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Burnout? Dissociation? Derealisation? Any experience

7 points · submitted Feb 2026 by u/tomomalono · General Questions/Advice/Support

I’m just wondering if anyone experienced dissociation/derealisation. I don’t know if it’s burnout.

I’ll disclaim, I am in contact with my Dr/ADHD team, but I just wanted to see if anyone else has experienced things.

I don’t feel real, it’s like I’m on autopilot. I’m not fully present in my life. I feel like I’m just surviving each day, not living. I feel disconnected from myself, from reality, and I’m exhausted all the time.

I’m not suicidal, but I can’t keep living like this, I just don’t understand how I make it through a day.

I am medicated, on elvanse, which has helped massively on the anxiety, the anxious feelings, the anxiety thoughts, it’s given me more of a boost in life, but I’m still feeling detached. The best way to describe it, is like being a video game character, it’s like the choices I make are made for me.

Just wondering if anyone’s experienced this and if so has there been anything to help?

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Intrepid-Narwhal-448 2 points · Feb 2026 · ADHD-C (Combined Type)

This can be a side effects of meds, or too high a dose, or it can be other conditons for example BPD can ride alongside or be misdiagnosed with ADHD

tomomalono [OP] 1 points · Feb 2026 · ADHD-C (Combined Type)

They noted on my diagnosis, that there could be potential for BPD

Intrepid-Narwhal-448 1 points · Feb 2026 · ADHD-C (Combined Type)

thats what you described seemed like to me, could be worth getting checked out by a proifessional as maybe the meds are exacerbating it, or maybe your dose is just too high

AutoModerator 1 points · Feb 2026

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Melancholybumny 1 points · Feb 2026

This can be a side effect of certain medications so worth having a check.

This is a frequent experience for me but I also have high anxiety. It was distressing at first but knowing it’s temporary was helpful. What you’re describing does sound like more is going on so decent contact with a clinician is a plus.

Interestingly, I found a that for me periods of derealisation/depersonalisation were triggered by something sensory, usual visual. I found that if I looked at certain types of screens, or particular animation styles, I would derealise. I have to avoid the TV sections in shops and when I lived with my parents I had veto on their new TV as some could trigger headaches as well.

Edit:spelling

[deleted] 1 points · Feb 2026

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