I've had this in one form or another. I refer to it as severe dissociation. I sometimes become so afraid of things that my system goes into a feeling of unreality, or I feel detached from myself into depersonalization. I find that exercise helps this a lot, but also keeping yourself busy. About the hardest part of this is the loss of control you feel when experiencing it. I'll be riding in the car or sitting with my wife and I feel disconnected from the experience. It's very strange. I'd say I started to experience depersonalization and unreality in my teens. My mother died when I was ten and I began to experience a constant blinking and squinting. Of course, my father then took me to the eye doctor. It's kind of like how they take anxiety sufferers to the heart doctor. I had panic as a child in the 1970s, now that I look back on it, but no one knew what it was then. I also had a desperate fear of being away from my mother as a young child, so you can understand how it must have affected me when she died. I also am very afraid of dying myself and this brings out some of my dissociation symptoms. I could go on and on about this topic, but the best way I know how to deal with it is just keeping busy. It seemed easier as a teenager to distance myself from this disorder because there was less responsiblity as a child. Anyway, I was glad to stumble upon this post. I hope everyone who posted here finds easy ways to deal with it. I had a rough time of it today at work and felt a bit of panic. But I made it through another day. I do not like having to do it, but I took one and a half diazepam to take the edge off after lunch at work. My job can be very stressful. OK, I have run on enough. TGIF. and the weekend. David

Hi mattowarrior, As you can see you are not alone in experiencing these feelings. Please be sure to also consult with your doctor or health care provider regarding this question. Casey _________________________________ The Panic Center Support Team

Hello! I fully understand the (outer body experience) is what I like to call it. I haven't saught treatment yet for my disorder but I want to. Everyday is a struggle. I have this overwelming feeling of anxiety, worry, and just fear. I am a person that believes in God. I am having a hard time doing ANYTHING in fear that I am not doing the right thing and will not be forgiven or accepted by God. I often worry alot about dying and not fulfilling my purpose here. I can't even get out of bed some days and I am always worring about the uncontrollable. I am driving myself crazy. Fear is so paralyzing! Help!!!!!!!!!!!

I totally sympathise with you. I think this symptom is by far the worst part of having anxiety and panic. You feel that you will never get a grip on your life as you feel totally removed from it, like it's happening to someone else. I don't know what the science of it is but I guess it is a way of your body and mind coping with the frightening aspects of panic. All I can suggest is to give yourself a good talking to when it's happening. To try to say to yourself that although you feel unreal and spaced out you are definitely in the here and now and the feeling will pass no matter how terrifying it is. maybe if you try to concentrate on something that distracts you and occupies your mind you can take some control back over your life. I've read so many inspiring stories that people can and do overcome these feelings for good. What you have to do is understand that however scarey your symptoms are they are not real, they can't hurt you and they shouldn't stop you from living your life. When you feel unreal you need to work through it, keep going and try to keep smiling no matter how hard it gets. At the end of the day, although it's scarey and horrible, you're not going to die from feeling strange and spaced out. You're going to suffer, no doubt about it, but tell yourself you're stronger than that. This kind of illness can throw the weirdest things at you. Just when you think you've had every symptom a new one will arrive. I started feeling recently as if i'm on board a boat and the ground is rocking and moving beneath me when im on dry land. It terrified my at first but now i have come to accept it as just another product of my anxiety. Afterall, no harm has come to me because of it. The only way to rid yourself of these feelings is to make steps to take control of your life, possibly doing the program on this website will help you no end. If you can take steps to really feel like your giving it your best shot at tackling the unreal feelings then you will overcome them. You need to stay so so positive, no matter how weak and scared you feel. This kind of illness makes you feel like you have no control or say in your own life and thats terrifying. Once you start making positive steps to get better you will kick this problem into touch along with all the o

Yeah I know its an old topic but I thought I'd bring it up again. Does anyone know what causes this feeling chemically etc? Its the worst feeling I've ever had in my life so I feel like I want to get a hold of what may cause this. I'm on a vacation right now and I'm afraid to sleep because of this ****. I hardly slept last night because I was scared of waking up in an unfamiliar place and having a "disocciative episode".

I just want to thank everyone for their really helpful tips. Its nice to know that this kind of support is just a click away.

Hi Hobbit I'm sorry I should have explained myself better. My doctor referred me to an outpatient panic program at the hospital. The course was once a week for 1.5 hrs. It was a cbt program like the one offered on this site. You will not go crazy or lose your mind! This disorder is hard to live with but once you find some coping mechanisms, it does get easier!! Take care

Hi Breden , Thanks for the info . i'll keep trucking along with the program . do you mind me asking why you were hospitalized ? that is my big fear with this . i am terrified that i won't be able to cope , or lose it altogether & end up in the hospital . i don't feel suicidal ( yet ) , so i'm hoping to get a handle on this right away . if its too personal for you to talk about , forgive my asking . i guess i'm just looking for reassurance that i'm not going truly mad .

The non reality for me is the most disturbing part of any attack. I chalk it up as an escape mechanism that seems to auto invokes itself. It seems to come in different strengths as well. I could be walking to go to lunch and not really be aware of where I am but know where Im going (non reality lite). Then see someone that I know and panic because I dont really feel that Im in the present. Then when Im listening to that person talk to me I feel like I retreating further into myself and all I want to do is escape this person (full strength non reality). I find it helps to look away from whatever Im looking at when I realize I dont feel reality. So Ill look away from the persons eyes, past them at on object behind them and then remind myself were I am, who I am and what Im doing there. And then I try to remember that its only false anxiety and that I must return to the present moment. It works for me. Hope this helps

Hi Hobbit If you feel you need the meds then take them they will help while you work through the program. I took other meds not lorazepam so I can't help you there. The program does work (I took it in the hospital but this one is almost the same)DO NOT skip any sessions!! It is important to work through the program slowly and continue on with what you learn every day. I took the cbt 2 years ago and my anxiety has come back several times but it is much easier to deal with. I think what we do is once we start to feel better, we don't do the stuff we need to to keep our anxiety levels low and it's important to continue even when we feel better!!