Atypical anxiety symptom

[Rossovers]

I’m trying to understand if the very unpleasant symptom I’ve been experiencing for the past six years (and off and on since age 19) is a manifestation of anxiety. My psychiatrists, therapists, and neurologists have all been somewhat puzzled by it. I describe it variously as a feeling of being drugged, in a haze, groggy, spaced out, not fully awake, somewhat disconnected from the visual world in front of me, like there’s an invisible veil between me and the world “out there. This condition also naturally reduces my motivation for most activities. And during some periods I have experienced accompanying standard symptoms of anxiety as well, mostly the severely “on edge” feeling and fear of completely breaking down, which doesn’t happen. But those symptoms have been intermittent, whereas the haze just stays.

This is NOT “brain fog” by the usual cognitive description as problems with memory, concentration, or attention.

I was well for about 16 years, when I took Prozac. But then during a period of stress associated with moving house, renters from hell, and other troubles, the Prozac stopped working. I’ve tried an entire medicine cabinet of ADs, etc since then without much help.

I would like to at least get a clear diagnosis.

Rossovers

 

[Cuchculan]

Heard it all before and been there too. Look up derealisation / depersonalization and you may see yourself looking back out at you in how this symptom is. Is a very common anxiety symptom. Frightening at times when you have no idea what it is. I always say it is like I am on the verge of passing out. But I never do. I just stay that way until it passes. The world around is a haze. Others say it is like viewing life down the end of a long tunnel. Can make things seem further away. I don't get it these days. Used to have it bad many years ago. Once I got used to it and stopped fearing it, it simply stopped. The way it happens with a lot of things.

 

[Rossovers]

Thanks much for that encouraging reply. I have read up on dissociative disorders and discovered that I have never experienced the scarier symptoms, like not recognizing yoursel in the mirror or feeling detached from your body. Well I’m grateful for that! But I have also read that the feeling of constant haziness may be the way some people experience dissociation.

 

[Cuchculan]

I always knew myself. Never had that one. Was all about been in a dream like state. Things would always seem further away than they really were for me. Dangerous if crossing a road. Spaced out feeling that was all just another anxiety symptom.

 

[ManaClash]

It's sad how little doctors know about Anxiety and mental health in general. This is straight up anxiety or panic. I get it all the time especially if I had a recent panic attack. Everything looks weird almost like tunnel vision and things seem off or not right like your in another world. Don't let these doctors get your head twisted buddy it's a symptom of Anxiety which can do some crazy things to our bodies.

 

[ManaClash]

I once felt like that for a solid month when I got off all my medications it was extreme anxiety I thought I was going crazy or something else was seriously wrong. I once had PHD psychiatrist give me a hard time and because I told him I felt whacked out. He lectured me and told me I was using highly technical terms and jargon to explain how I felt. Lol I told him that's the way I talk. Over the year's I've lost a lot of faith in doctors.

 

[ManaClash]

Hang in there man and just know it will get better your not suffering from some unknown ailment.

 

[Gemma214]

I've never not recognized myself but there's been a bunch of times when I looked in a mirror and thought "wow I'm really me. I'm a real person". Depersonalization symptoms are so varying but I think the common denominator is that they are pretty freaky. It's insane what anxiety can do to us

 

[Kmeyeraa11]

I’m trying to understand if the very unpleasant symptom I’ve been experiencing for the past six years (and off and on since age 19) is a manifestation of anxiety. My psychiatrists, therapists, and neurologists have all been somewhat puzzled by it. I describe it variously as a feeling of being drugged, in a haze, groggy, spaced out, not fully awake, somewhat disconnected from the visual world in front of me, like there’s an invisible veil between me and the world “out there. This condition also naturally reduces my motivation for most activities. And during some periods I have experienced accompanying standard symptoms of anxiety as well, mostly the severely “on edge” feeling and fear of completely breaking down, which doesn’t happen. But those symptoms have been intermittent, whereas the haze just stays.

This is NOT “brain fog” by the usual cognitive description as problems with memory, concentration, or attention.

I was well for about 16 years, when I took Prozac. But then during a period of stress associated with moving house, renters from hell, and other troubles, the Prozac stopped working. I’ve tried an entire medicine cabinet of ADs, etc since then without much help.

I would like to at least get a clear diagnosis.

Rossovers

I have been feeling the same way recently on and off. It’s hard to describe but it feels like things sometimes aren’t real and like stuff isn’t really happening. I also zone out a lot especially driving. And I feel disconnected from my body. I hate it. Hopefully it gets better.

 

[Panxiety]

I have been feeling the same way recently on and off. It’s hard to describe but it feels like things sometimes aren’t real and like stuff isn’t really happening. I also zone out a lot especially driving. And I feel disconnected from my body. I hate it. Hopefully it gets better.

Know exact how you feel. Sometimes I feel like I'm on the outside looking in at everything around me.

 

[Kmeyeraa11]

Know exact how you feel. Sometimes I feel like I'm on the outside looking in at everything around me.

Yes exactly. It’s such a bizarre feeling.

 

[Panxiety]

Yes exactly. It’s such a bizarre feeling.

It sucks. Makes it difficult to ever be present and enjoy the moment or experience. Most of my anxiety issues come and go, but this is something that has been a constant for me. I've tried to be more "consciously mindful" but I can't say that it's really worked for more than a few minutes at a time.

I sometimes wonder if this is just a coping mechanism that I've built up through the years to allow me to get through just about anything--i do my best work under pressure and always feel that I can successfully do and get through anything work or life related. I'll always find a way to get anything done. The downside has been that I never really enjoy any of the successes, but also never dwell on the failures because I feel distanced from all of it. Like it's all just a movie I'm watching.

 

[Rossovers]

I always knew myself. Never had that one. Was all about been in a dream like state. Things would always seem further away than they really were for me. Dangerous if crossing a road. Spaced out feeling that was all just another anxiety symptom.

Thanks. Things don’t seem further away, but “dreamlike state” describes the feeling well.

I always knew myself. Never had that one. Was all about been in a dream like state. Things would always seem further away than they really were for me. Dangerous if crossing a road. Spaced out feeling that was all just another anxiety symptom.

 

[Rossovers]

It's sad how little doctors know about Anxiety and mental health in general. This is straight up anxiety or panic. I get it all the time especially if I had a recent panic attack. Everything looks weird almost like tunnel vision and things seem off or not right like your in another world. Don't let these doctors get your head twisted buddy it's a symptom of Anxiety which can do some crazy things to our bodies.

I went through a short period of having panic attacks many years ago, but that has not recurred. Rather the anxiety is the continuous dream-like state, though it varies in intensity from day to day. And I almost always feel a little better late in the evening. Go figure.

 

[Rossovers]

Know exact how you feel. Sometimes I feel like I'm on the outside looking in at everything around me.

I know it can get better, because I’ve fully recovered for tears at a time.

 

[Rossovers]

I once felt like that for a solid month when I got off all my medications it was extreme anxiety I thought I was going crazy or something else was seriously wrong. I once had PHD psychiatrist give me a hard time and because I told him I felt whacked out. He lectured me and told me I was using highly technical terms and jargon to explain how I felt. Lol I told him that's the way I talk. Over the year's I've lost a lot of faith in doctors.

Professionals in particular fields don’t like others using their special codes!

 

[Rossovers]

It sucks. Makes it difficult to ever be present and enjoy the moment or experience. Most of my anxiety issues come and go, but this is something that has been a constant for me. I've tried to be more "consciously mindful" but I can't say that it's really worked for more than a few minutes at a time.

I sometimes wonder if this is just a coping mechanism that I've built up through the years to allow me to get through just about anything--i do my best work under pressure and always feel that I can successfully do and get through anything work or life related. I'll always find a way to get anything done. The downside has been that I never really enjoy any of the successes, but also never dwell on the failures because I feel distanced from all of it. Like it's all just a movie I'm watching.

Thanks for that.

 

[Rossovers]

Hang in there man and just know it will get better your not suffering from some unknown ailment.

Thanks. I know it can get better because it has several times.

 

[ManaClash]

I went through a short period of having panic attacks many years ago, but that has not recurred. Rather the anxiety is the continuous dream-like state, though it varies in intensity from day to day. And I almost always feel a little better late in the evening. Go figure.

I always feel better after 8pm it's like clock work. Idk if it's psysoamtic because the day is almost over and I feel relieved.

 

[Rossovers]

I once felt like that for a solid month when I got off all my medications it was extreme anxiety I thought I was going crazy or something else was seriously wrong. I once had PHD psychiatrist give me a hard time and because I told him I felt whacked out. He lectured me and told me I was using highly technical terms and jargon to explain how I felt. Lol I told him that's the way I talk. Over the year's I've lost a lot of faith in doctors.