bad – severe car accidents, being victimized by a violent
crime, or suddenly winning a million dollar lottery. When the reality
of a situation seems so incongruous to the reality of the moment
occurring before, the mind may create a dissociative reaction in
efforts to maintain reality's status quo. Under extreme conditions, it
is the result of a normal function of a human brain with at least a
mild predisposition towards altered states of unconsciousness.
But to the depersonalization/derealization sufferer, it seems there was
no provocation for this bizarre state of mind. In actuality, the brain
is often reacting in response to thoughts that exist outside conscious
awareness – thoughts that were perceived as potentially threatening to
the self's status quo. In such cases, the mind dissociates as a form of
protection – without any discernible trauma or shocking event as
motivation. The “danger” was internal, and the potential assault was
against self-identity, not the physical body.
Over time (and reinforced by obsessing over the original experience)
the mind seems to develop a habit of re-invoking the
symptom/neurological reaction. The patients usually become convinced
that the way out of their nightmare lies in focusing more and more
inward, relentlessly self-observing for any sign of returning reality.
But like a child's straw finger puzzle, the harder one tries to pull
free, the tighter grows the trap.

Relief
Patients must strive for experiences that allow them to re-engage as
actors in the drama of their own lives rather than clutching fearfully
to the role of observer. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can help
sufferers to modify their conscious thinking patterns and reinstate
spontaneity of feeling and thought.
Psychodyamic and analtyic-oriented therapies provide opportunities for
bringing unacknowledged thoughts into conscious awareness, removing the
need for defensive dissociation. But many of these sufferers have
difficulty enduring any treatment that must temporarily increase
anxiety and require exploration of the unknown. Frequently,
depersonalization patients are terrified of experiencing anything
unless they know what's coming beforehand, and their anxiety may have
originated from desperate efforts at self-control and unrealistic
preparedness. As such, psychoanalytic therapies may be highly
challenging, but the potential for permanent change is great. Recovery
is possible as patients find a way to trust themselves to handle life's
experiences and their own unpredictable emotions – rather than
anticipating or avoiding them. As each individual is unique, recovery
from mental symptoms is a unique process. The continued pursuit of
appropriate treatment will likely be rewarded.
It is important to remember that the frightening experience of being
lost inside one's own mind is purely a feeling state and (once any
neurological or systemic dysfunction has been ruled out) there is no
reason to believe any permanent change has occurred within the brain
itself. While in the midst of the illness, it seems impossible to
believe that the ‘normal' self is still intact. But these are feelings
as if reality does not exist – or as if the self/identity has perished.
We know better – we just cannot feel what we know. Reality has not
actually been lost – it is only the ability to experience it that is
temporarily beyond reach. The same cognitive clarity that allows us to
realize that the world itself has not actually changed is the same
cognitive strength that will allow for complete recovery.
Sources & further reading:
http://www.dpselfhelp.com/
http://www.panicsupport4u.com/understanding.htm
http://www.anxman.org/depersonalization-derealization.asp

To summarize:

• You are probably suffering from an anxiety disorder


• The diagnosis needs to be confirmed by a mental health professional


• Treatment may be medicines/ psychotherapy/ a combination depending on the doctor and your symptoms

Please ACCEPT the reply, and give a BONUS if it was useful. If you
need more information, just let me know.
Regards
Dr. Gupta