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What on earth are these random trippy 'moments' I've been having lately?

5 replies

JustGiveUpGatekeeper · 16/04/2015 13:24

Several months ago finding myself accidentally pregnant at 45, I then had a miscarriage at around 9 weeks.

3 months later my partner had a heart attack, which he survived with stent surgery.

A few months ago I went back to work after being a SAHM and my job is highly pressurised, target driven, people quit on their first day kind of environment. I've underplayed the stress of the job to my partner (we don't live together) as I don't want him to think I'm a failure.

I've always been an overthinker, and he thinks I'm a naturally anxious person (I was unaware, I consider myself optimistic, never knowingly depressed and generally happy).
But lately along with being unable to fall asleep until 3 or 4am every night, I've been having funny turns of an evening, sat on my own, relaxing, watching tele or similar.
I had to contact my boyfriend one time to rush over as I felt - the only way I can describe it, lightheaded and trippy.

It wasn't a panic attack, Ivenad those before, this was brought on for no reason. Sometimes I sit and think about the enormous mindblowing actuality of our existence, I wonder if I really exist, I'll look in the mirror and not be sure if I really exist, that kind of thing. It's very scary momentarily, and that makes me feel lightheaded and 'out of touch'.

I do have some health concerns such as constant heartburn, a very low heart rate, and a crackly cough which seems permanent. I've never smoked and don't drive so walk everywhere, swim regularly, walk back from work, and so on. My diet isn't great but I'm not hugely overweight. I know sometimes health can be a factor as much as overall mental or emotional wellbeing.

What are these episodes? I google-doctored and it suggested psychosis! Could it be post traumatic from losing the baby and then nearly the baby's father within a few months of eachother?
His heart attack has certainly made me afraid of death in a way I never was before. I'd started obsessively watching those Russian dash cam videos of real car crashes and with that recent plane crash, all I was interested in was ensuring all the victims were definitely deceased (by googling images of the crash site), that there was no hope they could have survived, as if it reassured me they wouldn't have died in pain, it would have been over quickly.

These episodes where I'm feeling like I don't exist for a few fleeting seconds are just about controllable if I distract myself hard enough. If I let them fly, I feel as if I would pass out, or my mind would no longer be my own.

For the record, I've never been on prescription meds other than asthma inhalers, never been admitted for mental health concerns, and never been a drinker or drug user. Well, apart from two small trips back in my early 20s. But I don't consider these episodes 'flashbacks'.

Does anyone have any views on the situation before I consider seeing my doctor?

OP posts:
BrocasBelly · 16/04/2015 13:30

From your thread title I was just going to pop in and suggest anxiety. I went to the doctor with similar a few years ago, like you they would come out of nowhere with a whoosh.

Reading your OP it all seems to fit in with that, but do check it out with your GP to rule out any other underlying causes.

GooodMythicalMorning · 16/04/2015 13:36

Im not medically trained but I have anxiety and have these moments, it sounds like something called depersonalisation. yes trip to the drs is a good call I think.

JustGiveUpGatekeeper · 16/04/2015 17:51

Googled Depersonalisation and it seems to fit the episodes quite well, thanks Good
I'll update once I've seen my doctor, tomorrow morning hopefully.

OP posts:
OopTheShard · 16/04/2015 17:55

Sounds like anxiety but if I were you I'd get it checked out with your GP. Blood pressure issues can cause those weird, out of body experiences, too.

tobee · 16/04/2015 20:55

Just wanted to say so sorry you've been having such a time of it. I've had panic attacks in the past and I still think it could be a kind of panic attack. (Depersonalisation being one of the symptoms). I had some triggered by ordinary anxiety filled situations and by re visiting places where I've had panic attacks before BUT also when I was having pleasant relaxing experiences - out of nowhere; even occasionally when I was asleep.

Hope the gp helps you out but you sound like you are wisely keeping an open mind.

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