It's hard to explain

Hi little lulu and welcome! Yes the sensation you described is familiar, and pretty common with anxiety sufferers. It has a clinical name, derealization, or depersonalization, and is one of the body/mind's reaction to extreme stress.

There are many ways that anxiety can manifest itself. It can vary from person to person, and even differ with each episode.

Is this your first experience with an anxiety symptom? If not, what methods have you tried to get relief?

If I can suggest checking out our Anxiety Resource Guide on our main page (3rd post down) it could help get you started in feeling better. It has links to sites that teach relaxation and breathing exercises. Practicing these daily will really help with your over-all stress levels:)

If you have anymore questions, or just want to share, please feel free to post anytime. This is a great place full of information and support!

Take care,
Scaredy Cat

Hey little lulu,

Love your user name............welcome to our world.

There is a common symptom-phenomena anxiety disorder sufferers will experience, called “depersonalization and de-realization“. These occur commonly in people  with anxiety disorder and sometimes also with clinical depression people, who suffer with co-existing anxiety and are very concerning to them.

What causes these strange feelings of depersonalization and de-realization, that are so concerning to anxiety sufferers? Well we know the “fight or flight response” itself is a protection mechanism, created in us, to help us flee or flight danger and to help us perform more powerfully, with important tasks at hand. These unreality type symptoms, where things seem to become unreal, is very likely part of that same protection mechanism. It may be that our minds will cause ourselves and our surroundings, to temporarily fade from our minds, in order for us to concentrate more intensely, on locating the actual danger that threatens us. It is similar to the reason an anxiety patient’s mind will race, because it is trying to scan for dangers that have threatened them and set off the fight or flight response. We also know that all senses are heightened during strong anxiety responses and this too likely adds to these feelings of unrealities.

“Anxiety De-realization and Depersonalization” are more  common then people realize and these unreality symptoms are not dangerous.

You have received some great advice on where to look to find ways to deal with the phenomena and I hope you will check out the suggestions.

Again welcome to HealingWell.

Kindly,

Kitt

I am glad that you feel comfortable and at home here LL! I am sorry to hear of your illness! It is not uncommon for a chronic illness to be the trigger for anxiety. If you look around the boards and other forums here, you will see it is a common theme.

I have also had dizziness as an anxiety symptom, and it is no fun. I am glad that you have had the dr. check this out however, as you would want to rule out any inner-ear problems (infection, vertigo, Meniere's, ect.)

Again, look into the Resource Guide, and if you feel that you need further help, ask your dr. for a therapy referral. Many members here have found long-term relief through working a therapy program!

I am glad that you have found us, and hope that you continue to post and let us know how you are getting on:)

Take care and talk to you soon,
S.C.