the detached feeling

[littlebird77]

I get so scared when I have a panic attack and I look at my hands and it feels like they are not mine, like I am not in my own body. I hate this feeling. I get so detached. It makes me feel like I am loosing it.

[Bamboozle]

...littlebird...

[historyteach]

What does your doctor say?

Shalom!

[littlebird77]

take this pill and see me in two weeks to see if we need to increase your dose..

Originally Posted by historyteach

What does your doctor say?

Shalom!

[shakermaker]

Hi, I know that feeling well! My breathing stays fine but all of a sudden I feel like Ive just come up on a bucket of LSD! This has hapenned a few times when I've cut the booze out to drastically. Noises seem louder, couldn't close my eyes, couldn't keep them opened, could stop fidgiting, a horrible feeling. Really hard to describe. It happenned to me in a store once and I had to run out. Been In detox twice and have fallen off the wagon many times since. Never tried AA before so hope this is gonna help.

[cheekykat]

I remember thinking that this feeling was what it must feel like to lose my mind. At about 6 months sober and doing really well, anxiety and panic got really bad. I've had it off and on for years and thought I could control it with alcohol. (duh)

When this detached feeling started up, I finally saw a shrink. Found out that what's actually going on is that my brain was protecting itself from the high level of anxiety. Sort of like a computer going into sleep mode.

When you're going through it, it's about as scary as it gets. Can you fire that doctor and try another? No one should be made to feel like a guinea pig with wait and see instructions. My best to you.

[littlebird77]

I have to say that if I tell myself it is this detachment feeling or a panic attack, I think I would take the detached feeling. Thank you for your help!

Originally Posted by cheekykat

I remember thinking that this feeling was what it must feel like to lose my mind. At about 6 months sober and doing really well, anxiety and panic got really bad. I've had it off and on for years and thought I could control it with alcohol. (duh)

When this detached feeling started up, I finally saw a shrink. Found out that what's actually going on is that my brain was protecting itself from the high level of anxiety. Sort of like a computer going into sleep mode.

When you're going through it, it's about as scary as it gets. Can you fire that doctor and try another? No one should be made to feel like a guinea pig with wait and see instructions. My best to you.

[puterdude]

littlebird, I am quite familar with anxiety disorder and that detatched feeling you describe.

I am recovered now. Yes I can still have episodes of anxiety but I can diffuse it before it gets out of hand. Sort of like on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being a full blown panic attack...you can control it so it doesn't get to a 10...keep it at a 2 or 3.

What really did it for me is the knowledge that nobody has ever died as a result of a panic attack. They are awful indeed, however, knowing they are not fatal, coupled with a determined effort to work toward not fearing having a panic attack helped me tremendously. It is that fear of having another episode that kept me at a 3 or 4 scale all day just waiting for a 10 to develop.

Medications can help, however, I am the sort that is medication adverse. Additionally, the key for me was to avoid all caffeine. Alcohol certainly makes anxiety worse. It seems to help at the time but the next day bamn...I'd feel lightheaded due to drinking too much the day before so that dizzy feeling would cause more anxiety...that catch 22.

Best wishes to you...mike

[TheBCKid]

i know the feeling.

this is your consciousness partially leaving your body. you feel like your outside of your body, because you literally are.

this is no miracle cure.

one needs to ground oneself to the earth.

try to visualize your bare feet in sand or roots growing from your feet into the earth when you get an anxiety attack.

visualize the color brown, this is a grounding color in color therapy.

wearing brown shoes and pants can help keep you grounded. visualize brown in and around your body when you get an attack.

you should be taking 2 tablespoons of high quality fish/cod liver oil daily.

eating red meat can also be grounding.

smoking organic cigs ground.

[LaDita]

I heard that having lots of garlic and onions in the diet "quiets the mind",
and I have found this to be true.

[Lilyflower]

Wow I love all these natural remedies, excellent!

Lily xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[scruffycat]

yeah especially the organic ciggys

[theman88]

I have suffered this many times before & my doc suggested it might be depersonalization disorder, maybe you should check it out

[Lucie]

littlebird. I'm sorry you're experiencing this feeling of detachment too.
someone mentioned that it can be used as a defense mechanism. I totally agree. I'm making major life changes and instead of being stressed I've barely thought about it, but I've been feeling incredibly detached- it makes me feel like I'm going crazy, even though I know I'm not.
I think I subconsciously slip into this state because I don't think I can or want to deal with reality.
But yeah, that feeling during a panic attack is the worst. It's over fast, but it sucks.
I've had anxiety my whole life and I often have long periods of time where I feel totally detached. Maybe it's personalization disorder, but I think it's a defense mechanism against anxiety.

[Trippstar]

I know the feeling I hate it; only way to get rid of it for me was drink which is killing me
Best way is to do breathing exercises breath thru your nose out thru your mouth slowly and calmly

Bless

[littlebird77]

Thank you so very much for this... I love wearing the color brown. As I buy a pair of pants or skirt I will do this, so I have something to look at should and when this happens again.

Originally Posted by TheBCKid

i know the feeling.

this is your consciousness partially leaving your body. you feel like your outside of your body, because you literally are.

this is no miracle cure.

one needs to ground oneself to the earth.

try to visualize your bare feet in sand or roots growing from your feet into the earth when you get an anxiety attack.

visualize the color brown, this is a grounding color in color therapy.

wearing brown shoes and pants can help keep you grounded. visualize brown in and around your body when you get an attack.

you should be taking 2 tablespoons of high quality fish/cod liver oil daily.

eating red meat can also be grounding.

smoking organic cigs ground.

[Lucie]

today in class i kept pinching my leg to feel something. so scary!