[Cuphead]

I really do know what you're talking about. I can relate 100%. I had it very bad during benzo withdrawal. It's like the panic heat is coming from your chest when realize "I'm alive", feel stuck in this world, right?
This WILL pass over time, I promise!!!

Thank you so much for your message, it gives me hope I will get better.

It is exactly that. It is like you are "overwhelmed" by the idea of existing and you feel stuck and you want to run away. Then panic and anxiety builds up and they keep on lingering for hours. Funny enough, I had this sensation before as well, it would pop up here and there, but I wasn't paying a lot of attention and it didn't bother me a lot. But then, at one point I started obsessing over it, and it became "omnipresent", it was on my mind 24/7 and I would be uncomfortable with existing all the time. Such a scary feeling.

Right now I am better than I used to be. It didn't go away but distraction helps and it is "bearable". How long did it last in your case and do you still have the thought popping up in your head?

 

[MusicaElectronica]

Thank you so much for your message, it gives me hope I will get better.

It is exactly that. It is like you are "overwhelmed" by the idea of existing and you feel stuck and you want to run away. Then panic and anxiety builds up and they keep on lingering for hours. Funny enough, I had this sensation before as well, it would pop up here and there, but I wasn't paying a lot of attention and it didn't bother me a lot. But then, at one point I started obsessing over it, and it became "omnipresent", it was on my mind 24/7 and I would be uncomfortable with existing all the time. Such a scary feeling.

Right now I am better than I used to be. It didn't go away but distraction helps and it is "bearable". How long did it last in your case and do you still have the thought popping up in your head?

Many thanks for your reply,
Yes that overwhelmed and "uncomfortable with existing" feeling I know very well. It's like being scared of life and death at the same time. This is coming from anxiety - dp/dr and once again : It will pass with time.

For me it was a extreme anxiety from coming off benzodiazepines, and I had this many months, Today those thoughts and feelings has passed.

I've heard of many experienced this, and my advice is to keep distracted and remember that this is not permanent.

 

[Cuphead]

Many thanks for your reply,
Yes that overwhelmed and "uncomfortable with existing" feeling I know very well. It's like being scared of life and death at the same time. This is coming from anxiety - dp/dr and once again : It will pass with time.

For me it was a extreme anxiety from coming off benzodiazepines, and I had this many months, Today those thoughts and feelings has passed.

I've heard of many experienced this, and my advice is to keep distracted and remember that this is not permanent.

Thank you so much, it really means a lot. I am glad you overcame this feeling.

Exactly, being afraid of life and death at the same time is a perfect description.

I realized I had this feeling for a while (years even), but it wasn't "constant", it would come and go and it didn't bother me a lot. But ever since my mind obsessed about it, it became an issue. And even when I manage to relax, my mind would still think about it, triggering this overwhelming sensation. I think it is the thought/obsession that keeps it going.

But I do have moments when I would feel better and even when I would "forget" about it (when I get really distracted). It is super helpful to know it is not permanent, I will keep working on lowering my anxiety levels, and hopefully, it will fade even further over time.

Thank you so much for your words, I am glad I am not alone, and you surely made me feel better.

 

[Normalpeople]

I agree, it is more difficult. But we have to re-train ourselves to become "comfortable" with the fact we are conscious. At the end of the day, we got this sensation because of anxiety. So, doing our best to relax will make the feeling fade. I can you, the last couple of days, it loses its grip on me, even though it is temporarily. I have the thought in my head still, it is still very uncomfortable, but when I really get involved with something I like, I tend to "forget" about it. It is briefly, but it helps, it needs to be trained.

Just remember, it's the thought itself giving you this sensation (and the same is true in my case). As soon as you start lowering your anxiety levels, you will get a relief, I got it as well now. I am still going through it, but the last couple of days have not been as horrible as the weeks before. You can do the same!

Yes, it affects my mood, sometimes to the point of triggering a full-blown attack......when it gets really uncomfortable, I would feel stuck and helpless. But interestingly enough, when I eat, I feel better. Especially when I eat chocolate (for good reason ). Definitely, get involved with something you really like, it will help you "break" the cycle. For me, playing video games helps. Also chatting with friends and listening to music. I am not going out at the moment, I am waiting to get my third dose of the COVID vaccine this week (the virus also caused my anxiety to skyrocket), and then I will start going out again. Sitting for too long also boosts anxiety levels

Based on my experience right now, do the things you like the most, and try not to fight the thought. That's what I am doing at the moment. Let it come to your head but don't fight it. Try to "go with the flow" and it will help you prevent an attack. It worked several times for me already, but I am still having issues at night when going to sleep and when I wake up....my anxiety levels are still high, that's why. We need patience and dedication. It didn't develop overnight, it won't go away overnight. But our minds are not broken, we can at least reach the stage where we still have the thought but it doesn't bother us. Like we used to think in the past.

Hello, how are you since we have last discussed it? I wanted to ask you and the others here, do you guys have the fear of going crazy? I think most of the people experiencing dpdr do, but I mean like mine is like more constant recently because of all those constant existential questions regarding, what is existence, how we see how we hear, how we think what is consciousness etc. I feel so overwhelmed with all those questions that I think I’m gonna lose my mind. It is extremely scary and unpleasant. I feel like because of throes ocd type questions everyday actions and human body processes seem unnatural as well as we talked about the our own existence thing. Do you have those questions as well very very often? And my fear is that I will eventually lose touch with myself and will forget how to do things etc or that I won’t find anything meaningful because of those constant questions regarding every single thing.

 

[Cuphead]

Hello, how are you since we have last discussed it? I wanted to ask you and the others here, do you guys have the fear of going crazy? I think most of the people experiencing dpdr do, but I mean like mine is like more constant recently because of all those constant existential questions regarding, what is existence, how we see how we hear, how we think what is consciousness etc. I feel so overwhelmed with all those questions that I think I’m gonna lose my mind. It is extremely scary and unpleasant. I feel like because of throes ocd type questions everyday actions and human body processes seem unnatural as well as we talked about the our own existence thing. Do you have those questions as well very very often? And my fear is that I will eventually lose touch with myself and will forget how to do things etc or that I won’t find anything meaningful because of those constant questions regarding every single thing.

Hello, I am better, but I still have "bad" moments. It is better than it used to be, but I still have moments where I am "overwhelmed" and anxiety is still high but better than it used to be. I am not losing hope, though, there have been moments where I felt like I overcame it and moments where I "forgot" about it, so it can be done, it just needs time. We need to focus on relaxation and distraction, we need to strike the beast at its core - and that is anxiety itself. As MusicaElectronica said, this is not a permanent state, we can return to our previous selves. His messages have given me additional hope.

I don't fear going crazy, it won't happen, that's for sure.........it's just that "uncomfortable overwhelming" feeling of existence that gives me problems. And that is because of high anxiety. You won't lose touch with yourself, don't worry.

 

[forestx5]

I've had the feeling of being afraid to be alive. Only those who are alive need fear death.. Aye, there's the rub!

 

[Zacish92]

Reading all your comments was like reading my own monologue I have goosebumps. This my exact mental state and it’s unbearable can any of you reply please if you got through this. I really need someone to talk to

 

[xdr]

You all have no idea how glad I am to stumble upon this thread. It encaptures my feelings perfectly and I'm happy that I'm not alone with this. I'm gonna explain how I feel to my therapist now that I can properly describe it. I wish you all fast recovery, we can do this!