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Zoning Out

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 8/29/2016 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hey all, everyone here has been a great help since joint the forum recently, thank you!
Quick summary about me: 31, male. Thought I had heart issues, cardiologist says I'm fine, we did like every test. I see a therapist now who says I have GAD, slight OCD, and hypochondria.

Anywho, lately I feel that my anxiety has gotten better, but it has been different lately. Instead of freaking out, pains, shortness of breathe, etc. I have just been completely zoning out. Like I think about whatever is making me anxious (my health) and literally everything else is a blur. People taking to me seem to just go in one ear out the other, my responses are short, I'm not talkative during these events. It's like tunnel vision. Does this happen to anyone else? I use the techniques that I have read about on here and sometimes they work. I just want to see if this sounds normal for anxiety. Thanks!
Posted 8/29/2016 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi M.,

Sounds like de-realization/de-personalization. This is a pretty common anxiety/panic response...and it is not hard to see why...

...dealing with A/P over time can wear on us. It's not surprising that our systems just go into a kind of defense mechanism...a 'zoning' out as you said.

This is a harmless symptom, but concerning to many people, because of the unreal feeling or disconnection with one's self it causes.

However, use of coping skills like you have been doing...acceptance of the issue, and not giving it more power by focusing on it will see it passing as quickly as possible.

There is more information on D/P D/R in the Resources if you'd like to read more.

Glad to hear you have been working on your recovery! Well done...keep up the good work and posting with us.:)

Peace and progress,

S.C.
Posted 8/29/2016 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
Going from freaking out, pains, shortness of breathe, etc. to zoning out sounds like an improvement to me. Could this be the next step to getting better?
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