Unknown Illness

For the past year or so I've been getting strange feelings that I can't shake off. It feels like I've got cotton wool wrapped around my head, or that I'm in a dream, or there's a piece of glass between me and everybody else. I don't feel real, I just feel numb or empty, like I'm floating. And there's nothing I can do to stop it either, I just have to wait to go back to normal.

I suddenly get confused and wonder where I am and who the people with me are, even if its my family. I start to doubt everything. It appears to happen randomly, it can not happen for a week or two then happen two or three times in a day. Most of the time it happens I'm in school, and it doesn't matter whether I'm stood up or sat down.

One of the last times it happened to me I was walking to class and I had to keep repeating my lesson to myself in my head, I didn't want to forget. Its terrifying. It's like I'm not really in the room with everyone else. Luckily it only happens for a few minutes most of the time.

I wondered if anyone could help give me a clue what this is? I don't want to go to the doctors and get brushed off and sent away, because I know this isn't normal.

Thank you, I think I will.

I agree with SC and it sounds like you are suffering from Depersonalisation, it is scary but will not harm you. I spent about 2 straight years like this, it really is from high anxiety and you can get help for it from your doctor. A psychiatrist is the best to work with but also a therapist can help. Here is a link to WebMD about it. Make an appt with your GP doctor for a referral to therapy if you don't already have a therapist.

www.webmd.boots.com/mental-health/depersonalisation-disorder-mental-health

*******************************************************
Fibromyalgia, COPD, Bipolar II, GAD, sleep apnea, arthralgia, insomnia, paresthesia-bilateral feet, degenerative disc disease, diastolic dysfunction, GERD, Hypertension, lumbar disc disease, urinary incontinence, Peripheral neuropathy, Bells Palsy

OPS sorry Hibee, ya I wasn't paying attention to what I was typing, I knew Hibee said that but my fingers typed SC, fibro fog I blame the fibro fog, lol.

CRCR...I use to get the same thing all the time..and I still get it every now and again. I remember sitting at the table with my family one day and it's like I was looking at them but they didn't look familiar or real to me..and I felt like I was outside my body watching myself interact. I was obviously terrified at the time because I was young and had no idea what was going on...when I found out it was harmless and just another glorious anxiety symptom..I stopped getting it as much, because I wasn't afraid of it. That's how anxiety generally works. Next time you get it..kinda laugh at it. Pretend it's 'fun' and almost like you're on some trippy drug or something..it will lose its grip on you and will subside. Good luck!