I desperatley need some advice from you guys.

I've been expereincing really intense anxiety lately. Although when I'm not having panic attacks, I know that I'm fine, I've recently had attacks where I've been terrified that I'm going crazy.

My OCD (which I havn't been formally diagnosed with because I have this mental block about discussing it with anyone) has been the worst I've ever had it too.

Last night for example, I got this thought/image/idea (my ex-girlfriend) stuck in my head, and it was like a blaring loud speaker was screaming it every five seconds (not a voice though, just my own thoughts). I could barely think. It was terrifing. It kept up until I finally fell asleep and when I woke up this morning it had calmed down.

I've also been experiencing this "fog" latley:







‘Spacing’: slow moving and highly distracting from what I’m supposed to be doing/listening to. Sometimes referred to as ‘in a fog’, so I am told, it often feels similar to being in a dream (but not the same). It’s extremely hard to explain/describe but I’ll do my best:
You see and hear what’s going around you but it feels like just as it’s described – in a fog; everything is sort of unclear and it’s like you’re just sort of floating amongst it all, but in a mental sense, not in a physical sense.
It’s like your brain won’t quite work fast enough or is on a sort of ‘auto-pilot’ with minimum input ability from you. You seem to reply/respond/act automatically while your brain is off somewhere else, trying to take in and think about too much and not succeeding.
It’s a bit like you’re ‘muddling through’ everything.
Sometimes it’s a bit like when the computer is playing a DVD and the picture goes jerky but the sound carries on and the picture has to catch up – they don’t go together properly for a bit – it’s like my brain goes jerky, but everything else carries on and I’ve got to catch up.
It feels like other things too, but I can’t put them into words because it’s too difficult.
And perhaps this as well:

A lot of the time I feel sort of (I say ‘sort of’ because it’s not quite right, but it’s the only way I can explain it) as if I’m inside my head – like I’ve sort of ‘gone backwards’ into my head and the world’s there, but it’s like I’m not quite all there – I’m not making contact with what’s going on and what I should be doing and how I should be reacting and what I am, or rather should be, or maybe shouldn’t be doing. Or like all the reactions/perceptions etc. are sort of ‘blunted’. It’s almost as if I’m wasting time because, well, the best way I can think of describing it is ‘as if I’m not in the moment’ which sounds a bit strange really, because I don’t feel like I’m anywhere else in time or physically, but as if I’m not quite ‘in the moment’/‘in the situation’ mentally. Actually, what now comes to mind is an expression I remember from somewhere: ‘the lights are on, but no one’s home’. Maybe this explains it a bit better. I've been through periods throughout my life where I've had this, and then it's just gone away on its own before, but it's been really bad lately.

I've been taking 20mg of lexapro for a while now (6months) although I recently started 20mg addreall too (it doesn't really help) and I was wondering if any of you have ever had lexapro cause this sort of feeling? I've been thinking maybe I should try lowering the lexapro to 10mg a day to see if it helps.



I'm not really sure what to do, but any advice on anything would be greatly appreciated

Write down what you told us and hand it to your therapist or doctor. The term for the 'being inside your head' feeling sounds like disassociation to me - I have that too.
You're not going crazy.
You're just overwhelmed right now.
I've been there.
You're okay.
Tell a professional, so they can help you through it and relieve your symptoms 'til things settle down.

although i have no advice other than to see a professional, good luck.
Hope you find a way out.

Critter

daedalus,
this is how i feel...exactly what you just said...I am going to try and tell you my story and how I feel now...When I was younger I am your age now but I was a blast to be around crazy fun just having a blast I do't know maybe it all caught up to me...about 3 years ago or maybe a little bit longer I had an anxiety attack I think I was misdiagnosed by my doctor which created the anxiety in my mind...But I haven't had a panic attack for a long long time. But the brain fog your talking about I feel the exact same thing...Its just like your brains not working...When you talk about the going to the back of your head thing I do the same...Almost like trying to get it to work or just go back to normal. I have self diagnosed myself with brain tumors for years now...Makes sense I would almost rather have that then anxiety...But the constant fog like waking up till falling asleep the only time its not there is when I am drunk just because you don't have that on your mind constantly...Its a horrible thing but just know I feel exactly what you talking about everyday! I take 10mg lexapro also but I have thought about going up or switching medications I just have to wait for my insurance...I think mabye lexapro is the wrong thing to be on for severe cases like we have...maybe I 'm wrong...Anyways just wanted to let you know your not alone I feel the same!

Oh my this sounds awfully similar to what I've felt for as long as I can remember. There are times when it feels like I'm stuck in first gear and the rest of the world is whizzing along in 3rd or 4th gear, there are even a few people who seem to be in 5th gear. Try as I might, I can't seem to get into the next gear, or even figure out how I've managed to do that in the past.

It's scariest when I'm driving but I feel like I'm driving one of those simulators or video race games, like the cars and buildings and stuff all around me isn't real, they're just simulations.

Or someone will talk to me and ask me a question and it doesn't seem quite real and I don't know what I'm supposed to say so I don't say anything. *le sigh*

I was prescribed Lexapro when I seemed to develope a tolerance for Paxil. I didn't notice much difference with the Lexapro so I've stopped taking it. I never had any adverse effects that I can remember though.

Welcome to the forums, Havingarough time.

I'm sorry things are feeling so rough Daeleous and you too Havingarough time. I'm real familar with the fog and other symptoms you're describing. I had a very bad case of it a little over a year ago. In my case, my ADD meds helped immensely in pulling me out of the fog. I was just on stimulent medication and not Lexapro -- I don't know anything about that medication, but I do think you ought to check with your doctor before changing your medications. Some medications have to be tapered off a certain way to avoid problems. Do talk to him, it sounds like something needs to be adjusted.

Take care!

Scattered