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Fear of Mental Illness


15 years ago 0 823 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thanks to all for sharing your personal experiences and fears and how you have overcome your concerns.   The vague and "dream-like" feeling as if one is detached from oneself can be a rather disturbing experience. This in itself can increase one's anxiety. It is important to speak to your healthcare provider who can help you find the tools that will help you conquer your anxiety.   Hang in there and keep talking to us!   Faryal
15 years ago 0 2101 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hiya CM,
 
I totally agree with every CD said to you. I just wanted to add that I to in he past have had that symptom. It is terrifying to say the least! But i confirm what CD sais, it does pass. So hang in there.
 
Happy birthday and be good to yourself!
15 years ago 0 778 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
CM , riddle over with hun . I went to page 3 . Jane was the oringinal person to start this thread . Hope this helps you .
 
CD x
15 years ago 0 778 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hello CM , its good to hear from you again . Although the reason not so good . It is pretty terrifying stuff when you dont see yourself in the mirror . Thats exatly what happened to me a few months ago when i was in full swing with my anxiety . It scared the hell out of me . I thought the same as you , i am or am going mad but your not . Here i am and i can finally see me in that mirrror and you will too . Please believe me , i know its hard too atm .
When i was at the height of my anxiety , i just lived for each hour . I clocked watched , just relieved i got through another hour . When i was up to it , i went mad with the cleaning anything to distract my thoughts , well it didnt completely but it did help and time went faster .
It has taken me months to get where i am now and i know i still have a fair way to go but we will . We are stronger than we think . I know it dosnt feel like that but we are .
Happy Birthday , i really hope you have just a tiny bit of fun .
 
Please take care , here if you need to chat . Oh i couldnt see jane either so dont know what thats about . Just a glitch i expect .
 
TTFN CD x
15 years ago 0 151 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Again:
 
Just one question in looking at the board it says the last post on this topic was done by Jane, but it was me.  I don't see a Jane anywhere?

15 years ago 0 151 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi All:
 
I had the most frightening experience last night and I wasn't even feeling anxious or panicky.  I saw myself in the mirror and thought I was looking at someone else, I thought I was going crazy.  I did manage to get some sleep but have been crying a lot thinking I would be ending up in the psych ward.   I didn't want to get up this morning or eat anything.  I told my mum about it and she said she never felt like that & she got worried about me - so did I.
 
I thought this is the last straw for me, I just wanted to end it all today.  I told my mum that I could never again see myself smiling or laughing and that I thought I would have to check myself into the Clark Institute of Psychology.
What makes this even worse is today is my birthday, the past year of panic disorder, depression and since my surgery back to panic/anxiety and at times depression now this added to it the thought that I was going crazy.  I am so glad I came to this program, you have no idea how reading your posts have made me feel, now I know I am not alone in this  seemingly unending nightmare. Last night & even this morning I didn't want to look at myself in the mirror in case I would feel that way again.
 
Thank-you, thank-you for this site & people like yourselves who have the courage to post your deepest fears and in turn people like me can take comfort knowing they are not alone.
 
As with this horrible disorder there is the anticipation of the same depersonalization happening again, how do you deal with that?  I too have felt detached from my body at times.  I will look at my arms and feet and they don't seem to be mine.

CM

15 years ago 0 2101 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hello Charlie,
 
I have already posted in this thread as you may have noticed. I just wanted to hop on and let you know you were not alone in this. I find how DM put it to be very accurate: waiting for the voices. It really does feel like that. Sorry for the brief reply but I did want to let you know you are not alone and it can get better. Hang in there.
15 years ago 0 313 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Charlie
 
This topic resonates with me deeply.  Throughout my journey with anxiety the fear of going crazy or it developing into another mental illness has always been my GREATEST fear and source of panic.  Although it is under control for the most part and it hasn't been an issue for quite some time (I think I reasearched the topic to death..lol) it still gives me that inkling of fear just talking about it.
 
I have thought I was going to become schizophrenic, bipolar, manic etc... If I even watched a show or read about someone elses plight that included their symptoms I would start to worry about getting those exact symptoms.. waiting for the voices I used to say...
 
The thing is I have armed myself with knowledge and knowledge is power.  You can't always control your thoughts but you can learn to control your reactions... through this program and other tools.. For me medication helped me as well as counselling etc.  I've had anxiety since I was 19 and I'm 34 now... with an amazing life... I live a full life and anxiety is a sidebar ...where as before the anxiety was the main stage and life was the side bar...
 
This will happen for you too... You just need to be patient and find the tools that work for you... trial and error...
 
You are not alone though and if it reassures you... All that worry and 15 years later I'm still not schizophrenic...
 
Take care Charlie... it does get better.
 
DM
15 years ago 0 823 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Charlie,   There are many individuals in this support group that share the same questions and concerns that you have. We are all here to help and learn from one another.   It can definitely be scary to feel like you are going crazy, however many individuals who suffer from anxiety experience these thoughts...........what you are going through is quite common.   Try practicing deep breathing when you experience these thoughts..........focusing on your breath will help to lessen the anxiety.   Also, challenge your anxious thoughts by answering some of these questions: 1. Is it "true"?
2. How do I know it’s true?
3. Is it 100% true? (remember something that is 75% or 99% true is  
    not 100% true)
4. What's the evidence for it being true?
5. What’s the evidence against it being true?
6. Has it ever happened before?
7. What's different now?
8. If it were true, how bad would it really be?
9. What's the worst thing that could happen?
10. If the worst thing happened, how bad would it really be?

Stay positive and let us know how you are doing!
15 years ago 0 14 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
This topic has help me so much, my main problem with the anxiety and panic now is that i'm going insane , it was the physical problems before, but i'm over that and now it's the mental. My aunty is bi polar, depressed,and everything else under the sun, she's been dealing with this now for10 years, and i'm so scared that it runs in the family and i'm going to end up like her!!She has gotten help but shes never really 100% normal, i know i suffer from anxiety, but the fear of going crazy is driving me crazy.But thanks to this topic i feel much better, positive thinking is my main goal now, thanks again:)!!

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