The world stops around me

[Alicesouthon]

I've been having panic attacks for around 4 years now, and the most common symptom is the world stopping around me, it's hard to explain but its like ur walking but the surroundings are all the same, like you havnt moved but I clearly have, its really unnerving and I have googled it, but cant find anyone else in the same situation, please help me, is this normal?

[nomorepanic]

This sounds like depersonalisation/derealisation to me if I am honest.

[Alicesouthon]

What is that?

[Lynnann]

Hi

I agree with Nic, sounds like depersonalisation/derealisation to me as well, I experience this in times of acute stress; it is very unnerving. I wouldn't google symptoms but have a chat with your GP about it.

I found by thinking that it is my minds way of protecting me (distancing myself) it was easier to accept. It hasn't happened for quite some time now and hopefully won't again but I wish you well in your journey to recovery :)

Lynnann:flowers:

[nomorepanic]

Have a read of the symptoms page on the left. Here is an excerpt:

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