What are these episodes

[foxunicorn]

A few days ago, I had a weird feeling come over me of almost feeling I was not quite 'there'. This panicked me, but I wouldn't say they were panic attacks, no racing heart etc. The episode lasted around 10-20 seconds. I had several more of them the same day. Probably 10 in total. The next day nothing. Yesterday I felt very sleep deprived, but no episodes. Today the episodes are back. Everything seems heightened when they are happening but I'm aware they are happening. They don't seem to have a trigger. I just had one now & I noted how my phone suddenly felt hot to my fingertips whilst the episode was happening. I am heavily pregnant but bloods have been taken recently & all were ok. I'm going to see the GP but I'm freaking out about these, they are very unnerving. Anyone have any experiences or any clue of what could be going on? Thank you.

Hello, have a Google of derealisation/depersonalisation. They are basically strange feelings of disassociation. They are usually caused by stress, anxiety, depression or trauma. What you said about feeling like you're not quite there fits it. I have derealisation and it's quite unpleasant. If you've had issues with your mental health, been through stress or trauma, this could be the reason.

If you don't think it's due to that, it's possible they could be very short focal seizures?

@Daisythecat15 just summed up what I was about to say.
I have an anxiety disorder and my depersonalisation and derealisation episodes feel a lot like you describe. Mine also started in pregnancy. I think lack of sleep and all of the hormones contribute to it. Try and get as much sleep, rest and fluids and eat regularly.
It could also be that your iron levels are a bit low.

Sounds like some kind of seizure activity. I would suggest phoning 111 or your midwife for advice. I'd be concerned about pre-eclampsia.

@PollyAmour sorry I missed out the important bit where I was in for monitoring 2 days ago & mentioned these episodes to the Doctor who wasn't concerned about it being associated with anything neurological.

@FlippersDippers That's really interesting yours started in pregnancy.. do you still experience them now? Has there been anything you've been able to do to help decrease them or stop them altogether? I do have a blood condition where I am basically permanently anaemic despite daily iron tablets.

I'm relieved to hear you're not suffering from pre-eclampsia.
However, I would be willing to bet money your symptoms are related to pregnancy and anaemia.

Things that helped were sleep (I was chronically sleep deprived) and basically taking care of myself better, also medication after the baby was born. I tried mindfulness but that didn’t work for me. At its worst I spent almost every day feeling like it, but now it happens very rarely. If I go through a period of time of not sleeping it gets more frequent.
I have also been anaemic at a separate time though and there were similar sensations.
The most important thing is try not to worry about it. Relax when you can, take some time for yourself and make sure you get plenty of sleep.

Soo in the last week I've seen/spoken to 2 Doctors. One was at maternity triage. My symptoms have become more common. They're thinking it's a mix of anxiety & anaemia causing the woozy feeling. Blood tests came back ok, & understandably they don't want to do further tests they don't deem necessary at this point. I have a blood condition which makes it harder for my body to absorb iron, so even though I'm on iron tablets, they don't absorb a lot of the tablets per day. I'm still freaking out about these episodes & I know freaking out doesn't help. I feel like I'm stuck in a vicious circle. I've never had these episodes before despite being an anxious person. My body just feels heavy, sometimes my eyelids flutter. I'm totally aware they're happening which I suppose is a good thing. I am worrying about the birth (C section) as never had one of those before, & my daughter (5) suffered a brain injury at birth due to an unknown cause so I understand I'd feel anxious now, but the anxiety & the episodes never happen at the same time. I'm just a bit of a great burly mess.

@foxunicorn I think the doctors you have seen are completely right.
It’s hard not to worry, and of course the more you worry the worse it feels and the more frequently you get the episodes. Mine started in very similar circumstances to you. There was trauma during my first child’s birth, and I was worried something would go wrong again in the second birth. I also felt the anxious thoughts didn’t happen at the same time as the episodes. The doctors labelled mine delayed PTSD and anxiety disorder. I bounced back after the traumatic birth of my first child, but the anxiety/PTSD didn’t start to present until my second pregnancy. Do you think this could be what is happening to you? You sound so similar to how I was feeling at that time. Like I said above lack of sleep really contributes to these feeling too, the less you sleep the more it happens.