Anxiety make you feel not real?

[Britt1007]

Hi everyone! So I am new with anxiety for about 2 months now. I find that I am almost thinking the worst and getting myself so worked up over things that probably aren’t true. I have noticed lately that there are periods where I almost feel not real, like I’m here physically but mentally I am not here. It’s like I’m living in a blurb. Has anyone else experienced this? It sometimes comes with dizziness/lightheadedness. It’s really freaky when it happens. I need reassurance that I am okay!

[Agora1]

Hi Britt, you are okay. It's all a part of how anxiety can make us feel.

Like we are in another space in time. Once you calm down and accept

this feeling as not dangerous, you should feel more clear headed and in

control. Meanwhile, do some meditation and breathing and make sure

to hydrate. xx

[Jeff1943]

Britt1007, what you are experiencing are very common and normal symptoms of high anxiety and you will cease to notice them when you free yourself of anxiety.

When we become subject to anxiety overload our nerves become super sensitive and they exaggerate concerns - blowing them up in our minds to be major issues. When they are not.

This is why you say you get worked up by things that probably aren't true. The smallest worries become magnified ten times over. Most of us here have experienced it.

What you describe as you're almost not real, like being here physically but not normally is what is called derealisation. I had it 40 years ago before it gained its fancy name and I used to describe it as feeling 'like I'm not here' or like watching everything on a TV.

Our mind senses we're anxious and thinks it's being helpful by 'distancing' us from where we are. But whilst our mind may not feel it's where we are our body of course remains in exactly the same place.

When I resolved my anxiety disorder at that time the strange feeling went, along with all the other phoney symptoms that over sensitised nerves inflict on us. I occasionally feel it temporarily in brightly lit supermarkets for some reason.

So how do you deal with it? If you didn't know it before you certainly know it now: these symptoms are just feelings, they are no threat to your well being. So you should accept them just for the time being. Accept these exaggerated throughts and feelings of derealisation, do not fight them, do not fear them and do not stress yourself about them.

But it must be genuine and utter acceptance so that you cease to release fear hormones. It is these fear hormones that keep your nervous system over sensitised - thereby producing the symptoms you have described.

Light headedness is another feeling prompted by anxiety.

So you are in no danger, your anxiety is following a well trodden track. For 100% reassurance do see your doctor if you haven't already because there's a very small chance that anxiety can be caused by irregularities of the thyroid gland which can be overcome by taking a prescribed supplement.

The other thing you must ask yourself is: why have you developed anxiety disorder? Is it over work, too much worry, toxic relations, a job you hate, loss, grief, disappointment, shame - whatever the cause you need to address it to restore and protect your peace of mind.