hi sweetie, so sorry you are going through this. i too have and get anxiety (been terrible today and this evening). i haven't had what you are describing BUT anxiety has a HUGE array of side affects, my doctor pretty much said that, so don't be shocked if it is. having said that i do think it's worth talking to a doctor about.

i wake up every couple of hours lately, since an incident occured outside my house (vandalism of my car) and i get anxious and can't sleep again.

our adrenalin kicks in and our minds go haywire with thoughts, just remember to try and breathe, tell yourself this will pass, think positive things when you can. i need to practice this myself!

Its just anxiety girly. I promise you that you aren't insane. In fact, for somebody with anxiety....you are very normal. Feeling detached from yourself is one of the top anxiety symptoms. It is especially scary because it just feels so ......weird. But you are still you. I think your biggest problem is that you are spending way too much time inside your head. It is fertile ground in there.....lots of places for little anxiety sprouts to turn into great big scary bean stalks. When you feel this way, just try to ground yourself again by touching things around you, firmly pinching your cheeks, or talking to somebody. Try not to think about it. Because in order to dwell on depersonalization, you have to be in your head. And being in your head is what causes it in the first place.

Thanks to both of you for your responses, it helps. I just wish this feeling would go away. :(

there are actualy times when i get very emotional and feel kinda insane. though some of my worst insanity moments were actually during my time of the month but don't worry it's common with anxiety too. your brain is just playing tricks on you trying to make you think somethin is terribly wrong. Bad brain! no more... dunno what to tell it no more of. :P sorry feeling like being a bit silly. am having anxiety right now and i don't want it to get as bad as it was the other night so sometimes acting a bit silly helps me.

That does sound a bit like a psychotic episode. Have you talked to a doctor about it?

Feel free to message me anytime. Just let me know who you are okay? I reply to a lot of these and I forget who's who. ;P

OMG are you serious, a psychotic episode,,,,,,,,,,,, :(

Im really freaking out now... somebody please help me calm down, am i really psychotic.........:(

Somebody please respond..... am i psychotic :(......please someobody...

It's probably just an episode. When I get anxiety, like right now, everything feels and looks a little bit off. I mean everything. The apartment looks funny, my dogs look kind of weird, the tv is hard to focus on, I mean, it's everything.

I think, at least for me, it's just not feeling like yourself and then everything around you feels weird too.

I think when she said it might be a psychotic episode, she didn't mean you were psychotic, but you were just having an episode. I'm pretty sure if you were truly psychotic, you would not know it, nor would you be typing on a forum and making sense.

So im not psychotic and this is just my anxiety..?

HI - here is a quote from a post off of panicend.com:

"you need to quit fighting and start accepting/floating. that is first. you need to break the cycle of thoughts, even if for parts of the day. that's how it starts.. first you forget yourself for minutes at a time, then hours... then, before you know, you're thinking about anxiety and OCD stuff a very minimal amount of your day, and even when you do, its not painful to think about.

one last time for everyone, you cant "go crazy." there is no next step.. this is it. you dont graduate to schizophrenia or anything from anxiety. people with anxiety and panic are actually TOO SANE, that's the problem. we are TOO aware of everything. anyone who knows anything about crazy people knows that if you're crazy, you have no clue. you're completely oblivious to the fact you're nuts... so its safe to say, you're ok.

but just in case you dont believe me, try this. get butt naked and put underwear on your head, and run down the street of your neighborhood. go ahead and do it... i mean, you're crazy after all, right? "

I thought this might help. All of us maybe?

Glee08, really good advice, thanks!

No you are NOT psychotic. What you went through was not even remotely close to being a psychotic episode.

Morning, have you been to a therapist at all? You are not psychotic, but your anxiety level is REALLY high. You have got to learn to calm yourself down and I honestly think that you need some help getting through this. You are spending your days constantly worrying about losing your mind and that is no way to live. You must be miserable. What are you doing to help yourself?

Glee that is really great advice...

Wow, no one with anxiety has mentioned what you're actually experiencing. Yes, it is anxiety related and you are NOT crazy or psychotic. What you are experiencing is called depersonalization. Look it up. It so helps to have a name, to know that others have experienced what you are going through. I experience depersonalization. It is caused by delayed perception. It was the scariest thing to happen to me. I thought I was losing my mind or having a stroke, going crazy, or having a psychotic episode. It feels so unnatural, like I am watching myself. Like I'm in a movie or a dream. I feel like I am not in control of whatever it is that I'm doing. But, don't panic, just know that you will get through the "episodes" that it's not permanent and your mind and body will return to normal.. You are not causing your body or mind any harm, it's just your brains way of dealing with overwhelming anxiety. For me, the first time it happened was when I was driving at 80mph on the interstate. From there, I was afraid to drive, afraid to leave the house, afraid to do anything where I would detach and be in danger. But, I talked to my doctor and therapist (and I highly suggest you do the same) and we are working through the anxiety and fear. I began to understand why it was happening. I switched to different medication and started retraining myself that going out of the house and driving are okay and it won't happen every time. You need to take baby steps until you feel secure. I hope you don't become paranoid because it's really easy to do. I know. Keep calm, stay strong, and keep coming on here for support.