Ok, I really feel nuts. I experience really bad Feelings of unreality with my anxiety, it has been going on for 6 months now. I absolutely hate it, it is so hard to get over my condition becuase of it. But anyway, I get this really weird feeling, or thoughts that I am sort of losing a sense of myself, like I am afraid that I would forget who I am, or that I am losing my mind... It is so hard to connect to everything, I feel like I dont know who I am anymore! I mean of course I KNOW who I am, but I feel so disconnected from myself... Anyone?? AGH!!!

I know just how you feel! I too feel like I am loosing my mind! I have had my problems with anxiety for about 5 years and I have better days than others. If you find something that helps, please let me know!

I know exactly how you feel. I have had anxiety problems for a very long time and just in the last couple years have the thoughts of being afraid of forgetting who I am entered my mind. I always dread going up to the check out counter in any store because I hate signing the receipts. I'm so afraid I'm going to forget my name or how to spell it. Sometimes I shake so bad I'm not sure if I'll be able to sign at all. Sometimes when I'm introducing myself to someone just saying my own name sounds foreign to me It feels like I'm losing my mind...I always have to tell myself that just like everything else that comes along with anxiety, this too will pass. Always remind yourself that it's anxiety doing this to you! I know it's easier said than done especially when your in "that moment", but repeat positive thoughts to yourself. When you notice yourself feeling that way interupt those thoughts from getting any further by telling yourself things like "Of course I'm not losing my mind, I'm in complete control". Also going over lessons 3,8 and 10 in the program will help with those thoughts and be a comforting place to turn.

Oh my gosh! I think the same thing!!! I wrote my name yesterday, and it looked weird, and I said, that is my name.... This is really sad!!!

I know what you mean. My feelings of unreality have been with me for almost four months. It makes it very hard to float threw things when there is that contsant reminder of how I'm feeling. It gets very frustating when I feel like I'm working so hard at getting better and I go to sleep thinking, hoping when I wake up it will be gone. I know this is unrealistic but I still have hope.I do believe however that it is getting slightly better.That is what we need to remind ourselves of.Hang in there Everything takes time.

Exactly, it is hard to ignore, and mornings are really hard for me also, because I wake up anticipating the feelings again, and I get panicky. What brought on your feelings was it a panic attack??

I was just working one day and felt alittle dizzy. Then I started worrying when and if I was going to get dizzy again and I did and would say see there it is again. Eventualy I did have a panic attack and yes I think from that first panic attack it has been with me. MY mornings are the worst too.

I feel that way alot too. Not only with my name, but sometimes everyday words will all of the sudden sound weird to me, or I'll worry that I'll forget how to talk. It sucks...

wow, this is so comforting knowing that other people have strange feelings like this too...I don;t really have any advice, sorry, but I can relate. I'm always afraid that people are going to ask me simple questions about myself and I wont be able to answer them competently, like if someone asks my name, I'l always respond with my name, but it always sounds so weird to me. Like, I am Randy, thats so weird. Is that who i really am or is someone playing a joke on me, or am i insane and don;t know it, and living in this fantasy world where I think I"m someone else...I know this all sounds crazy!!! and i know I know my own name, but it just feels like so surreal. I'm also afraid that I"m not going to beable to tell people my address and phone number, like my mind will go blank or something. I worry that I am developing schizophrenia or something. I feel like I"m going crazy...i really hate it, i feel so childish for thinking that, but deep down I'm really worried. I want to go get a cat scan sometimes, just so I can be sure. And i've suffered about 3 major concussions when i was younger, so sometimes I worry that there was damage done from those and thats why I feel this way. But I know it's probably just anxiety. I'm more sure of it now after visiting this chat room and hearing all of you talk about this stuff. I'm afraid of the same things you are...I'm afraid I am going to forget who I am. I feel like I don;t really have a sense of self. I don;t know where I fit into the world, I feel useless, and helpless. I feel like I don;t matter to anyone.

Randy, That is very ironic. I feel lthe same feelings that I am afraid that I don't even know who I am anymore. It isn't that uncommon. I am actually feeling about 70% better since I have written that post. I have completely taken my focus away from my anxiety and started doing something else. Hobbies... The feling of unreality has even subsided a bit. It really works to take your attention away from ourselves. I still feel my symptoms through the day, but they aren't as severe and prominent. But I did feel that disconnection from my identity like you said, it has really faded! Try to completely get absorbed i nto something, build something, get completely addicted to something, take pictures, do a craft, get a pet...It really works!!!

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I feel that way alot too. Not only with my name, but sometimes everyday words will all of the sudden sound weird to me, or I'll worry that I'll forget how to talk. It sucks...

Oh boy Ive done that many a times. Sometimes (although rare) Ill forget how to answer the phone. Saying "hello?" just doesn't sound right to me. Or how I have to answer the phone at work I can't remember how it goes.

All that is, is your brain needing a rest. Its so wound up with all the stress and worry it needs a breather and we forget or things dont look right. Very common with this disorder, nothing to be frightened of although I know thats easier said than done.

Tammy

Well, over the last 10 years, I've gone through periods like that. I'll look in the mirror and say "who is that!" I don't recognize myself or feel connected to my identity. It always goes away. It only hits me when I'm in the real low points. Distraction is a great tool as someone else said. Just remember this, it DOES go AWAY, and you don't ever really forget who you are. It is just the anxiety and depression over taxing your brain.