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the fear of going crazy again or... am I really psychotic this time?

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Posted 11/24/2014 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
The fear of going crazy is typical with my panic attacks. I just had an episode in the last day that has made me doubt. I am wondering if I am not in the beginning of psychosis. I have been under a LOT of stress lately and I have read that severe stress can cause psychosis. To describe my last episode I had :

-intense fear and doom feeling (worse than with any other panic attack before)
-difficulty gathering my thoughts (it is almost painful to think : it exhaust me)
-I have the feeling that I am "slipping" into insanity, that the things around me will stop making sense soon
-derealisation

I thought I was an expert in panic attacks but when is it time to go to the emergency room to get some Haldol and when is it time to just take 2 ativan and sleep on the couch?
Posted 11/24/2014 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jen

Its just your anxiety making you think this way, you are not going crazy. Have you got a good therapist you could see? Also maybe seeing a Pdoc to discuss options of medication. Im on Effexor for anxiety as I was suffering really bad constant GAD, with panic attacks etc. Its the anxiety that creates the doubts and thoughts in your mind that think you are going crazy, when you are calm and your body relaxes you don't have these doubts and your confidence improves. Take care
Posted 11/24/2014 10:09 PM (GMT 0)
Generally, people who experience delusions or psychotic behaviour are not aware that they are experiencing them. If you were having a psychotic break or any kind of delusion you would not question it, because it would be a complete reality to you. If you are worried that you are "going crazy" then you are experiencing worry. It's just a symptom of panic, don't give it a second thought
Posted 11/27/2014 8:06 AM (GMT 0)
Jen, I used to get the anxiety about going crazy thing.. Wow.. I thought I was the only one. I don't really know how to respond because I just joined this site so forgive me but.. Have you talked to your doctor about this? Or someone you trust? I used to hold everything in and that made me even more anxious, so I tell my mom everything now. Are you on any new medication? Or have you recently changed in dosage?

I'm not a doctor or anything, and this is my first time replying so forgive me. Anyways what I can offer is that I'm here for you. Take care.
Posted 11/27/2014 10:46 AM (GMT 0)
I hate that feeling of unreality or whatever you call it. But the others are right...you wouldn't even be concerned about it if you were really psychotic....I used to think that all the time when I first started to have anxiety issues many years ago and it took some good therapy to make me truly believe I wasn't going crazy. Believe it or not, you are just suffering from severe anxiety which is a big enough pain itself.
Posted 11/28/2014 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for the answers. 4 days later and I am still (relatively) sane. So yes, it was a panic attack. Like a horrible, monstrous, terrible, panic attack. I have had them for 18 years and they still fool me sometimes. Ugh...
Posted 11/28/2014 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Jen.,

Yes, the morphing symptoms are really hard to handle...because they make each new situation feel like unfamiliar territory!

I guess that is the nature of how it works...we can ignore or simply not take notice of the things we have learned to accept or will away with our coping skills...

...so new symptoms/worries start to come to the surface.;/ The good news is that with continued anxiety management, it all can eventually fade out. I have found this to be true.:)

Keep using your coping skills daily to feel your best possible!

S.C.
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