Derealization?, Can some explain this? Options

[scaredvalerie]

one other question......could these "attacks" be adrenline Surges?

[Aviano]

I have a question after reading all the posts........I get these "attacks" where I can be sitting there reading or talking to someone and get this funny feeling in my stomach then get tingly and its like a fight or flight moment but my head goes somewhere else and its like Im having a hallucination.....it only last for aobut 30 secs even though it feels alot longer is this DP/DR?........I have been to many doc and psys. and have had a brain scan and they say there is nothing wrong.......I started getting these before anxiety took over my life.......I can be having a great day and will get one of the these attacks out of the blue......then I can go a week without one......I take xanax daily per my psy.NP........but they dont stop these attacks........so of course Im scared......I have had been check for many things in the last year and everything is normal.......so after reading this post was wondering if these mini attacks with what Im calling hallucinations (which they may not be) or part of the DP/DR thing......thanks in advance Valerie

Valerie:
I'm not sure what you mean by "hallucination"..can you say more? Have you been thoroughly checked for seiures? blood sugar issues?
Angie

[cross18]

I have a question after reading all the posts........I get these "attacks" where I can be sitting there reading or talking to someone and get this funny feeling in my stomach then get tingly and its like a fight or flight moment but my head goes somewhere else and its like Im having a hallucination.....it only last for aobut 30 secs even though it feels alot longer is this DP/DR?........I have been to many doc and psys. and have had a brain scan and they say there is nothing wrong.......I started getting these before anxiety took over my life.......I can be having a great day and will get one of the these attacks out of the blue......then I can go a week without one......I take xanax daily per my psy.NP........but they dont stop these attacks........so of course Im scared......I have had been check for many things in the last year and everything is normal.......so after reading this post was wondering if these mini attacks with what Im calling hallucinations (which they may not be) or part of the DP/DR thing......thanks in advance Valerie

What you're describing sounds to me like "classic" panic attack, which can lead to feelings of detachment, depersonalization and derealiation. Don't be scared -- I know it's easier said than done -- but this doesn't sound like anything dangerous. You're very lucky that your attacks only last for 30 seconds, BTW, as some of us feel this way for days, weeks, months or even years at a time. Hang in there, this too shall pass. And please contact me off list if you're interested in seeing an anxiety course that I have in email form that might be helpful. My address is mochadiva36@aol.com.

Best,

Cindy

[scaredvalerie]

Angie......I havent been tested for blood sugar issues but I really think that its the problem...doc will check BS when Im in office and it ok so she says its not that.........I had been doing so well and then I started to slip up and started eatting more sugar and added coffee (decaf) back into my diet......I wake up in the middle of the night craving sweets!.......so will really watch my diet and see if this goes away again....thank you for advice.......Valerie

[scaredvalerie]

Cindy would these just come out of no where?........I can be sitting calming reading and they will come on and like I said just last for about 30 secs......I take xanax 3x a day because my therapist says this will make them not happen.......Im not anxiety ridden like I was but can take xanax and still have one of these attacks an hour later.......thanks Valerie

[Aviano]

Angie......I havent been tested for blood sugar issues but I really think that its the problem...doc will check BS when Im in office and it ok so she says its not that.........I had been doing so well and then I started to slip up and started eatting more sugar and added coffee (decaf) back into my diet......I wake up in the middle of the night craving sweets!.......so will really watch my diet and see if this goes away again....thank you for advice.......Valerie

Valerie:
I have blood sugar control issues and unfortunately, have to eat my biggest meal at night..and after eating, I get sleepy. From time to time, as I'm watching television, it will almost be as if I am awake and dreaming at the same time...I have a home glucometer and inevitably, when this happens my BG is over 150..sometimes well over. It seems to come and go..BUT, even though I am relatively thin (as is my Mom and she has diabetes), I'm going to have to address my high post-prandial (after eating) blood sugar issues..possibly with Metformin.
Angie

[Aviano]

What you're describing sounds to me like "classic" panic attack, which can lead to feelings of detachment, depersonalization and derealiation. Don't be scared -- I know it's easier said than done -- but this doesn't sound like anything dangerous. You're very lucky that your attacks only last for 30 seconds, BTW, as some of us feel this way for days, weeks, months or even years at a time. Hang in there, this too shall pass. And please contact me off list if you're interested in seeing an anxiety course that I have in email form that might be helpful. My address is mochadiva36@aol.com.

Best,

Cindy

Anxiety courses/Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction can help bear the symptoms and sometimes, even improve them..however, anxiety (if that is what this is) this severe almost always has a physiological base..even mainstream medicine is starting to realize that "anxiety" and "depression" are symptoms NOT diseases or syndromes...Watching when symptoms like this happen (after eating? after coffee? time of day?) can often help with what underlying cause is..

[joyceveronica]

I have a question after reading all the posts........I get these "attacks" where I can be sitting there reading or talking to someone and get this funny feeling in my stomach then get tingly and its like a fight or flight moment but my head goes somewhere else and its like Im having a hallucination.....it only last for aobut 30 secs even though it feels alot longer is this DP/DR?........I have been to many doc and psys. and have had a brain scan and they say there is nothing wrong.......I started getting these before anxiety took over my life.......I can be having a great day and will get one of the these attacks out of the blue......then I can go a week without one......I take xanax daily per my psy.NP........but they dont stop these attacks........so of course Im scared......I have had been check for many things in the last year and everything is normal.......so after reading this post was wondering if these mini attacks with what Im calling hallucinations (which they may not be) or part of the DP/DR thing......thanks in advance Valerie

Dear 'scaredvalerie'
The symptoms you describe also happen to me on occasion and it is a scary sensation.I too use Xanax on an as needed basis but sometimes have had to take an extra small dose when faced with very emotional situations.
Am not a Doctor but I do believe a lot of us ladies during this Hormonal roundabout suffer both emotionally and mentally and I really believe it is helpful to share and talk.
Just being honest about certain things that happen to all of us really helps
That is why I like to come on this Forum and read others personal experiences.Then I know I am fairly normal!
So try to relax,dear friend
and if you get more disturbed what about a chat with your prescribing Physician
Warm Hugs
Elizabeth

[cross18]

Cindy would these just come out of no where?........I can be sitting calming reading and they will come on and like I said just last for about 30 secs......I take xanax 3x a day because my therapist says this will make them not happen.......Im not anxiety ridden like I was but can take xanax and still have one of these attacks an hour later.......thanks Valerie

Hi Valerie,

I'm no doctor, so I honestly don't know what this started happening to you. But many of us going through hormonal changes of peri do develop sudden anxiety.BTW, for me, xanax did exactly what you're describing -- and I couldn't tolerate it. Xanax is very short acting and for some people it increases anxiety levels. According to my psychiatrist and the lyme doctor who is treating me for infection (my lyme infection apparently caused the worst of my symptoms), xanax can be quite awful for some people, and can lead to horrible panic atacks from withdrawal. For me that started happening after less than a month on xanax and it was awful. It really makes me mad that my idiot HMO doc insisted I keep taking it.

I would suggest talking to a psychiatrist, i.e., an expert in psych meds. If it's determined that you really need a benzo, maybe you can try one that lasts longer, perhaps something like valium or klonopin. Again, keep in mind, I'm no doctor. But for me the anxiety lessened, and practically disappeared when I weaned off of benzos, initially worked on "controlling" it through mental excercises, then got on appropriate medication for my lyme infections. I also used BHRT now that seems to help quite a bit too, although for me, while the "anxiety" is mostly gone, I still have lingering depersonalization.

C

[chaotichar]

Valerie,
I know we talked about this in the past if you can remember. I get the exact same thing only mine starts the minute I open my eyes in the morning. Severe morning anxiety and cannot eat because my stomach is fluttering. But I could be fine one minute and then the next I'll get this flush feeling of intense panic like state. Like you it only lasts less then a minute. Not sure what causes this but I HATE IT!!! It's taking over my life. I'm trying all kinds of meditations, deep breathing, and talk therapy. I'm so tired all the time too. I hope we get the relief soon!!!!
(((((CHAR))))

[joliejacq]

I've shared this on the boards many times, but will again...

When I used to get panic attacks, they usually lasted 2-3 minutes, and just undid me. They are HORRID. I finally got to the point where I figured out a couple ways to help myself.

1. Kick off your shoes. Something about having feet flat on the cold floor would calm me immediately.

2. This will sound crazy - it's what I did when at the grocery store, or some other place where I didn't want to go flailing out screaming my head off in terror! I would look very closely at the tip of one of my fingers, focus on the fingerprint. Just seeing it just THERE, not morphing into something bizarre, would calm me right down.

I think in both cases, it was a matter of focusing, getting "grounded." I used to fear I'd just spin off into madness, you know?

Just the nastiest feeling in the world. The good news is that I don't get these anymore, haven't in years!

(((HUGS)))

JJ

[scaredvalerie]

HI Char......yes i remember that we both had some of the same symptoms........I just hate this one the most.......

JJ......thanks for the helpful hints will give them a try.........but like I said earlier I could be sitting there reading a book having a great day and it just comes out of no where.........It the one symptom that I have left that scares me......Valerie

[joliejacq]

It was the same for me, Val. I could be anywhere...

For awhile, I became agoraphobic, so frightened of leaving the house and having it happen.

I kept plugging away, and it's easier than it sounds! Truly an awful feeling.

(((BIG HUGS))) - I pray that one day soon you will be done with them, too.

JJ

[scaredvalerie]

Cross.........I have been to a psychiatrist and he said its hormones........and I see a NP psychiatrist monthly for my xanax prescription......but I dont think either understand these strange "attacks".........they say menopause does strange things to ur brain........then they give me my script and send me on my way.........Valerie