This may sound strange but when I get very anxious things look weird hard to describe like your looking through a glass pane not that they look fake see what I mean hard to describe things maybe blurred I quite not sure how to describe it. Can anyone relate???? Thanks

Yes . I can sooooo relate to what you are saying. That is how things seem to me much of the time, but for some reason a liitle bit of Ativan seems to help me. It is a very strange feeling. I sure would be nice to have my old brain back though

Thank you I thought something was really wrong with me .

Derealization at it's best my dear! I describe it as "having a dirty fish bowl on my head" things look very strange. And yes it is very scary. Honestly I have had this nearly every single day since 2005. I will have some days where its back to normal and now that seems wierd. lol. I have to agree with the second post....ativan does help immensely with this!!

I get the derealization at times when my anxiety is really bad and the ativan does help take the edge off. I can't really explain what it "looks" like, though. Maybe like I'm looking at things through a window. . .just unreal.

I thought derealization was when you felt seperated from your surroundings and yourself, like your watching yourself do things? That,s not how I feel but who knows this could be a form of it

Yes i had some pretty weird things happen to me i seen fog around a man in the store and one time in walmart half the store was light and dark to me which brought me into full panic attack.And sound drive me crazy too. Xanax and zoloft help alot.

That is dissacotiation......two very different things. Derealization is when things do not look "real" . I once told the doctor that I thought I must be dead and no one had told me yet.....it is like stepping into another dimension.

Okay, so I don't know which one I have, dissacotiation I guess. So what causes it and how can we get rid of it. Is it just part of the depression/anxiety that brings it on and does it go away once these things are gone or what. It almost seems like the brain can't handle anything else so it goes into a protection mode or something. I am really getting tired of it though I wonder why Ativan helps with it sometimes too. Any ideas?

sometimes i would get like over sensitive mode everythign in my body oversenstive emotions etc...

You have derealization honey. It is caused strictly by the anxiety. That is why the benzos work so well..........they reduce the anxiety thereby reducing the derealizing.

Oh yeah I can relate!!! For me, that is a great time to sit down somewhere comfortable and read a great book!!!

Hi "little lil" , yes this happens to me as well. This is pure anxiety! It happens to me the same way as it does you , I think it's a feeling of DETACHMENT, i think that's what it is. It's the brains way of sort of preserving itself, when you feel overwhelmed and panicky, your brain sort of pulls back, and withdraws within itself ..... I've dealt with this feeling now for about 3 yrs, and it can happen to me anywhere and anytime ..... are we having fun yet?

hi little lil i no how you feel i to am feeling this spent the last 2 weeks in my bedroom i feel safe there my front room kitchen and bathroom feel strange to me i came downstairs today my anxiety hit the roof but i am going to stay down for as long as i can

Dear 'Medium at Large'
I agree with you totally.That is why Xanax has helped me so much.
I take on an as needed basis .Some weeks I can go without any then as I go weirdo!I take a small dose.
Anxiety is so difficult for me.I pray,exercise,eat well and do the breathing but still need help.
Sometimes I feel like a failure

God Bless
Elizabeth

A Great Big Yes
And it is scary and no you are not going mad!
I swear there are days when certain places,rooms and people look weird and as if I am just looking down on them
I too believe this happens out of Anxiety and you may wish to talk to your Doctor about a low dose anti-anxiety Med.
This may be of some help
Also exercise is good especially walking.
Sometimes I just stroll around the Mall and treat myself to a pastry and Herbal Tea."Little Devil that I am"

So remember you are not alone
Keep Posting
All the Best
Elizabeth

Yes, little lil, I have had this sensation for now right at one year. I keep telling everyone that "Things look weird to me" and "I wish this weird look would please go away." I have never had it in my life until peri/meno hit. Everyone says it is derealization/depersonalization from the anxiety. Not fun, at all, is it? It is like we are in a dream or maybe even a movie.

I suppose the hormonal flux we are dealing with plus life's stressors causes the anxiety which in turn causes everything to take on this strange weird look. Every room in my house has this look. It is so very scary, and honey, I understand completely what you are talking about.

hugs and love,
mood_swinger

I find that I squint alot when the anxiety is bad. Not sure why I do that, but I do!