Many of those suffering from intense anxiety have this feeling of going crazy that comes from the extremely high emotions, a rush of adrenaline and stress, and the overwhelming feeling of losing control. It's a natural response to severe anxiety.
This thought may surface in times of heightened stress, but it can also be a manifestation of a mental health condition, such as anxiety,1 panic disorder,2 or depersonalization. 3 Sometimes the thought itself can induce even more stress or anxiety. Feeling as though you are losing your mind is a very scary idea!
It's rare, but the feeling of “going crazy” could truly stem from a developing mental illness. “They are temporarily, at least, losing their ability to make sense of things. They're feeling overwhelmed,” Livingston says. He recalls one teen who at age 16 felt that “everything is fading away,” he says.
Crazy, odd, bizarre, and irrational thoughts are often symptoms of anxiety disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and others. This article explains the relationship between anxiety and crazy thoughts.
While people may feel as though they are going crazy, they are truly just experiencing a reaction to the surge of adrenaline (that occurs during anxiety and panic), and the activation of your fight or flight system.
A nervous breakdown, also known as a mental health crisis or mental breakdown, describes a period of intense mental distress. A person having a nervous breakdown is temporarily not able to function in their everyday life.
Passing feelings of depersonalization or derealization are common and aren't necessarily a cause for concern. But ongoing or severe feelings of detachment and distortion of your surroundings can be a sign of depersonalization-derealization disorder or another physical or mental health disorder.
People who have psychotic episodes are often totally unaware their behaviour is in any way strange or that their delusions or hallucinations are not real. They may recognise delusional or bizarre behaviour in others, but lack the self-awareness to recognise it in themselves.
It's important to note that only a mental health professional can diagnose a mental health condition. Therefore, the only way to receive a definite answer to the question, “Do I have a mental illness, or am I overreacting?”, is to get in touch with a professional at an accredited treatment center.
Losing your mind may be experienced as extreme confusion, distress and/or dissociation from oneself. It may be so overwhelming that it leads to anxiety and panic attacks. You are not alone in feeling this way, and to answer the question again; it is highly unlikely that you're losing your mind.
Bottomline: If you want to eliminate this symptom, calm yourself down, reduce your stress, and don't worry about this symptom. It will subside when your body is sufficiently rested. It's important to note that there is no connection between anxiety and going crazy.
insanity. n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a person cannot distinguish fantasy from reality, cannot conduct her/his affairs due to psychosis, or is subject to uncontrollable impulsive behavior. Insanity is distinguished from low intelligence or mental deficiency due to age or injury.
Anxiety attack symptoms include:
Surge of overwhelming panic. Feeling of losing control or going crazy.
Psychotic Depression is a form of depression with psychosis that comes when people get very depressed, such as delusions (false beliefs) and/or hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that are not there).
Some early signs of psychosis may include: new difficulties with concentration or thinking. social withdrawal. odd and intense thoughts.
Signs of early or first-episode psychosis
Strong and inappropriate emotions or no emotions at all. Withdrawing from family or friends. A sudden decline in self-care. Trouble thinking clearly or concentrating.
Typically, a psychotic break indicates the first onset of psychotic symptoms for a person or the sudden onset of psychotic symptoms after a period of remission. Symptoms may include delusional thoughts and beliefs, auditory and visual hallucinations, and paranoia.
Four stages of the formation of depersonalization were identified: vital, allopsychic, somatopsychis and autopsychic.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can teach you to challenge intrusive thoughts and manage symptoms of depersonalization. Trauma-focused therapy like eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) can help you process traumatic memories. Once your trauma heals, symptoms of depersonalization may lessen.
Mind-blanking—when our minds are seemingly “nowhere”—is defined by a lack of conscious awareness. During periods of blankness, the individual is not focally aware of any stimuli, either internal or external.
People experiencing a nervous breakdown may dissociate or have suicidal thoughts. Unable to perform the activities of everyday life, they usually require treatment from a mental health professional. A nervous breakdown may last for days, weeks, months—even years.
When experiencing mental health problems, you should visit an ER if you worry about your safety. For instance, if you share thoughts of hurting yourself or suicide, you should immediately go to an ER.
Long-term stress can lead to structural changes in the brain, which can affect your memory and lead to difficulty concentrating. In extreme cases, too much cortisol can even lead to memory loss. For some people, excessive stress may cause insomnia, making it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.