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What is this horrible, terrifying feeling?
I've been reading through psychology text books, but I can't find much about this specific sensation that I have experienced a few times as a child and that I have just started to experience again. It is very difficult to describe, but I will do my best.
It is a slightly abstract and very frightening feeling almost as if the walls of the room are moving further and further away. Every move I make, from opening my mouth to waving my arms, feels like an infinitely tiny movement. I feel so delicate and breakable as if I might snap my hand off if I so much as touched my wrist. Nothing is in the right proportion and I feel trapped in this gigantic room where everything is so far away from me and only growing more distant every second. There is nothing I can do but cry and wait for it to stop.
I know that these feelings are completely irrational and they do go away after a few minutes, but I have no idea what causes these episodes and I would really like to know if there is a name for what I am feeling and if there is anything I can do to prevent myself from feeling this way again.
I'll tell you a bit about myself in case it might rule out some causes or help point to some kind of explaination. I am a 19 year old woman of above average intelligence. I haven't had a completely balanced diet or normal sleeping habits lately because of stress caused by college. I was sleeping 0-4 hours a night in college, but I've been sleeping 6-14 hours since the winter break. As far as I remember, my childhood was fairly normal and I was eating and sleeping the normal amount for my age at the time when I first had these sensations. I think my grandmother had mild schizophrenia and agoraphobia, but I don't think that either of those have been passed on to me, at least I sencerely hope they haven't been.
I hope this information makes it easier to answer what this strange feeling might be. If you have any guess as to what it might be, similar stories of your own, some advice to help prevent it, or anything that might be even the slightest bit helpful then please share it. Thank you all so much!
Andy: Depersonalization was the closest explaination I could find too. The only problem with that conclusion is I remained aware of who I was. I did not really feel outside of myself in any way. I felt like I was in controll of myself, but that it didn't matter because I was so tiny and couldn't even stop my room from changing. The nightmarish state of my surroundings at the time seem to fit the description though. Maybe I'll take a closer look at that condition. Thank you.
Also, I have not sought proffessional help because college has taken over my time and my wallet completely. I'm not even sure if I can pay for the next semester on my own. The internet and my books are the only free help I have right now.
7 Answers
- 1 decade agoFavorite Answer
Take a look at "Derealization". Sounds like an anxiety/panic symptom. Possibly a combination of depersonalization and derealization. I'm not sure.
- MeganLv 45 years ago
I can't really say what's wrong, or things will indeed get better, but sounds like you need to breath and let your head and heart rest. I don't know how old you are or make or female, but you keep saying this is your dream job, but the kids don't listen to you, and the adults are a joy. Sounds to me you need to just find a job with adults and some of the problems would go away. Don't get so down on offering a 5 points credit for helping out in the room. Maybe it wasn't a great idea but it's not awful, I had so many teachers offer extra points for stupid things like a question would be, Who is your math teacher? Duh. If you are really feeling depressed, get someone to talk to and even seek medical advice. On paying for some bills, even if it wasn't agreed upon you should help out. If you didn't charge them for the tutoring well, that was you being a friend but you can't bring that up for a reason not to pay. I don't know the laws where you are but here, if you live somewhere you can't just be thrown out.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Look up "depersonalization" in your psychology textbooks.
What was happening in your life when these sensations started again? That will be a clue for you.
Why have you not sought professional help? Does it feel "safer" to ask strangers on the Internet? Are you nervous about seeing somebody face-to-face?
- Anonymous1 decade ago
I'll tell you what I know in a nutshell...
If these "strange episodes" don't ever occur while you're driving or while you're holding babies and such, and you can rationally say that they are not a "danger" to yourself or anybody else's well-being because of these odd sensations, then it is not an immediate medical problem and you might live the rest of your life just fine except having to endure an occasional terrifying and horrible feeling for no apparent reason, but remember this...
One of the reasons we go to doctors for weird symptoms is to find out that we are "not" sick, and so can put our minds at rest, or get a prescription med or whatever to "fix" the problem, so...
Brain tumors often cause "cognitive oddities" such as you're describing, so it might be serious, or it might be that your harmlessly looney tunes like that quiet old lady in church in the front row who suddenly weeps several times during the sermon and then becomes normal again within 30 seconds, so...
If you don't have health care...
Google it...
- 1 decade ago
First off, I am not a doctor or psychologist.
I think you are either experiencing deja vu or stress related fatigue. I think you just need to take a breather.
:]
I have felt similar sensations and I just wait them out and write it down afterwards.
I'm sorry if this wasn't all that much help.
- 1 decade ago
Well, if you're not on drugs I would have to say it's your brain going spastic. Every once and a while I'll get a similar sensation where everything slows down and it feels like my life is in slow motion.
I just wait for it to pass, and try to get up and do something. If it really bothers you though, you could go talk to a neurologist or psychologist. Best of luck mate!
