Existential terror

[mgw]

I don't know if this is what I'm feeling.. Iv looked it up an it sounds pretty similar but I'm not sure does anyone know anything about this?

I'm terrified of dying constantly terrified of the whole concept. I always think I'm going to die. Can't sleep cuz I think I will die in my sleep.

I'm also terrified of living basically. It feels like nothing is right, like everything is just so wierd. Like humans, I can't comprehend it all. I look in the mirror an freak myself out like that's me?! I also look at other people an I can't comprehend the fact everyone is just there. I always think like I feel different to everyone. Sometimes I feel like I'm in the Truman show. Or just watching everything on a screen an nothing is actually real.

What is this?!

[Dexterjames]

Derealization is an alteration in the perception or experience of the external world so that it seems unreal.

I get it and it sucks just try think positive i have to just being on forum helps me i am all so doing little bits around the house now to take my mind of it. :)

[mgw]

Thanks for your reply! Yeah Iv always thought Iv experienced stuff like this, I just think it feels slightly different now! Have you found distraction is the best way to help?

[Dexterjames]

Thanks for your reply! Yeah Iv always thought Iv experienced stuff like this, I just think it feels slightly different now! Have you found distraction is the best way to help?

Yes distraction helps just doing something watching a film you enjoy from back in the day what i mean is old memory's of things you done that made you happy this has helped me a lot also going for walks going in the garden just doing stuff in general keeping busy :)

[swgrl09]

I had this for a while ... I found the book "Staring at the Sun" by Yalom really good. He is an existential psychotherapist and it was really helpful for me.

[TooMuchToLiveFor]

Maybe this will help…..(taken from the "Symptoms" link at the top left of this page):

Depersonalization, Derealization, Feeling of unreality

What you feel:

Now for the Brain , the limbic system in the brain instigates this whole response and is responsible too for our emotions and behaviour One of the body symptoms that people hate most is the one when you feel all foggy, surreal, woozy or spacey. You may either feel that you are not real or that the earth is not real and you're a time warp away. These are often the hardest symptoms to understand and its very common to deduce that you must be going mad which makes you panic even more. This is completely untrue and you are very safe.
You feel like you are not a part of what is going on, or that you feel like you are in a dream state or 'out of touch with things'. Also, things around you may seem like they are shimmering, foggy, hazy or too bright.
What causes this:

As we learned in Understanding, the body and mind are tightly integrated. What affects one affects the other. This symptom is another example of how an over stimulated nervous system can cause us to experience odd and impaired feelings, emotions and perceptions. Much like how a psychoactive or recreational drug can alter one's mental state, an over active nervous system can affect certain body chemistries thereby producing mind altering effects. The feeling of unreality or disassociation is one type of altered mental state that high levels of stress biology can produce.
It is not completely understood what goes here but it is generally thought that the limbic system in the brain decides there is too much going on and goes into a self protection mode and shuts out excess stimuli. As the adrenaline levels decrease and you calm down it clears. This can be several hours days or weeks.

[mgw]

Thanks everyone for your replies, has helped me calm down!

I will have a look for the book- what sort of stuff is in it if you don't mind me asking?

And that symptom list makes me feel a lot better- Iv felt like this symptom is so strange I have thought it is unique to me an must be a crazy brain problem!

The thing I find hardest to accept is when this happens it doesn't feel like I an worryig about anything in particular- can just happen whenever! Also when I happens I find my mind shuts down an is almost numb- can't string sentences in my head or think! Do you think this is normal?

[natperez89]

Omg I know exacly the feeling been like this for a month. Everyday gets a little better bt im just paranoid when I think about the future

[inCOGnito]

The thing I find hardest to accept is when this happens it doesn't feel like I an worryig about anything in particular- can just happen whenever! Also when I happens I find my mind shuts down an is almost numb- can't string sentences in my head or think! Do you think this is normal?

ever seen an animal scared? do you think they are 'thinking' or worrying about something? It is a very natural reaction to a perceived threat. The basic flight, fight, freeze mechanism. Very 'animal' or primitive mechanism.