Please help diagnose me. I'm so scared. VERY wierd out of body experiences & +

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I constantly feel semi-detached from reality, and at some random times, I will feel completely detached, and it will stay like this for hours. When I say "detached from reality", I mean I kind of have an out of body experience. Constantly, I feel kind of like I'm not really there, but, for example today in music class, out of nowhere I started feeling really dizzy, then all of the sudden I felt as if I REALLY wasn't in my body. I felt like I was looking at myself, it's so hard to explain, but it's very scary.

This has been going on for a TINY bit less than a year now, and its driving me nuts. I've kind of gotten used to the constant feeling I have, but the random (what seems to be random) out of body experiences still freak me out, especially when I'm not close to home. I can never think straight, and I feel like I'm on display, and that I'm completely not in my body. I can say things, and move, but it doesn't feel like I am doing it. Again, its very hard to explain.

This all happened around the time where I smoked weed for the LAST time, and had my first panic attack, which is why I stopped. I had a bit of a bad trip, and panicked. Other than that, I haven't been through anything that I would think to cause any kind of post traumatic disorder.

These out of body experiences happen maybe 3 times a month, but it varies very much.

I've been to my doctor 3 times when it first started, and she was never able to diagnose me. I went through MANY blood tests, I'm completely fine. I guess it's something psychological.

Lastly, every since Tuesday, I was in class, and rather than just the normal wave of detachment that i get, I started feeling really dizzy, really hot, and like I was about to faint. Being really scared, I started to feel my throat almost close up, and my legs and head shaking and trembling. After a while I calmed down, but ever since then, I've gotten this same exact occurrence three days in a row, but when I'm back home, I'm fine. I think, for the other two times, they were triggered because I was so worried about getting it again. I try to convince myself that it won't happen, but its very hard, and I always end up being really scared again. Other than those, however, the experiences seem to be random.

Please help me.
I really, really, really need it.
I'm 15, and I live in Canada
I just want to feel normal again... So badly
I'm in a band, we're going to start playing shows and I don't know what I'd do if one of those experiences took place on stage while I'm performing. It's also so much harder to enjoy myself with friends, always being worried.

Thank you in advance.
David...
 
You're OK David, you're not going crazy, and you'll get better in time. :)

It sounds to me like what you are experiencing is something called derealization and/or depersonalization it's a common side effect of the drug THC, the active ingredient in pot. The effects can linger a long time but they will gradually dissipate.

Derealization is the feeling that your surroundings are unreal or 'different' somehow - depersonalization is the feeling that you are unreal, or floating above yourself, or otherwise detached from who you are. They can both be super frightening, especially when they happen suddenly out of the blue.

Since the THC probably triggered a tendency toward panic attacks in you, you might want to see a therapist, someone who can help you cope with these symptoms till they go away. Talk to your folks about it.

Many different things can cause dereal/depersonalization, so don't freak out if you read about it online, you're going to be OK.:angel:
 
Hi Beth,

A similar thing happened to me.. my symptoms appeared at a time when my immune system would have been compromised from drug addiction (not cannabis, but actually worse things) and also eating/sleeping very improperly.

I have to ask though, since you're on a lot of boards informing people about Lyme, and you don't have Lyme yourself.. how did you become so knowledgeable about it? Do you have a related condition or something that acts like Lyme Disease?
 
David,

Since your doctors have run the usual tests and everything has come out "fine", you might want to consider learning more about Lyme Disease which is an epidemic in many states....I believe New York is one of many!




Although your symptoms may have started about the time you first smoked weed, it's possible this experience may have impacted your immune system giving an opportunity for little critters (bacteria) to go out of control. Similar scenarios occur with Lyme's patients...a stressor of some kind (alcohol, drugs, changes in temperature/humidity, unpleasant memories, etc) can set the body up for new symptoms like those you describe.

But again, you m ight want to review the stickies and the posts on the lyme boards.

Good luck!

Bethsheba
 
Sounds very much like anxiety, and most probably brought on by the drugs, that can set off these weird feelings.

I think firstly you need to lay off the drugs, you are way too young to be smoking weed anyhow. Maybe you should go to your Doctor as it seems like you need some help with these weird anxious feelings.
 
Bill,

To avoid cross talk, we need to address the original poster's concerns and not get off topic. I'll address your questions on your inflamed nymph nodes post.

Bethsheba
 
Hi. To me this sounds like anxiety disorder. Anxiety can produce all of these symptoms, including depersonalization and panic attacks. Anxiety will give you the hot flushes, the sweats, the rubbery legs, the dizziness, the feeling faint, the heart pounding, the skipped beats, and many, many more. I know... I've gone through these symptoms for years since I was a teenager. You really should seek some help in this area. Perhaps your family doctor can refer you to a professional dealing in these issues. They may even prescribe a medication for this for a short period of time. I've been there. Good luck!
 
First of all, I haven't smoked pot ever since the incidence, which I already said.

Also, I went to see a doctor, and she didn't say anything about anxiety, she was actually pretty clueless, and just suggested that I see a psychologist, which I really don't want to.

Is there anything at all that I can try before having to go see a psychologist?
 
amigoingtobeok,

Although some of your symptoms may be due to anxiety, anxiety is usually caused by another physical condition. A psychologist may help you deal with the symptoms, but they may not be able to address the physical cause of the anxiety. And anxiety is only one of your symptoms!!!

I would suggest you see a second doctor ora third or a fourth so they can rule out all of the physical causes for the symptoms you are experiencing. And if none of those doctors can find the reason/cause for your symptoms, I would again suggest you learn more about Lyme Disease, because if you have it, you may need to know more than your current doctors know about that condition!

And yes, you mentioned that you haven't smoked pot since the incidence...it's just that sometimes a stressor like smoking pot has to only occur once to "threaten" the body's immune system and to cause problems.

Take care and good luck!!
 
You symptoms are NOT necessarily at all due to pot smoking. I have never smoked pot or done illegal drugs of any kind in my whole life and this has happened to me. It sounds to me like anxiety disorder which I happen to have. It comes and goes depending what kind of stress you are under. Sometimes your mind is taking on and processing stressful things in your life even if you don't think things are bothering you. They can be underlying issues and manifest themselves with body symptoms like this. I know because I am 43 and have delt with this for years. One other way that this has happened to me was the first day I took an antidepressant (which I since then through them all away in the garbage) I had an outer body experience just like you mentioned. Felt like I was floating away. Was out of control in my mind. It didn't feel like it was there. It scared the crap out of me. I just wanted it out of my system right away. I began to panick and got all kinds of weird symptoms...racing heart, sweaty palms, the feeling of doom like something really bad was going to happen to me. I hate it.

There have got to be other ways to deal with this. If you have had a full physical and you are ok. I would seek out anxiety programs. There are even CDs you can listen to, to help you! Trust me. They worked for me. You will be ok. During this time stay away from caffeine, try getting a massage, listen to calm music, take bubble baths, get plenty of sleep, eat right, and for heaven sake stay away from drugs. You have your whole life ahead of you. It is a gift! Remember that! Good luck!:angel:
 
Although this may have happened while taking an antidepresant, it may have just been a coincidence as this symptom can occur in people who have Lyme disease. It is a major form of "disconnection". Some people only have minor feelings of disconnection (if you close your eyes, do you know where your arm is? When your eyes are open does it really feel like it looks where your are actually is? for instance). From what I've read, these symptoms wax and wane depending on the toxin levels in the body. As the liver and the kidneys remove the toxins, the symptoms subside and things get back to "normal" again.

Bethsheba
 
I have been getting the same excat thing since i was about 14/15.

Same EVERYTHING to the T! Its a form of aniexty disorder, called Panic disorder...though, no medication has ever helped me, it may help you. See your doctor about it. to this day i still feel semi detached at all times and always get dizzy spells and my "out of body" feelings are alot better now then when i was a kid. I think being a malem yoru more likely to grow out of it as it is more commen in women.

I have been doing accupunctuere...and it actuly has been helping ALOT!
Also, i hear hypntisium works and theropy.

I really hope this helps you.
 
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