Feeling lost

Mental health
1

Just the other day I was booked in for an assessment with the NHS and the doctor gave a diagnosis of Generalised anxiety disorder. Not exactly sure what that means.

What I'm struggling with at the moment is that I have these automatic thoughts of not knowing where i am or who I am and feeling lost like i don't recognise my own body anymore. I feel like I'm not taking anything in no matter what I do, I'm looking at something but not really seeing it my mind is elsewhere 24/7. These thoughts and feelings set off my panic so easy and it scares me so much feeling lost from my own body.

Has anybody experienced this and can anybody offer any advice? I've been playing football and when it distracts me, it comes back harder after cos it's like I've forgot everything and all of a sudden makes me panic. So hard to explain but hoping for a bit of advice. Been on a waiting list for therapy for so long now feel like I've got no one to turn too. How on earth did it get to this point?

Going to work and keeping busy does help admittedly but it's like doing my work and keeping myself frantically busy only masks the problem by putting it to the side briefly. It's like I have to be constantly moving 24/7 to avoid these problems.

Thanks for reading this

2

I've been on your shoes! It helped a little for me to know at least that it actually has a name when you feel like that. Yes it's anxiety but it's also a symptom of anxiety it's called Depersonalization/ derealization . Look it up the symptoms will probably match how you feel!

3

It started by my anxiety originally just used to scare myself by the automatic thoughts which questioned everything my whereabouts and what I was doing and now it seems to have went on and on.

I've went through a lot of stress and trauma and recent months a lot of panicking and I seem to have been left feeling like this. So scary.

Thanks for your reply anyway much appreciated for your time

4

It started by my anxiety originally just used to scare myself by the automatic thoughts which questioned everything my whereabouts and what I was doing and now it seems to have went on and on.

I've went through a lot of stress and trauma and recent months a lot of panicking and I seem to have been left feeling like this. So scary.

Thanks for your reply anyway much appreciated for your time

5

What has your GP advised

I use relaxation techniques for Pain, Anxiety and Depression it seems to work as do breathing techniques

BOB

6

I haven't really discussed these feelings with my gp yet only with the doctor and clinician who i seen the other day as I was referred for an assessment which they asked millions of questions.

Could you tell me what specific things you do and when to help with this? Thanks for your time it's appreciated

7

What you're going through sounds very much like my own experience. Waiting for therapy is awful, but, if it helps, you're perfectly 'normal' for someone with anxiety. I can talk myself out of panic attacks if I catch them early on. Therapy does help even though it's a long wait. I have a DVD day when things are bad. Body dysphoria needs grounding. Naming things around you, lamp, carpet, curtains, and adding the colour was the advice I got and it works quite well. There are days when I'm on a different planet but it gets easier. Good luck, wishing you well

8

Thank you Linda, it's so hard to come to terms with. Wouldn't ever think other people are going through this as it is so strange and scary.

Wish I could have someone with me 24/7 to tell them everything about how I think and feel for reassurance but life doesn't work like that haha!!

Thank you so much for your reply it's much appreciate and well done for being able to control your panic you should be proud of yourself.

9

i have been on various NHS Courses to control my pain and anxiety.

With me for my Chronic Pain and  Depression they taught me to relax. They have tapes they play and you learn to release the stress in your body. Some of the techniques I learnt was to do exersise that put little strain on the body and understand when something is natural or a problem. In Pain Clinic the Basic course lasted six weeks.

The other course was given in by the Physio Department and that included knowing our bodies are been able to explain various feeling you feel normally. In Mental Health the courses were more understanding the complexities of mental health etc.

These courses were twenty years ago so I do not know what the situation is now

There was a further course called Professional Patients, that was so you could talk to your GP Specialists and other departments regarding concerns of your health and understanding pain scores. etc

This was a long time ago I am a Patient with Chronic Pain Condition and associated joint damage.and associated Reactive Depression and Anxiety, I need to control all my medications as my condition waxes and wains I need to treat myself with the drugs given

10

you just have regular anxiety and maybe a little derealization which is a side issue sometimes where you imagination carries  you off somewhere.

11

Thanks for your comment Richard it's much appreciated