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Has this happened to anyone?

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Posted 9/5/2012 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone ever wondered if things are actually real? Theres been quite a few times where things have either felt like they were a dream or sometimes when i sit down and talk with someone (friend or relative) i've thought that what if i was just hallucinating or something. I dont think i ever have hallucinated but everytime i hear something, for example if i hear someone drop something i go to where it was dropped and i make sure that something was actually dropped. Just to make sure it actually happened because im so afraid of being schizophrenic or having psychosis or something like that.

Yesterday i was talking to a friend and after the conversation i wondered to myself "what if i was hallucinating and this wasnt really happening". Of course i wasnt actually hallucinating but thoughts like that do come to mind sometimes. Does this happen to anyone else?
Posted 9/5/2012 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, this is pretty normal. Everyone experiences these random thoughts at some point...but for those of us with anxiety, we tend to take it to the next level!;p

Derealization and depersonalization are both anxiety symptoms that can make our relaity and even our sense of self warped. It is a defense mechanism and often happens in times of panic, but can happen at other times as well, when we are simply experiencing chronic stress.

Lowering your over all anxiety levels through coping mechanisms will help to prevent this. Try to accept it when it happens as something that is indicative of stress...not a more serious mental health issue. If you worry about the anxiety symptoms...guess what? Your anxiety increases! So try some breathing and relaxation exercises to reset and feel yourself again.:)

Take care,

S.C.

You can read more about it here;

http://panicdisorder.about.com/od/symptoms/a/DeperDereal.htm

Posted 9/7/2012 12:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi PMonkey

Sounds like you are fearful about loosing your mind and hallucinating! Because you have anxiety about it you obsess about it, and constantly worry and question yourself...If you are mad or not!! A schizophrenic will hallucinate and believe it to be reality without questioning it - whereas you are doing the opposite ..
Just because you think about it doesn't mean it is true..
just because you are worrying about it doesn't mean it is going to happen..
Because you think it so much, you are starting to believe it....
Dont believe those irrational thoughts! Try to accept that it is just the fear of it that is making you feel that way..It is possible to overcome it :)
Posted 9/9/2012 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
Your not alone! This was my major issue with anxiety... Just accepting it for what it is. I had almost convinced myself that I was living in an alternate universe because everything seemed strange lol but I knew that wasn't the case, it's just hard to accept that when the anxiety feels so real.... Don't panic :) I know how you feel! Best of luck!
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