Feelings of Unreality

I was wondering if anyone has the feeling of unreality or intense feelings of going crazy. I have these episodes throughout the day where everything around me seems to lose its meaning. It's like nothing matters anymore and I feel lost. Also, I've noticed that I can get these episodes without having a full blown attack and they can last for a while. They are pretty traumatic. Does anyone have these symptoms and any advice? Thanks.

Hi There,
I understand completely how you are feeling, I have suffered from this on and off for a few years. It's nothing to do with being Crazy, I've done a lot of research on the net and seeked medical advice on this, and have discovered it's a symptom of stress and anxiety.

I've always been a nervouse person who has got stressed easily, I run my own business - an advertising agency, sometimes the work load is huge - my stress levels increase and bam - I'm feeling terrible. I think you can only appreciate this feeling if you have suffered from it yourself. Talking to people who know how you feel also helps.

The good news is, that I've found if you can recognise the symptoms and try to chill out the feelings do go.

It first started with me about four years ago, I'd been living my life in the usual way constantly stressed, then one night the feelings of unreality hit me like a brick - I thought I was having a nervous breakdown, I felt like my head was going to implode, I was in a shopping centre and it felt like everybody around me was at normal speed and I was in slow motion. I felt like nothing mattered anymore and that the world and my life had no meaning. I'd rather suffer any physical illness than suffer from these feelings. It's like watching yourself from the outside. When I explained these feelings to friends and family they just couldn't understand it. I really though I was loosing my mind.

Eventually I sort medical advice, the doctor said I was stressed which then led to depression, I went on medication to treat the depression which helped, but my advice is to change your lifestyle - make sure you can detach from work and just relax, do things you enjoy doing (even though when you feel like this - nothing seems to help)

The good news is in the past four years I learnt to manage this problem, it's is very rare it occurs now, although I'm suffering a bit at the moment - it's purely down to the fact that I've had a very stressful few months at work. I see it as my mind telling me to get a grip and remember what is really important in life.

Hope this helps, please contact me if you want to discuss further - it really does help to know you are not alone.

Hello Chicago Illinois..
I have been corresponding to a woman that has agoraphobia because I suffered from it for 15+ years...I am now "recovered"...the anxious personality is who we are and that will probably never change...I am writing this to you since I read your post...In the throngs of my agoraphobia/panic I too had the feeling of things are not in reality...What caused this I have no idea...it took me many years to find the right treatment as most doctors did not know the first thing about it. All I can say is that when your life is in constant termoil, ridden with anxiety all the time..your physical body takes on a life of it's own....I agree with the other reply...anxiety and stress I am sure causes this. What helped me was to keep my vision very close....do not take in to much of the "outside" when driving or walking etc. From my experience agoraphobics are very highly sensitive to light, sound, smell, visual. So if I kept my vision very close I was not stimulated as much and my anxiety would be less.
I am not sure if you have been diagnosed with Agoraphobia or Anxiety Disorder, but my feelings is they are very similiar...try this and see if your feelings of unreality is less. Don't ever feel that you are going crazy...we have all felt it ourself..No one goes "crazy" from anxiety..the worst that can happen is you panic and that will subside....Are you seeing a doctor for your anxiety? They have come a long way in medication that helps a lot of people to get over the fear and start to live a full and anxiety free life. I hope this all makes sense...

maybe you should read about derealization and depersonalization its caused from anxiety.. if you feel weird all the time like cloudy and what not you probably have it.. just the header "feelings of unreality" made me think of it.. feeling things dont seem real and stuff are a part of derealization. i have it. if you take anxiety meds it will go away.

hi guys,
I really need your help, am 32 years old .I have this problem of feeling unreality for over than 10 days now,this is not the first time to have it,it happen to me like 2 years ago and I think it was caused by panic attack,it took long time to over come it but it was always in the back of my mind,my doctor prescribed me paxil,and I was on it for 1 year and few months,till he stop it and my life was kind of normal,till 2 weeks ago,I was feeling depressed and not happy cause of moving and the death of my brother in law,suddenly this hit me again,and now for 12 days am feeling crazy,am taking paxil again now ,started 4 days ago.I don't feel my self,am afraid of being like that forever,I feel crying and I don't now what to do,it got worse last 4 days after I start the medication,but my panic attacks I think decreased but the feeling doesn't go away,I feel isolated in my own head,don't feel things around me,don't feel pleasure doing anything,feel bad for my wife that she has to see me this way,currently I don't work ,I study home,I don't know what to do,it is very strong nightmare that wouldn't leave me......
please if anyone knows something like that,it is very long now...is it treatable?will I go back to my life?will it always hunt me in the future? please guys I need ur help

Hi Mike,
Just to let you know. I had feelings of unreality (being outside myself etc) from 1986 through 1988 and have now been recovered just on 20years. I can assure you it is the biggest bluff you will ever come across. My website if you are interested is, www.healing-anxiety.com
I am in contact with sufferers worldwide on a daily basis. my email address is,
david.recovered@gmail.com and will reply to anyone who suffers (no obligation I assure you.)
This post is for B Carey as well.