RESPONSES ABOUT WEIRD FEELINGS

Below are some of the responses I received from our fibro team about the weird feelings I was having - see Topic 17 at www.fms-help.com/021307.htm I hope that by sharing these replies, it may help others who are having this same experience. Your caring, prayers and insights helped me greatly.  My personal thoughts are at the end in TEAL. - Dominie
 

Wow, I thought I was the only person who had this.  I guess it is something I need to tell my shrink about, will get back to you if I learn anything.
 

I thought I was going crazy, I am going through that today, I feel spaced out like I am in a dream its better now but mine is connected to panic. My hubby is going through some rough medical problems right now and I am really ,I guess more scared then I let people know.. They tell me all the time how strong I am every time there is something going on. Is anyone going through where I get so sleepy I think I am going to fall over in sleep and the minute I lie down I have to get back up cause I am not sleepy anymore?? then when I get up I start again!!
 

While I was driving my car to the post office, even though I have
traveled that road for over 20 years, I suddenly did not recognize my
surroundings. I did not know where I was and I did not know who I was.
It happened to me about 3 times during my FMS years. It is a feeling
of total detachment. The panic attack and the detachment thing was two
separate feelings. This amnesia  feeling was really scary. 
I was told with FMS we have lesions that form on the brain.
They claim they are little pin holes. Could that be that these pin holes are
causing loss of memory?
 

I have had GAD - generalized anxiety disorder - (undiagnosed) from when I was a young girl.  It was identified finally about 8 years ago and I am taking Lexapro.  So whenever I am feeling disconnected, I know I am about to get a really weird panicky feeling.  I tried to stop taking the Lexapro and had to go back on it because I just felt like I was going to jump out of my skin.  When I get panic attacks they always start with the disconnectedness feeling. 
 

Regarding weird stuff, I have had similar experiences on three occasions. At the time I working as a police officer.
The first two occasions were when we were searching for weapons dropped by criminal offenders.
I felt like I was searching then not really searching( hard to explain in words) but everything around me became extremely vivid, the grass changed from being dark green to being vivid green, it stopped having any definition, the grass turned into a flat green carpet.
And although I was there in person I felt like I was not really there but watching what was going on.
I was on Aropax at the time.  The third time was competing in a Masters sprint 100 metre race, again I was there but not really there, I did not hear the starters gun go off,I only ran as I saw the other runners ahead of me, any way I struggled from last place all the way up to second.
How ever later that night I had one of the worst panic attacks ever, it lasted for about three hours, it just would not go away.My doctor had just changed my medication from Aropax to Prozac. Never the less I don't take either medications now as I believe they alter brain function too much. I now take Doxepin at night to help me sleep, and if I am stressed through the day I take Lorazepam to help me relax.
 

I also have suffered from FMS for over 22 years myself.  I can relate to your feelings of being outside of yourself and looking in.  Or Depersonalized Disorder as you have so well put it.  I did suffer several years ago from what looked and seemed like mini strokes.  I would become disoriented easily and not know where I was or who I was or what was going on.  I too had a hysterectomy but mine was at the age of 29 years old.  I have take hormone replacement ever since.  I have taken the Estrodial and it never had any type of side effects on me.  However, now I take Estratest and have for several.  I am pretty sure that these episodes your experiencing are not hormone medication related.  I know that none of mine were. 

However, I too have done some research on your topic, and have found that one of the major key symptoms that seem to go with Depersonalization Disorder is Acute Stress. And as an FMS sufferer I too suffer from Stress” constantly.    I take Xanax 1 to 2 Mg. in order to deal with my overload.   However, I have suffered at different times in my life from total breakdowns emotionally do to “MAJOR STRESSORS” which went on to long at different times in my life.  I’ve even been hospitalized for it a couple of times.  The much needed rest and removed away from the thing which was causing the stress helped tremendously.

In doing some reading on the subject myself, and also suffering from the opposite of wide open spaces. I’m closterpobic .  Panic attacks that at times have become such a problem in my life, where when the phone rings I would just stare at it even if the caller I.D. was someone I knew I could not answer it.  And well, forget about answering my door.  And there were even times when I would want to go somewhere, get completely ready and just as I was about to open my door.  I would end up sitting down on my couch in tears.  Because I realized I was paralyzed to even open the door to step out into the real world.

Also, sleep-deprivation can cause “Depersonalization Disorder”.  I suffer from lack of sleep even with my sleeping meds much of the time as I know fellow FMS sufferers do as well. 

Therefore, I understand what you are going through.  I used to just pop a Xanax when I felt the feelings which you describe and I too know all to well.  It also made me feel better. 

Then on one of my visits with my doctor, she told me that many times they are finding that an SSRI helps. Such as Prozac, Elavil, Zoloft, Paxil and I believe there are a few more to name, I just can’t remember all of their names.  I am taking a low dose of Paxil and have found that for me, it has and is very helpful to in many ways.  Not just for the Depersonalization feelings, but for my panic attacks and even stress level.  It also seems to provide me with a little lift of energy.  Which I am chronically tired so that is a plus for me as well!  At first, I was against taking one more medication.  But she urged me to give it a try and I’m glad now that I did.

They have also found that there is some link, or they believe there is to post traumatic events in ones past and even trauma which is occurring in the present time of ones life, that can bring on these symptoms you’re describing.  Also Borderline Personality Disorder is another factor they have found and of course I’ve already mentioned the stress factor. 

I too, though find out that sometimes if I am feeling sort of what I like to call “SIDEWAY’S” as I tell my husband.  He knows, it means I’m heading for a quite dark room to lie down for 30 or 40 minutes practicing meditation breathing and listening to one of my meditation music CD’s takes the out of body feelings away and brings my focus back to the here and now in my body focus and feelings. 

I went to a web site I often look things up on which is www.Healthline.com where I was reading about “Depersonalization Disorder”.  It has some interesting information there as well.  You might want to take a look and see if you haven’t already.  [FROM DOMINIE: They have a good article at http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/depersonalization-disorder.]

I do however, agree that this is a Chemical Imbalance in our brains and somehow and in someway is also linked to our FMS/CFS.  One day I guess we will all know why these weird things happen to us?  Well, I hope this helps at least some, if anything maybe just to let you know you’re not crazy it does happen to other of us as well.

One thing I’ve found helpful as well, is when I am experiencing something like this or any other strange feeling or sensation, when I can afterwards I try to make a note of it in a little book. And I explain as much as I can about the feeling or sensation, what was happening right before I felt that way and what I did about it and what ended up making me feel better.  I also write the time of day and date.  It just helps for reference.  This way, I can just go back and see if it happens again, were the circumstances close, or was it around a medication dose I took, had I just stepped up a med. Or took one down a level.  Things like that.  It might help you to pinpoint what is really going on with you.


One thing you might consider is hyperventilating.  If someone continues to breath shallow, rapidly....shortness of breath, they blow out CO2, which can cause numbness, anxiety, and if one does it long enough may cause a paralyzing effect.  Feelings of detachment could be a combined effect. 
 

Just thought I would share a few thoughts regarding your episodes.  I was diagnosed 5 years ago with FM.  I also suffered with agoraphobia many years ago for just a couple of years.  I am age 50 right now.   That happened in my very early twenties.  I have not had this weird thing you describe though.  What I would like to share is this.  I am a nutritional consultant.  I don't know your dietary habits.  I would get off the homones and check into bioidentical hormones or natural progesterone.  Also eliminate as much sugar and caffiene from the diet.  I do believe it's a combo of hormonal changes, anxiety (sometimes anxiety brought on by not being to control the symptoms) almost sends us into a panic state, and our dietary habits.  I do also take xanax on occasion when I really think I need it.  My biggest help is praying.  God does not want us to live like this.
 

See Shoemaker book for any references to MSH (melanocyte-stimulating
hormone). Although melanocytes may not sound very important, you need to
remember that these hormones were often named long ago, and not ALL of their
functions were well-known. This is the case with MSH. It is a KEY hormone
for regulating HUNDREDS of body systems, including other hormones.

I experienced that "depersonalization" in my college years when I took
Sinequan (an antidepressant that isn't used much any more.) The doctor was
trying to treat my excessive sleepiness (which was due to obstructed
breathing during sleep, NOT depression.) I took ONE capsule, and experienced
all those weird "being in a movie" sensations. After reading up on the side
effects, it appears that such dissociative feelings are a fairly common side
effect! It's important to remember that the depersonalization sensations are
just chemical; much like the experience of deja vu (or being drunk, for that
matter!)

Given the assumption that your body and brain are in an uproar from being
poisoned for a number of years (e.g. mold toxins, Lyme toxins), it's just
not surprising that one might have incidents like this. I also experienced
panic attacks about a year BEFORE we think I was stricken with Lyme
(although no one knows for sure.) Lexapro was very helpful, as was having
Xanax on hand to take as needed.

Unless these dissociative incidents are so frequent as to be life-altering,
I would just try to ride them out, take Xanax as needed for any anxiety
induced by the episode (of dissociation), and tell yourself that it's just a
part of your illness and it will pass, in a few hours. Although I am not
VERY familiar with treatment for dissociative disorders, it is my
recollection that the best sorts of treatments that current medical science
has to offer are really powerful antipsychotics like Thorazine! So you
probably don't want to go THERE unless the incidents become more frequent or
upsetting. If you have health coverage {and I know Dominie doesn't}, it
would also be reasonable to ask for an MRI or CT examination of your brain,
just to verify that there is nothing nasty going on in there. But from what
little I know about the subject, there is not USUALLY an organic brain
anomaly causing the episodes.


I’ve had weird stuff too. I’m now 36 and I’ve had different kinds of break downs.  Within the last two years I’ve had the crying kind where I’m out of control and cannot even explain what’s up to my poor hubby. I’m crying and drooling and gasping and that is not how I usually cry if I need to! I usually have to sleep and then try to explain in the morning.  Also, I’ve always been VERY social and the last few years about four times, I almost freaked out to get out of crowded places. I love going out and being with lots of people so this too is very strange. I feel like a scared animal and the noise levels almost shoot through my body and it feels very oppressive. Often this go with me feeling like I’m gonna tear off all my clothes ‘cuz I’m having a heat stoke. And then the next day… I’m fine?!?  We’re a weird, special bunch!!
 

CHECK WITH DR. DON MAYFIELD IN GREEN VALLEY, AZ.   ALSO DR. JACK HINZE.  SUSPECT THAT IT COULD BE A VIRUS IN THE BRAIN FOR A VERY LONG TIME UNDETECTED BECAUSE DOCTORS DO NOT KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT.  DR. MAYFIELD HAS A WAY OF DETECTING EACH VIRUS IN THE BODY AND THEN ELIMINATING THEM. I SUGGEST THAT ALL FIBRO AND CFS PATIENTS RUN TO HIS OFFICE NOT WALK. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE FOR WORK FOR YEARS AND FINALLY FEELING AND LOOKING LIKE A FUNCTIONING HEALTHY PERSON.  INCREDIBLE DOCTORS. SOME OF THE WORK CAN BE DONE OVER THE PHONE. IF NOT, THERE ARE PLACES TO STAY WHILE YOU GO THROUGH TREATMENT.
 

I read a man's testimony about his return to mental and physical health. He had schizophrenia and severe depression, even hospitalized at one point. He cleaned up his diet and eventually ate only all raw fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds. He is now off all meds and thriving. He is 49.  I do much better physically and mentally and emotionally when I eat the same way he does. I also take 5-HTP for sleep and depression; and I take GABA for anxiety. Magnesium works wonders on fibro pain and anxiety. You might do better on bioidentical hormones; I use natural progesterone cream and DHEA for menopause symptoms.  Hope you get rid of your awful symptoms. I've had my share-NO fun.
 

I have experienced it many times. Emotions disappear altogether and I’m sorta ‘beside’ myself as it were, as if I’m an observer of my life instead of living it. My emotions toward my loved ones are suddenly absent. Its weird, but im no longer frightened by it. I let it pass now, because I know it will. For me it happens when I’m under severe stress and I need to cope. Somehow I disassociate to conserve emotional energy or something.  I have no idea what it is.
 

I have this feeling also, It is so hard to explain. I can become non-responsive kinda like a dream state. I can sit and watch TV if you asked me what just happened sometimes I can't...... Even though I was just sitting here watching it? I have an appointment tomorrow with my therapist and plan on talking to him more about this. I know my peripheral vision has diminished. It is most noticeable while driving since I have a hard time turning my neck. My therapist asked me about my vision and I had stated to him that yes my peripheral vision is compromised and he mentioned it may be cause by a certain kind of depression.  I try to say away from any type of situation where there is a lot of people it is like I am there and I go through the motions but it is like being in a dream.
 

This has happened to me, but not to the extent that it has happened to you.  AND, oddly enough, it started only after my hysterectomy.  It's happened 3 times.  I will lie in bed and it's like I'm in a coma watching things go on around me, and once my 5 year old had to call my husband to come home.  That was scary.  I was ok afterward, so we thought it was a migraine aura because shortly afterwards the searing pain hit.  Hmmmm... I have a doctor appointment in the AM so maybe I'll mention it to my doctor.
 

What you have is not a panic attack.  I would suggest 2 things:  Having your MD evaluate all of the meds/supplements you are taking. If not a side effect, Please make an appt. to see a good Psychiatrist who specializes in dissociative disorders for an eval.  But don't rule out the importance of meds and supplements interactions.
 

I have fibromyalgia and anxiety disorder...I feel they're connected as they started at the same time....I am now out of work on medical leave.  I have applied for disability but don't know the answer yet. I have had at least 4 dissociative events in the past year.   I feel like I'm in a bubble and everyone around me is outside the bubble.  I can hear talking but it's like murmurs.  I can't understand what they're saying.   It's very scary and lasts for a good while....  My first inclination is to run but it goes where I go.  My doctor calls them psychotic dissociative event and seems to take them very seriously.
 

I suffer from the same weird feelings at times.  I just
attributed it to the CFS and Fibromyalgia, and extreme stress at work, or
the numerous medications I'm currently on. 
Another thing I learned at a CFIDS seminar in Sacramento, California  last
fall is that we are quite possibly having mini-seizures due to the CFS/FM.
Dr. Charles Lapp, a prominent CFS researcher was speaking at the seminar
and he mentioned that he thinks mini-seizures are occuring and we don't
even realize it.  It's something that I haven't seen documented in CFS and
FM literature and so I was suprised by this piece of information.  It sure
makes sense.  I can think of several occassions where I suddenly couldn't
remember where I was going or while driving.  It is a brief yet scary
experience.  I didn't have anxiety with these occurances either.  Sometimes
it is just like a quick flicker of disorientation.
 

I noticed that you have stopped taking Lexapro.  I wasn’t sure how long ago that was.  Did you taper off it?  From what I have read, sometimes when you come off an anti-depressant there is withdrawal/side effects.  Most try to taper off slowly.  Possibly your symptoms could be related to that change, as it does take time for your body to adjust.  Just some food for thought.  I hope you get to the bottom of it and are feeling better soon!  

I speak both from a standpoint of person with some psychological
training and from personal experiences with some around me.

1.  My initial thought is Temporal lobe Epilepsy.  Epilepsy runs in
my family, and I live with an epileptic who previously also had
Grand Mals.  Very little is known by doctors about tit, as only 1%
of pop. seems to have obvious symptoms.

However, the so-called Panic Attacks that the media describes,
have been discovered about 10 years ago, upon evaluation with
NEW EEG equipment, to be spells of the AURAS and sometimes the ACTUAL
PETIT MAL types of attacks.

When my sig another has been LOW on his Depakote anti-convulsant
OR has been taking TOO MANY BENZODIAZEPINES to try to
foolishly wean off from Depakote, he gets these incredible
feelings of UNREALITY, of feeling he isn't sure who he is, of
feeling SCARED, of sometimes his heart going into A-fib, etc.

I try to explain to him, but he's 79, and cannot remember what I say
very long, especially as he has other people telling him to get off
his meds so he can FEEL BETTER.

Well, unfortunately, if it is something like a genetically HYPER BRAIN
pattern of electricity, it seems a certain amount of FULL SPECTRUM
anti-convulsant is NECESSARY.

Klonopin covers ONLY HALF of the GABA receptors that control
over-excitiation.  Depakote covers the WHOLE SPECTRUM of
the brain's GABA receptors.

RECEPTORS CHANGE with different meds, so they ADAPT often,
and become agitated when the med is dropped, or may need more later.

I was on Klonopin for about a year, before I realized I was starting to
have BREAKTHROUGH MYOCLONIC C JERKS in my sleep, where my leg would swing out
with a SLAM!  After 2 times hitting my printer next to my bed, and finally breaking it, I QUIT KLONOPIN.

It took quite a few edgy weeks or months, to get my self back to a
PRE-KLONOPIN state of brain response.   I understand Dr. Cheney
used to prescribe it, but no longer. Also the SSRI's are VERY bad
for the brain, according to Cheney, as it FRIES the neurons over time.

I was also on them for over several years, before realizing they were
making me VERY depressed. I thought it was my life's circumstances
causing the depression, as how can an anti-depressant do THAT?!

Well, I am against some od the NEW -FANGLED meds for the mind.

2.   I once felt really dreamy and disconnected as I had had a second
baby, undergone severe trauma at his birth, and got an IUD with NO
anti-biotic.  Between being SO TIRED as a new mother, and probably
infected with new IUD bacteria, I was sitting outside with my children
and felt like I just wanted to lie down and REST.  I just couldn't move.

3.  Maybe some bad food got into someone's system and has caused
a WEIRD reaction, as these FOREIGN imported goods are just
exposed to UNKNOWNS.  Could ba a pesticide or an odd germ?

Mainly, I think it could be TLE -- temporal lobe epilepsy....   One way
to help that, naturally, I read, is MAGNESIUM, B6 and B12-folic acid.

Please write more about what your input from readers is, as this
seems a fairly common but unspoken occurrence, especially
with CFS or MS and other brain ailments.


I had severe anxiety/panic attacks about 8 years ago, they were so bad i could not get off the couch. Deadly dizziness, diahrea, shaking all over, felt like someone standing on my chest, could not breathe, rubber legs, felt like i had no control over anything. Whem my attack was over i could not get out of bed for a day i was so weak from the spell. this went on over two years alot in the night. I tried all kinds of anxiety meds but that made it worse, so i started taking xanax and it helped the attacks get over sooner. i am not a med taker if possible so i only took what i needed. i think this was the start of fibro, that developed later. i got a hystrerectomy 4 years ago and the BAD attacks went away but every once in a while i get the squeezing around my throat and take a xanax and it helps. It sounds like panic attacks to me. there are different degrees of attacks and mine were so horrible i thought i was litterally going to die when i had them, it scared my husband to death and at the time i had two kids to care for. i never sat down to rest until then, i always pushed myself 24/7. i was a perfectionist and now i just do what i can. i have osteoperosis in my hands and back and fibro all over. The way I get through this is Jesus Christ, that is the only way.I got prayed for the other night and he told me I had my physical and spiritual joy robbed from me for too long, he prayed for joy for me and I have never been so joyful. I might have pain but I have to be joyful or the enemy will rob me again and I am not going there anymore. Stay strong  and keep the faith. We have horrific pain but I will still never come close to what Jesus did for us all. I keep telling myself that.
 

In answer to your question, my daughter who suffered with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for some 15 years but has overcome it in the sence that she does have her energy but suffers chemical sensitivity ans is on a strict diet because she has bowel problems, she managed to get back to work 2 years ago and just one month ago the shampoo she had been using from the body shop was no longer available so they recommended another one and on washing her hair she had a massive reaction, she was rushed to hospital and then had a reaction to the medication as well which was similar to the one mentioned in article 17 which she had been taking a small amount of each evening for years and she has been having massive panic attacks and also saying she felt she was out of her body or like she was watching a movie, I had her stay with me and made her cut the medication back to what she had been taking before and she showed a massive improvement from that side of it although still suffering itching and burning on the body but she is getting better each day, we are hoping she can get back to work as she had all her sick leave and now her annual holidays, in the earlier years of her sickness she also suffered panic attacks and said she felt as though she was out of her body but was on medication which I cannot remember which one but probably similar. 
 
The other thing I would like to mention was my mother had a nervous breakdown or that is what they called it back in those days it was around 1947 and she was medicated and she also was telling me she used to feel as though everything was a picture, my father's mother took her up to her place and threw out all the medication and she got better, she was a wise lady for her time.   I suffer Fibromyalgia but have found out I have Chiari Malformation and my sister is also suffering with it, she was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation but had the same symptons as me and on getting an MRI I had it too, she has never been diagnosed with Fibromyaligia so there is some connection there too, but the operation does not seem to fix all symptons from my research so far so not taking any chances with that lot, neither is my sister, so we solider on with the symptons.
 
It would be good if someone could work out what the hell is going on with all of us sufferers.  Hope this helps a little.
 

There is a difference in the two.  Premarin is a naturally occuring hormone made from horse 
urine, whereas estrace is a synthetic hormone that is created in the 
lab. Estrace is supposed to mimic your body's natural estrogen more 
than premarin and be safer to use because of this. But everyone is 
different and hormones control every part of your body as you know, 
including mood,depression,etc. Switching the hormone can cause your 
body to have changes in lots of different things, just as changing 
hormone levels in a pregnant woman can cause her to act crazy! I 
can't take high doses of effexor or birth control of any kind for 
this reason, b/c i have adhd and now he says mild bipolar, that 
little bit pushes me over the edge into a full blown episode. Your 
hormone could be doing the same to you. Fibros have supersensitivie 
autonomic nervous systems, so minute changes that wouldn't affect a 
normal person can cause an enormous change in them or vice versa, 
remember that. A simple thing like switching an estrogen hormone when 
your body produces no estrogen of its own totally changes the 
chemical composition of the hormone it is used to and how it reacts 
to it. Estrogen controls alot of different functions from bone 
production, to vessel flexibility, to being a precursor for hormones 
such as seratonin and ne and dopamine all of which can make you 
either feel really good, or really bad as we know.
 

I have not personally had depersonalization, but my sister and her husband have both struggled with it over many years. Unbeknownst to them when they married, both were sexually abused as children. Memories resurfaced in middle age that helped explain these symptoms of trauma. My brother had one of the most severe cases on record, in which the depersonalization lasted over a year, requiring hospitalization. An expert at Duke University finally found the right medication to bring him out of it, and he must stay on it for life. Both of their psychiatrists and counselors have told them that depersonalization is a coping mechanism for severe emotional/mental trauma that can sometimes get out of control.  If it becomes a real problem, you may want to find a psychiatrist and counselor with significant experience in treating people with depersonalization to help you examine the cause and treat it medically and emotionally.
 

Have you checked your blood pressure when these things happen? I know
you have had blood pressure problems. When I have LOW blood pressure I get that
disassociated feeling, and I have that kind of "aura" before I faint, before the
buzzing, dizziness pre-faint. (I think all my fainting spells as a kid and
beyond have been blood sugar problems). Also, my father had several episodes as
you describe and we finally traced it to reactions to exposure to MOLD! In his
apartment complex, there were areas of ceiing tiles that were wet and moldy
from roof leaks and when he would pass through one of those areas, he would
feel that way when he got back to his apartment. Also, it may be a TIA
experience. I believe it is due to a chemical reaction in the body, whether a
hormone or response to an allergen or blood sugar problem or the result of the
small stroke (TIA). I know you don't want to spend money at a doctor's office
and still not get an answer, so think about blood pressure and blood sugar
first because you can work at control of those pretty easily. Let us know how
you're doing!
 

Has anybody checked blood sugar when this happens? Before I got my blood sugar under control I would black out-pass out even almost go blind. It's a really weird feeling one time when I took my sugar level it was 35.  I could hardly walk. Doctor said any lower I could have when in a coma. I was really out of it for a few days.
 

I've experienced this. All you say rings true. Plus I have a schizophrenic nephew and his mum was often out of it as I was growing up. Very scary. As you say, the gene pool affects things. I had episodes years ago - not in the last 6 or so years. But it's vivid in my mind.

Also I don't take any hrt at all. My sis ended up in hospital with a mini-stroke - lost all language and movement - and the doc said it was her hrt and she was to go off it. Of course she's ok now and back on it after putting up with terrible hot flushes etc. She'll be on it for life she says - she's 65 - and has already been on it for 20 years. What a risk though. That's why I won't touch the stuff because I don't want to be looking down the pipeline to the end of my life with episodes like that. But it's not the same for everyone else. That's just my opinion. But I'm not blaming your attacks on hrt. Just mentioning it because you brought it up in your newsletter. But my first attacks of DD were when I was 35 so obviously not hormonal, but then maybe it was?

When I first got sick in '85 I got terrible DD episodes. I'd be sitting at the kitchen table and everything and everyone would just fade away. Awful. I also had a few episodes in the '90s when we moved house to the other side of the country. I think it could very well be related to Hypoglycaemia at times - that weakness and just "losing it". But so much goes on in our bodies that anything's possible and I guess DD is just one of the names for it..
 

I have too experienced the same symptoms you have described here ....I always thought they were panic/anxiety attacks . I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Athritis, Degenerative Tissue Disease(these 6 yrs ago ) , and Hypothyrodism( 1 yr ago ) . I began to really wonder "what" these episodes were when I got off my Thyroid meds for financial reasons ( and was told I shouldnt be on them by another DR. --worst mistake ever made---serious downward sprial ever since !) I went into a deeper depression , more anxiety , Thyroid sypmtoms ( if you arent familiar with Thyroid it controls SOO many areas in a womans body!) Anyway , these crazy experiences / episodes have been happenning to me DAILY !!
 
 It's hard to explain but I will do my best.....I get hot/cold sweats, I feel as if I cannot control anything going on with my thoughts , body etc (almost frozen like) my heart races (like a panic attack) , ANY noise or ANYONE trying to help at that moment only irritates me & makes it worst ,  I cant relate to my husband or kids what I need , I cry , feel embarressed, then exhauseted afterwards. I dont FEEl myself and I always say I feel very hormonal !! I am not sure what the cause .....I am kinda wondering if it is related to horomones or possibly anti-depressents. These daily episodes didnt start happenning until I stated taking Wellbutrin in replace of my anxiety meds and stopped taking my Thyroid med??
 
We can always speculate .....I dont know ...I am finally seeing a great endogrinologist here in Orlando who is starting me on Synthroid again so I am praying I will start feeling better soon . I hope by my sharing , It may have given you some insight . I do also get somewhat anxious when I have to be in group situations where I am not really close to the people there. Even before I leave the house , I notice my nerves getting wound up & my heart beating faster. I just always assumed that was just me ?!
 

I’m a faithful reader of you for years.  I get disassociative.  For me, it’s good thing.  I don’t get scared.  It happens about once every five years and I kind of enjoy it.  It separates my thoughts from what is going on and I kind of see clearer.  I just wait for it to pass.  I think of it in terms of God directing me.  I also separate myself from what is going on.  I can see what’s going on and see myself at the same time.  I think it’s kind of neat.
 

my fibro started with disconnects all the time

I blacked out driving .

I'd go to the doc and say I couldnt get through the veil between myself
and reality.  And of course they said nothing was wrong.

I was under terrible stress ... in my 35.


I think my firbro is  an anxiety disorder ..... post traumatic stress

anxiety disorders are connected with other mental instabilities in
families.. likely to see  bi polar , schizophrenia and of course OCD
Everyone I know who has OCD has someone in the family with something
else.


I dont know what to say for you.
I survived... but I was terrified and horrified.
but I cant say what will help you.
 

I have had something similar, as what you describe, but not to the point that I had to go to ER. I have the spells, as I suddenly become lost in familiar surroundings.  Can be driving to a familiar place, following same path as always and become lost as to where I am.
 

I have had panic attacks with bitter taste in the mouth, nausea almost to vomiting, dizzy almost passing out, echoing throughout my ears, blurred vision, racing heart.  Last one was at work in 2006 and had to immediately go into someone's office and put my head between my legs and sit hunched over.  I related it to a mixture of the meds and hormones coupled with possibly a stressful event prior to that day.  Afterwards, I was just fine but very exhausted.  I believe that meds that work on the nervous system just go crazy sometimes.  God didn't make our bodies for meds.
 

I read your blurb about "weird stuff" and was wondering if that's what I've experienced. Sometimes I, out of the blue, have a hard time connecting with people...or even with myself. It's hard to explain, It's like I'm conscious but can't think..then I start worrying about why I can't think. It starts to make me feel very anxious...like "am I going crazy"? Why is this happening to me?, I think. I know I'm getting older, 51, and I've been through a lot. Then I just think it away, so to speak, and just chalk it up to brain fog...which I hate!  Gee..isn't fun getting older, especially with fibro and other stuff? I also have narcolepsy/cataplexy. So I already have neurological "brain stuff" goin' on. I'm wondering if it's all connected somehow. Although, I've read where fibro can stem from neck and spinal injuries..hello, got that! I have a herniated disk in my neck that's pressing up against my spinal cord. Can't be good.
 

I read your weird stuff on the page. I too withdraw from life and had total panic attacks to the point I did not leave my house with out my dad. I was 33 years old and afraid of the out side. I too suffered from agoraphobia till recently. I credit my doctors and my family in helping me. I still struggle at times, but I have gotten my drivers license back and even have some interest in a love life.  I still have lorazepam incase an attack comes on. My panic attacks have sent me to the Emergency room a few times. It's nothing for anyone out there to be afraid of, shoot I tell everyone I see a Shrink and Therapist. Its better to be up front then try to hide things. Least I found it so.

I'm wondering whether this phenomenom could be spiritually/demonic related???  Has there been any occult or séance-type activity in the past?  It could be a generational curse that needs to be broken.  Do you have much understanding of spiritual warfare?  I am finally in a church that does. . . but I'm just learning.  There are things to consider, like how we open doors to such things, our repenting of things we may have done to open the doors--even just participating by agreeing with the fear.  Strongholds develop in our lives.  I believe prolonged stress and bitterness poured toxins into my body, causing the fibromyalgia.  My focus is on eliminating as much toxins as possible, including meds. 

I am sure it's what you have suspected, that is some kind of anxiety disorder.  The more you think about what's happening to you, the more anxious you get and the ball starts rolling.  I still think you need to discuss this with your doctor, but in the meantime try to go lay down when you start feeling funny, take some slow deep breaths and try to relax.  Biofeedback or meditation exercises really do work once you get the hang of it. 
 

I've never had what you are experiencing, but I did have a mental break down at 39 (I am 42) and it was at that time that the Chronic Fatigue and sleep disorder began and has continued. I do know that my adrenal glands are still shot, that my hormones play a lot into how well I feel or don't feel.  My gene pool is nothing but sewage (mother and two biological brothers have schizophrenia/bipolar, etc.)  I have had trouble with fungus and I'm fatigued but wired, not sleepy and never am sleepy.   I read a book about metabolic typing for diet and found out that I need to eat lots of healthy fats and red meats and that helps a lot also concerning my energy.  Like you I've tried many things. Maybe this is hormonal or stress related. If hormones or anything is off in the body it is a stressor. Thank you for all you do. I know this must be scary. The mental breakdown was the scariest thing I've ever encountered and yet I am holding up.
 

 
COMMENT FROM DOMINIE: Thanks so much to all who wrote.  Seems these dissociative feelings could be related to any number of things, as mentioned above by my kind readers.  I do wonder about the spiritual aspect, because I had some friends pray for me after choir practice Wednesday night, and I have felt completely normal since then!  Also, 20 years ago, I was delivered from 20 years of agoraphobia by telling the devil NO to any more fear!  So, there is something going on besides just the physical/biochemical aspects.  We are such complex creatures!


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Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor. The purpose of this site is not to diagnose or cure any disease or malady, but is presented as food for thought. What you read on this site is based on my own history and ideas. This information cannot take the place of professional medical advice. Any attempt to diagnose and treat an illness should come under the direction of a physician. No guarantees are made regarding any of the information presented in this website.


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