forgetting who I am, should I be worried?

[sunflowerblue]

I have been experiencing something for a while. I wake in the middle of the night, not sure where I am, but I've also been confused and not known WHO I am. I live alone, so I don't know how long it lasts.

But I've also had a similar thing occur in the day whilst I'm driving. It's always whilst I'm driving through town, so lots going on and my brain is busy. And I suddenly think 'do I live here??' And I can't think who I was or where I lived before (I've lived in this town for 18 months) and as it starts to come back to me, who I am, ex partner, family, none of it feels real. It's just a very disconnected feeling.

Could it be a sign of something? I was worried about mental health, plucked up the courage to tell a friend yesterday and she suggested it was worth seeing gp in case it had a physical cause, maybe some sort of seizure. Now I'm panicking they will say I'm not allowed to drive.

[NanaNina]

I think you should see the GP just to get checked out. It doesn't sound like a seizure although I am no medic. Have you been anxious lately or worrying about something? How is your memory - do you forget the way home for example. I don't think a doctor will tell you you're not allowed to drive. I'm not sure what the rules are about this to be honest. But see your GP and tell him/her what you are experiencing.

[swisscheesetony]

Could be "micro psychosis", I get it from time to time. I'll be driving and I just don't recognise where I am, or I get in the car and I literally don't know how to drive and I've forgotten my own name too. It's always been when I'm super stressed.

[sunflowerblue]

I moved here after I went NC with family (3 years ago). Lots happened over a lifetime leading up to that decision, I guess other relevant factors are that I was in an abusive relationship for years, I am under pressure in that I'm a lone parent, without family, and also carer for one of my children who has a disability. I'm wary of putting too much recogniseable info online, but I wondered if it was a response to trauma? I saw a counseller for a year and she said I used 'splitting' as a coping mechanism, so I wondered if this is connected to that.

[NanaNina]

I think it's highly likely that what you are experiencing is related to the stress that you are under, and it might be helpful if you can see the therapist again.

[lougle]

I think you need to see a doctor. It could be MH related, or it could be a type of dissociative seizure....either way it needs someone to help you identify the cause, because it must be quite distressing.