Hi, I can relate to how your feeling. I have that same feeling right now. Its been like this for the last two months. At first, the feeling really, really worried me. But then I joined this forum and realized that many other people were experiencing the same thing I am. Thats why I like this forum so much. I basically feel very lightheaded, and it feels like I am detached from myself when I am walking. I don't know if this is called depersonalization or derealization. I know that this is a classic anxiety/depression symptom. I just try to ignore it now, hoping that it will go away! I hope you feel better.

Thanks alot for your reply shannashaine... It does give me some hope to know that other people are experiencing the same feeling and that I am not crazy. I recently told my parents about it and my mom said that she had the exact same problem when she was in her early twenties. She said that when her psychiatrist told her that it was 100% curable she was able, from that point on, to improve and it eventually went away. I've come to figure that this derealisation/depersonalisation or whatever shrinks want to call it is a way for our brain to escape the depression/anxiety/stress we go through every day, every hour, every minute and every second of our life. It gives our brain a break from the excruciating damage stress can cause to it, and I think it is more a reaction of the soul, whether you want to believe in such a thing or not, rather than the physical brain.
Again, thank you for this forum and all the hope it gives to me and all the people in my situation or other hard situations. Peace to all!

i am so glad you joined this forum, i have a recent entry about how i feel very similar to what you have described. i have been feeling lightheaded and extremely depressed more and more over the past three months. it really gives me hope that others understand how i am feeling, i feel so so alone, unable to really express how i feel and what you have described sounds almost exactly how i have been feeling. i really hope you are able to get past it and know that you arent alone, i am here with you. please please talk to me whenever you want to.
~ all my love
~jj

You are very welcome Rocket111. I wish that the people I am constantly around-family,friends,co-workers; knew about anxiety/depression. Unfortunately none of them can relate to what I go through so I feel alienated. I have had severe anxiety attacks in the past. And every single time I had an attack, I would get the derealization feeling but for only about an hour. Then it would just subside. Now, its constant, even though I have not had any full blown panic attacks. I think my mind unconsciously went into protect mode. I am a person who is constantly worrying about everything, constantly stressing, over-analyzing, and it finally caught up with me. And even though its not coming out in the form of panic attacks, its coming out in the form of derealization/depersonalization. I noticed today that it seemed like I was looking through a haze all day. Its really weird! But I know I'm gonna be okay and you will be okay too.

Also, when I first started feeling like this, I scheduled a doctor's appt and had all this bloodwork done. I thought maybe I was ill or something. I was convinced that maybe I had low iron or some weird disease. Turns out that my tests came back fine.

And my doctor said that it had to be anxiety or depression.

I have felt the same exact way, but for quite some time now...about 2 years. I get highs and lows as well, which could swing massively to either direction several times a day even. Its comforting to know that I am not the only one. I have had no social life for the last while because of this. I get extremely awkward at times when talking to people and get that similar feeling that my mind has no control over the words...that I am just talking for the sake of going through the motions with everyday life, not because i WANT to talk to the person. Ive been alienating myself from everyone, including my family and loved ones and I feel so alone right now because I cant seem to bring my self to tell any of them. I've seen a counselor on and off but couldn't seem to find the words to describe my problem and hence, didn't get much out of it. I am going to make an appointment with the doctor tomorrow and when I see him, I will print off a copy of these posts and say "this is how i feel". I am so glad I found this website..thanks everyone!

Ive only just now searched about this, ive felt like this since i was 14 when my grandad died, went to the docs, had all the tests, everything fine, i was diagnosed with Derealization/Depersonalization/Stress/Anx iety/Depression, this was early in 2008, almost 4 years after i started with it, 4 years later, i still feel the same, like theres nothing to get me out of this spiral, its like im in a tunnel in my own head but can't be free'd. I'm 18 now, i wish i was lieing, exadurating, but for 4 years i haven't felt the same as i used to, and i'd give anything to feel that way again, its like its not my choice anymore, i have to feel this way, somedays i feel better but its still there, always there. But it does help to know there are others out there the same as me i have to admit, im glad i found this place.

Hey Rocket, I just wanted to let you know that I am experiencing the same symptoms as you. I had no idea what they were, totally thought I was going to end up in an institution. I can't believe there isn't more information out there on this disoder. Even when I tried to explain it to my councellor she told me she's never heard of this and made me feel even worse. I find what really helps is calling this for what it is, facing it, do not allow this to facinate you, try to find something meaningful in your life and live for that. I also find talking to ppl who understadnw ha you are going though really helps. I am always avaibale and more than happy to talk if you would like please add me to msn or skype. my email is valentine(underscore)swe85(at)hotmail(dot) com.Sorry I know thats confusing but I have to spell it like that otherwirse it will be removed from the post.

iam so relieved to have found this site, i honestly thought i was alone in this.. i have had all of the above symptoms throughout my life, but it comes and goes..the first time it happened i was 17 and it lasted for maybe a year,then it went away and then it started again when i was 20 and lasted about another year this last time it started a year and a half ago..i was in nursing school and had one of those horrible panic attacks,i usually can move on from them and not let it get to me,but this time i dwelled on it and thought about all the things that could be wrong with me over and over again which sent me into this state again of feeling weird and not myself..anyway im working on trying to beat it again..and i just want to thank all of you for talking about this so i know im not alone..please let me know how you all are doing latley and if you have found away to overcome this...thankyou all!!!

Hello, I am a 35 yo male whos been going through these type of feelings for the past 4 years.. At first(when I was 31) I too just thought there was something wrong like I was getting sick, but then the feelings turn into fainting like episodes with mild chest pain so I went to the ER where everything check out fine.. They said I was just stressed... A year went by and I would document the feelings.. The feeling would be on & off every few days for about a 1 MONTH and then two months I would be fine.. This cycle went on for one year intill I started having PANIC attacks.. So now instead of feeling just really weird, light headed, out of my body, floating, etc this was REPLACED with constant anexity. The anxiety would get worse when I would drive by myself, fly, in a steam shower(like I cant breath), gt into a argument(like i would hyperventlate), over eat , or anything that would cause abnormal strain on my body.. Te anxiety was managable, but it would turn to PANIC attacks that WAS NOT manageable.. It was weird because I would have constant anxiety daily, then it would turn into a 2-5 mintues of panic attacks once a week.. After a month would pass everything kinda went away for the next month or two.. It would eventually start all over gain.. I have only seen regular medical doctors(cardiologist, general, ER) I have not seen any phys docs which would probably give me LEXAPRO, XANAX, etc... The people I have met you got on these meds have said they are wonderful, but I just hate to start them.. Sometimes I am such a mess I think the MEDS ould give m a panic attack... Oh well Just wanted to share what I have been through the pass few years and it has not got any better... This year I have gone into a HEALTH CRAZE... Work out, EAT great, no artificial sugars, no hydro foods, and etc.. I feel GREAT when its not a MONTH of ANXIETY, but when it is the eating right and etc really does not help.. Somethings I find that do help is:
1) When you KNOW u are having a month of anxiety stay away from certain things that cause your body stress. Because this cause bring on a bad PANIC ATTACK
2) If u are having a PANIC attack where u cant breath well just tell yourself "Hell there are other people breathing the SAME AIR and they are not dying
3) When u are having breathing problem DRINK SIPS of COLD water between breaths.. This helps me when I am driving.
4) Have a love one massage your hands while u lay down.. This helps alot..

I notice when I have a PANIC ATTACK my BLOOD PRESSURE goes up to 160-170 over 90 and my pulse is like 90-110.. When I lie down and have my hands massage within 30minutes my BLOOD PRESSURE drops to 130 over 70 and pulse comes to 70.. Though this works when I lay down and fall asleep.. If anyone ever wants to chat feel free to email me..
dax 0007 at hotmail . cOm

This helps me I thought i was just going crazy and i was all alone and i keep freaking out all the time im glad to know that its not just me and it can happen with anxiety

I have been having very similar feelings on and off for the past 2 years. I am 21 years old and in my senior year of college. I have had a lot of trouble describing my feelings to people close to me. All I would say is, "I feel weird. I don't feel myself." After reading these posts, it clicked. I also feel lightheaded and disconnected from the world. I find myself listening to what others are saying, but I also find that I don't care. I don't feel comfortable with people that I used to have fun with and laugh easily around. I sometimes find myself smiling and then think to myself, "I didn't think that was funny." I seem to be smiling or laughing only because others around me are smiling or laughing. I have been able to snap myself out of these feelings for a couple days or weeks at a time, but the feelings always creep back in.

I am a firm believer in positive thoughts and natural methods over medication. I think I would like to start therapy for these symptoms.

I want to let everyone know, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. I am glad I found this site and glad to know that others are feeling like me.

I've had these feelings before one 2 occasions when I did drugs and had a panic attack.

I've found that the best thing that work for me is...prozac. I resisted taking meds for a long time, as I was scared they would change me, afraid it meant I was a freak, opposed to the idea, etc...

Then I finally caved and took prozac. Within 2 weeks the depersonalization was gone. With 6 weeks I felt like myself again. It may not help everyone, but there is no need to suffer through this out of principle. Get some therapy, and for God's sake get some medicine! The combination of both healed me.