Anxiety/panic/fear that I’m going crazy.
Posted , 4 users are following.
hi, im just looking for some reasurance or to know that im not alone. i spend all day worrying about feeling anxious with constant intrusive thoughts. i constantly keep thinking that im living in some sort of dream. i know this is real life but it just doesnt feel like it. Today i literally couldnt stop thinking about it and i burst into tears and then started to feel really dizzy, feeling like nothing is real, tingling in hands, and breathing heavily. i was in control of my actions at all times but i just kinda felt like i was losing my mind. Im just so scared of developing schizophrenia or something like that and am constantly researching my symptoms. Can anyone help explain this??
0 likes, 9 replies
jan34534 jamie08883
Edited
Jamie I’m so sorry you are going through this and I know how difficult it can be.
First of all, please know that anxiety can cause so many weird sensations. Anything that you feel from anxiety is not going to hurt you. I know how scary it can feel but that’s all it can do.when you feel like you are in a dream that is called de realization which is very common with anxiety! I have had that also. It is harmless and it has nothing to do with schizophrenia . you are not going to lose your mind for sure! If that were the case I would’ve lost mine years ago because that’s how long it’s been since I first had all of your symptoms .
The tingling in your hands and heavy breathing are also quite common with anxiety.
When we have anxiety, adrenaline is released which causes most of the sensations. Adrenaline will eventually wear off.
its very important to relax your mind as much as possible. That will diminish the sensations you are feeling. Another thing that is very important is proper breathing when you are feeling this way. That will lower your heart rate.
You can find some great meditations for anxiety and panic on YouTube. They teach you proper breathing and how to relax your mind. I do this often.
the more you get upset over your sensations, the more you will have them!
Try taking another approach which works for me and that is when you get an anxiety sensation, just acknowledge that you have it in a calm way.
Relax your mind and tell yourself that it’s not harmful, and everything is going to be OK. Let the sensation stay as long as it wants to . just do slow long deep breathing and have a calm attitude about it. Eventually the sensation will go away because you are not allowing it to get you upset. some experts earning anxiety even say to talk to the sensations .... " I know you are there. And it doesn’t bother me. I have other things to do "or something similar to that.
DO not google your sensations! When you do that, you are telling your brain that something is wrong. So the brain goes into action and that’s when you start feeling those sensations even more! You are feeding fear into your brain when you do that.
just keep busy doing other things especially things that make you relax your mind, make you laugh and smile, etc.
Think about talking to a counselor about all of this. They can help you manage anxiety. Think about what may be causing your anxiety. What’s going on in your life that could be causing this. Open up to the counselor. That can be very healing! I do hope you start to feel better. Just take one day at a time. Don’t think about future things. Feel free to private message me anytime! ❤
jamie08883 jan34534
Posted
thank u so much for the reply, just reading that i felt more calm knowing im not the only one experiencing this. I started fluoextine 17 days ago and have had alot of anxiety since. I had my first therapy session yesterday and felt so drained and had alot of derealisation i think. However at the time i thought i was going psychotic and had what i think was a panic attack. My sleep was then really disturbed and woke up several times with a racing heart (120bpm). I just constantly have intrusive thoughts that im not real or that im living in a dream which creates more anxiety. It just feels like this is never going to end.
mike30343 jamie08883
Posted
jamie what your describing is anxiety its how we all feel at times is frightening at times but seek some help from your doctor and find a good friend you can speak to about how you feel. controlling anxiety is hard you cant fight it but notice it let it wash over you by using distraction techniques keeping busy going for walks talking sympathetically to your inner self. You sound like its your first time with Anxiety and if it is its all new and sure its worrying but keep researching ways to deal with things and start a better journey out. it can take a few weeks to arrest things and get hour head round this condition but keep posting were all here to help. Best self help is to go for a walk and talk positively to yourself talk to the inner critic and remind yourself that you will beat it.
jamie08883
Posted
i really apprieciate youre reply thank u. im on day 17:18 of fluoxetine and it just feels like my anxiety is spiralling out of control. All i can think about all day is how im feeling and have constant thoughts that im living in a dream which causes huge panic. Is this definitely anxiety and im not going insane?
mike30343 jamie08883
Edited
Yes it is Anxiety. I'm terrible in the morning don't want to do anything see anyone and anxious about leaving the house etc etc then i get to later in the day and it eases a bit and i feel stronger. but we are all different your not going mad. just work on being kind to yourself deep positive thinking and talking to yourself. thinking about it is just like chucking a log on a raging fire. it will take 4/6 weeks for the meds to really turn a corner for you. im on day 23 still feel sh*te. i cant believe some of the panic thoughts i come up with but its all irrational stuff when your thinking straight. i really find keeping a mood journal helps. i write in it everyday and keep positive notes on achievements. it helps to look back and review your days notes and keep positive. its like a reward diary. But i also know its not a quick fix.
jamie08883 mike30343
Posted
it just feels right now like im going to be stuck like this forever. Im also alot worse in the morning and then tend to be able to think more rationally in the evening however still no where near myself. what medication are u on if u dont mind me asking?
mike30343 jamie08883
Posted
im on Citalapran and 20mg. Anxiety is awful ive had 4 bad bouts now lasting 4/6 months. the road is long and you will have good days and bad days. just try to keep positive. mornings are worse for me also its not easy to see an end to it at times but each day you have to pick out the positives. i suggest a book Matt Haig reasons to stay alive. its a very interesting funny at times read about a guy who suffered badly. Now a world speaker. but his book was good reading. made me feel not alone. you wont be stuck you will recover even tho the days seem an endless round of feeling bad. do some good reserch understand it more learn techniques to help you breath etc. Patrick Mc Keown on you tube on breathing was very interesting to watch and clearly helpful. keep going mate ive had a bad day today but hoping for better tomorrow.
sophie97852 jamie08883
Posted
Hi Jamie
I don’t normally reply to posts, but I really need to with this one because I went through the exact same.
First of all this is definitely not psychosis or anything like that, psychotic people don’t think about there feelings and wouldn’t question it’s because for them it’s real, does that make sense? The fact your worried about having it says it all, no person with psychosis would ever question it because the delusion is real.
What your going through is exactly what I went through.
You are suffering from OCD for a start, you are obsessing over intrusive thoughts, if you search ocd intrusive thoughts I think that might help you.
So you start thinking of something really strange and you worry about it and you can’t stop and then you start thinking your going absolutely crazy. OCD is just a form of anxiety and I used to think the exact same thing.
What everything around me isn’t real?
What if this isn’t real?
Then I would end up in a state of derealisation that’s also anxiety, I honestly faithfully promise you that you are not going crazy this is just a high functioning anxiety and it’s absolutely draining, three years on though I look back and laugh and can’t believe I ever wondered these things, but I know what your going through and how awful it is, but I also promise you this will go I know because I’ve been there twice, second time I wasn’t as bad because I knew what was happening and after a few months it would pass.
Please message me for any help or reassurance or any of your thoughts because I really truly know what your going through!
Also the fact you know it's real life and these thoughts are strange tells me your not psychotic also psychotic people don't ask for help or seek reassurance!
jamie08883 sophie97852
Posted
i cant explain how reasuring this reply is thank u. even when i dont think that im actually psychotic i worry that its only a matter of time until i do because my thoughts are just racing all the time and i dont feel anything like myself. do u have advice of how to get out of this? im on day 20 of fluoxetine and had 1 cbt session.