Derealization maybe? Up dosage of meds?

[Matticus1983]

So a week ago my doc upped my Lamictal by 100 mg right on the spot due to severe anxiety, a little panic and definitely some depression. He also added an antidepressant. I feel like the antidepressant is helping. But today my wife and kids went on a trip and will be gone for a few days. This feeling of loneliness came over me pretty quickly and I feel so off (spacey) no sense of my surroundings, just kind of trapped in my mind. This was after I woke up from a nap. I mowed the yard etc, even worked out a bit this morning. I don't know how to describe the feeling at all. It's just an odd feeling. I'm used to this house full of noise and my boys running in and out my wife talking. It's like they left and aren't coming back kinda feeling. I just feel spacey out in left field and just picking up the phone feels like a task. Need some pointers guys, it's such an odd feeling. I have been anxious today even after getting a good report from the cardio yesterday. Is it possible I'm just wore out from excersize? First time in two weeks I excersized was this morning. I dunno. Anybody ever felt this way. Just odd like I'm gonna lose my grip on reality go schizo or something.

 

[Belizz]

I don't know how to describe the feeling at all. It's just an odd feeling. I'm used to this house full of noise and my boys running in and out my wife talking. It's like they left and aren't coming back kinda feeling. I just feel spacey out in left field and just picking up the phone feels like a task. Need some pointers guys, it's such an odd feeling.

Hi there, I find your description of that strange feeling very familiar. And yes it's really hard to describe.
I experience it when I have my depressive periods and they are usually distressing when it's combined with lots of anxiety. It's a crushing empty feeling and despair. Like everything feels so hard to do, and so meaningless. In addition to that - which I think is the most disturbing of all symptoms - I have this strange brain fog + pressure feeling in my head. Then I feel better all of a sudden after a day or two.

When this happens I try to distract my brain from having destructive negative thoughts as much as I can. I go out and take a walk. It really helps me with this feeling. Also no you will not go crazy because the physiology of that works different in brain than anxiety/depression does.
Engage in different brain activities which doesn't require too much focus. Puzzle game apps, going out sitting on a bench after a walk and noticing your surroundings, nature etc helps A LOT. Do Sudoku if you are interested in that, or crosswords maybe? Short meditations if you are into that, works. Distraction until you feel better is the key.

One more thing I can mention, antidepressants show their full beneficial effects around 1-2 months mark not before that. So don't give up on them yet. You may have those feelings as a first week side effects of the antidepressants and those are temporary and will go away after the first week.

 

[Matticus1983]

Hi there, I find your description of that strange feeling very familiar. And yes it's really hard to describe.
I experience it when I have my depressive periods and they are usually distressing when it's combined with lots of anxiety. It's a crushing empty feeling and despair. Like everything feels so hard to do, and so meaningless. In addition to that - which I think is the most disturbing of all symptoms - I have this strange brain fog + pressure feeling in my head. Then I feel better all of a sudden after a day or two.

When this happens I try to distract my brain from having destructive negative thoughts as much as I can. I go out and take a walk. It really helps me with this feeling. Also no you will not go crazy because the physiology of that works different in brain than anxiety/depression does.
Engage in different brain activities which doesn't require too much focus. Puzzle game apps, going out sitting on a bench after a walk and noticing your surroundings, nature etc helps A LOT. Do Sudoku if you are interested in that, or crosswords maybe? Short meditations if you are into that, works. Distraction until you feel better is the key.

One more thing I can mention, antidepressants show their full beneficial effects around 1-2 months mark not before that. So don't give up on them yet. You may have those feelings as a first week side effects of the antidepressants and those are temporary and will go away after the first week.

Thank you.

 

[E.B]

So a week ago my doc upped my Lamictal by 100 mg right on the spot due to severe anxiety, a little panic and definitely some depression. He also added an antidepressant. I feel like the antidepressant is helping. But today my wife and kids went on a trip and will be gone for a few days. This feeling of loneliness came over me pretty quickly and I feel so off (spacey) no sense of my surroundings, just kind of trapped in my mind. This was after I woke up from a nap. I mowed the yard etc, even worked out a bit this morning. I don't know how to describe the feeling at all. It's just an odd feeling. I'm used to this house full of noise and my boys running in and out my wife talking. It's like they left and aren't coming back kinda feeling. I just feel spacey out in left field and just pp the phone feels like a task. Need some pointers guys, it's such an odd feeling. I have been anxious today even after getting a good report from the cardio yesterday. Is it possible I'm just wore out from excersize? First time in two weeks I excersized was this morning. I dunno. Anybody ever felt this way. Just odd like I'm gonna lose my grip on reality go schizo or something.

I have written before( and never really heard anyone respond that they know what im talking about) but a lot of time when I have been out of my surroundings or elements i have awakened with a derealization feeling that can turn into a panic attack. Your family being gone could be similar to the 'not around your surroundings" that i was talking about.

The majority of my panic attacks / derealization for 20 years have been upon awakening.

 

[Phillies Phan]

A few years ago, my wife and kids travelled to the UK to visit her brother. They were gone for 2 weeks. I quickly developed separation anxiety. I had emotions similar to yours and they manifested in health anxiety symptoms, including sleep related hallucinations. It was so awful and scary that I actually called my wife in utter fear. While it was about 11pm for me, it was 4am for her. Of course woke her and she had to talk me down.

So I totally get what you’re going through.

 

[Matticus1983]

A few years ago, my wife and kids travelled to the UK to visit her brother. They were gone for 2 weeks. I quickly developed separation anxiety. I had emotions similar to yours and they manifested in health anxiety symptoms, including sleep related hallucinations. It was so awful and scary that I actually called my wife in utter fear. While it was about 11pm for me, it was 4am for her. Of course woke her and she had to talk me down.

So I totally get what you’re going through.

Yea I totally didn't go to sleep until 3am last night. I feel a bit better this morning. It almost feels like being homesick. But I do feel better.