Sick of this spacey feeling

anxiousmomof3 · Post by **anxiousmomof3** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 12:53 pm

I have had anxiety & panic for about 8 years. The past few years have brought on this spacey/disconnected feeling. It's so hard to explain but it's almost like I'm not 100% capeable to do daily tasks. I am & I do but I worry that I'll forget something. Like I have dementia or alzheimers. Nothing seems to trigger it. Just random times/days. I've had it the past few days in a row which has me even more anxious. Anyone else?

NinjaFrodo · Post by **NinjaFrodo** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 2:21 pm

I've had it everyday for the last 14 years! There were a few periods when it was gone or almost gone. I am not too excited about the feeling either. It is almost as if I feel like i'm not there, its hard to concentrate, its hard to visualize and be creative and memory is extremely effected by this. This is just another anxiety symptom.

Blood is usually abundantly supplied to the organs but when we have anxiety (fight or flight) then that abundance of blood is reduced as it goes into the muscles in order to fight or run. Less blood means less nourishment which means functioning is decreased...less blood to the brain makes all it's functions less, memory, cognitive functioning...etc. This is the scariest of symptoms for me but the only way to overcome this is to be able to accept it and believe that it cannot hurt you.

Mike

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 4:20 pm

Read this and I am sure it will make you feel much better...All rights go to Joe Barry...

Here is excerpt from the panic away program on the very symptoms you are experiencing!!! I am sure this will work for you and give you a better understanding about what causes these "spacey and unreality" feelings!!!

<span class="ev_code_RED">I’d like to discuss a symptom not often mentioned in anxiety literature—the sensation of unreality. Psychologists call this depersonalization.

Many people who experience panic attacks and general anxiety become distressed by this sensation and feel they may be losing their mind.

They report feeling disconnected, as if their world has become nothing more than a projection of a film. This often leads to believing that some permanent damage has been done to their brain, which is causing these sensations.

A typical manifestation of this depersonalization (unreality) is when you’re having a conversation with someone and you suddenly feel alarmingly isolated and removed from the situation.

Once the sensation arises, it can be so impactful that it takes days to leave the eerie feeling behind and stop thinking about it.

The sensation is caused by delayed perception and mental preoccupation. While under constant stress or anxiety, the buildup of stress chemicals in your system causes a delayed response in sending information between neurotransmitter sites in your body.

This slight delay between experience and thought can create a momentary sensation of unreality. The same effects are experienced under the influence of marijuana, but people don’t react with fear because they’re aware that the drug is causing the sensation.

It’s when the sensation arrives while you’re doing your tax return that things feel a little scary!

I mention depersonalization because the condition isn’t often discussed, and I want to reassure those of you who may have experienced it that it’s only a side effect of excessive anxiety—it will pass as soon as your anxiety level comes down.

Once the mind and body return to a normal level of relaxation, your body then has the opportunity to dispel some excess chemicals, and the sensation of being disconnected from the world ends.

In combination with this buildup of stress in the body, people often become completely absorbed in mental activity, further fueling the feeling of separation from the world.

It’s very easy to start imagining all the terrible mental illnesses that this sensation could mean, but don’t worry, you haven’t caused any damage to yourself, and you’ll return to the person you were before depersonalization crept in. You’ll have to trust me on that.

The quickest way out of this disconnected feeling is to really accept it for the time being and have faith that it will pass shortly.

Shrug your shoulders and relax into it, regardless of how strange it feels. You can adopt this relaxed attitude because you know that you’ll return to normal when you remove anxiety from the equation.

Remind yourself that this is a phase you’re moving through, so be patient and kind to yourself while you’re experiencing it.

What really moves people out of this sensation quickest is adopting an attitude that all is well. And it is. These unusual sensations of depersonalization are just a nuisance, but they’ll pass.

As I mentioned, not feeling connected to yourself in this manner is solely due to the anxiety in your system, and it’s then reinforced when you constantly check in to see how you’re feeling.

Checking in means that you could be having a conversation with someone, but part of you continually checks to see if the eerie feeling is there or not. It’s like you’re overanalyzing yourself all the time, and that can make you feel even stranger.

I appreciate how uncomfortable it
can be, but don’t worry about it. It will leave, so don’t let the thoughts sucker you into thinking you’ll be stuck with this depersonalization feeling all your life. Those thoughts aren’t valid.

The more you flow along with it and don’t react, the more quickly you’ll return to feeling more yourself. It takes a little practice, but that change in attitude makes a big difference in how you feel.

You should also engage in physical activities like outdoor exercise when you feel this way. Activities such as walking, running, biking, swimming, etc., help to shift your attention from an overfocus on mental activity to the more physical experience of your body.

Physical pursuits get you out of your mind, so to speak, and into your body. Note that exercising outdoors is preferred because fresh air improves mood and an overall sense of well-being. </span>

I know this was a little long!!! But, I am sure if you read it all then, you will realize that this is nothing to be frightened about and it too shall pass!!!

Have a great night's rest!!! God Bless Each of You!!!

bucki · Post by **bucki** » Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:19 am

this is my greatest promblem that i experience and just reading what you posted scarred me, but as i read on i fealt better ,i know it was a long post but it was pretty scary talking about it, but wait thats me being negative, let me turn it to positive. its true waht you are saying im very pleased to know that im not the only with this, thanks alot

love4jesus · Post by **love4jesus** » Wed Oct 28, 2009 5:24 am

i too have been there and still am to an point we own our on bussiness and i had to remove myself from it to take care of myself. cus beside of me doing it to my self and making so many mistakes to where losing the bussiness i would have our workers depending on me when i couldn't even depend on myself everyday i come to the onnline part of this program in some much of my faers and then i read all's and it helps me awhole lot. and realeize this is going to take some time that i have to allow for myself.

JessLife · Post by **JessLife** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 4:39 pm

Wow!! I have had these spacey feeling of unreality for most of my life. But lately it has gotten worse to the point where I can hardly communicate with people when I am in the midst of it. I now truly believe that these are all symptoms of anxiety and this is so encouraging, because I know that as I progress in the course and learning to relax these feelings will go away. In fact, in the last couple of weeks things have gotten so much better. What an awesome article posted above!

NinjaFrodo · Post by **NinjaFrodo** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 5:10 pm

Thank you for that Ms. T Bones, It's nice to be reminded that these scary desensitization feelings are just anxiety.

Mike

Melissahashope · Post by **Melissahashope** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 6:03 am

I can understand. My panic attacks are so bad at times I become really ill (vomiting, etc.). And it is always followed by that spacey almost stoned feeling. I have had this happen while driving on the highway before. I just don't understand why this, like what am I doing wrong? I can't live like this anymore, I am trying to remain hopeful. I am in the middle of week one, I plan to just keep doing the work and hope for a change. This has completely brought my life to a halt, and I need to change.

I just really hope this helps.

NinjaFrodo · Post by **NinjaFrodo** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 5:25 pm

This is because of the fear Melissahashope. I advise you to read Ms.Tbone's last post as it helps to explain why. I'd also like to add to this that with anxiety the majority of our blood is going to the skeletal muscles instead of the organs and so it is only natural that the organs don't function at a normal level.

Less blood to the ears affects our equilibrium and makes us feel off balance and dizzy

Less blood to the brain makes us more fuzzy in the head and spacy. Our cognitive functioning is decreased

etc.

All it is is anxiety and all anxiety is, is fear of fear. You aren't doing anything wrong, you have just gotten to a stage in your life where things got too much and you've recognized it which is why you are doing the program

This is not an easy concept to accept but you will have to live like this for a little longer as there is no magic off button. It's scary as hell, I know as I'm going through it too but the more you fight the more you will have to fight. Stick with the relaxation part of the program if that is the only part you could do and eventually you will overcome this.

Mike

Melissahashope · Post by **Melissahashope** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 1:36 am

Thanks you for the encouragement, Mike! I just listened to session 2 for the second time. And I have to admit, I am feeling much better! Since starting the program I haven't had any major panic attacks, which is amazing! I still feel the generalized anxiety, but when I feel the panic building, I use the tools and they never progress!!

Now I am just hoping to see the generalized anxiety go away! And I think much of that may be due to my cigarette and caffeine habit and I really need to start exercising. I really think that will help. Did you have to change your lifestyle much? I had no idea just how much my own lifestyle contributed to my mental health, like duh, why did it take me until now to figure that out? I think it took this to make me believe it.

I finally feel like I see some light at the end of this tunnel!! I just can't give up just because I'm finally functional...I really believe life can improve even more. One thing that I am going to do more is utilize the peer support feature of the program. When beginning the program I didn't think I would be able to do it, my anxiety made me believe no one wants to hear me ramble about my problems! But I am going to check in daily after listening to the session. I have to.

Thanks again!

Melissa