1277: Am I Going Crazy? Why Anxiety Can Make You Feel Like You're Losing Your Mind
YouTube 
Spotify 
Apple Podcasts 
RSS Feed Key Takeaways
- Experiencing intense symptoms like intrusive thoughts, brain fog, and derealization does not mean you are going crazy, but rather that your nervous system is overwhelmed.
- The second fear loop occurs when you react with alarm to an initial anxious sensation, which unfortunately increases your attention to it and makes the feeling even more intense.
- Having a strange or disturbing intrusive thought is entirely normal and is not the same as wanting, believing, or acting on that thought.
- Constantly checking whether your surroundings or feelings are normal traps your focus in the discomfort and prevents the nervous system from naturally settling.
- You can find relief by naming your experiences without dramatizing them, softening physical tension, and allowing sensations to come and go without demanding absolute certainty.
In today's episode, Gina provides comfort for listeners who are afraid they may be going crazy. The essential message is that much more likely than not, you are not going crazy, and there are many things you can do to help yourself feel better, more calm, peaceful and stable. Intrusive thoughts, depersonalization and derealization are all covered in this episode, as are brain fog, racing thoughts and hyperawareness. Listen in and find more peace and calm even in the face of the most disturbing symptoms.
Stillpoint Fridays is my once-a-week Friday note — a slower, more personal reflection that’s different from what I share on the podcast.
If you’d like a quiet place to land as the week winds down, you can join here: http://eepurl.com/bR2F9P or on our website anxietycoachespodcast.com and sign up for the newsletter.
Please visit our Sponsor Page to find all the links and codes for our awesome sponsors! https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com/sponsors/
Website https://www.theanxietycoachespodcast.com
Join our community Group Coaching Join our Group Coaching Full or Mini Membership Program
1:1 Coaching Learn more about our One-on-One Coaching
If you prefer to listen AD-FREE, try our Supercast premium access membership:
Learn more about anxiety What is anxiety?
Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety
Quote:
Nothing in life is to be feared; it is only to be understood.
-Marie Curie
Chapters
0:27 Going Crazy or Anxiety?
5:41 The Second Fear Loop
9:37 Intrusive Thoughts and Derealization
11:32 What To Do Now
14:35 Know When to Get Help
16:57 Live Beyond Anxiety
Summary
n this episode we revisit the question “Am I going crazy?” and talk about how it often comes up when anxiety makes thoughts, sensations, or the surrounding world feel unfamiliar. We look at experiences such as intrusive thoughts, derealization, depersonalization, brain fog, racing thoughts, and hyperawareness, and how these can lead to fear that something is seriously wrong.We explain how anxiety can create a cycle in which a strange feeling leads to checking, the checking increases attention, and the increased attention makes the feeling seem even more intense.
We also describe the difference between the first experience, such as feeling disconnected or having a disturbing thought, and the second fear, such as interpreting it as proof that we are losing control.We talk about intrusive thoughts and note that having a thought is not the same as wanting it, believing it, or acting on it. We also discuss derealization and depersonalization, and how repeatedly checking whether things feel normal can keep us focused on the discomfort instead of moving through the moment.We offer several ways to respond: naming the experience without dramatizing it, not making “feeling normal” the main goal, returning attention to ordinary activities, softening physical tension, and letting sensations come and go without demanding certainty.
We also note that new, severe, or confusing symptoms, including hallucinations or an inability to function, should be brought to a qualified professional.We close by emphasizing that we can feel strange without being in danger, have frightening thoughts without needing to answer them, and keep living while anxiety passes.
#AnxietyCoachesPodcast #GinaRyan #AmIGoingCrazy #AnxietySupport #IntrusiveThoughts #Derealization #Depersonalization #AnxietyCycle #Overthinking #Hyperawareness #NervousSystem #Mindfulness #AcceptanceAndCommitment #ClaireWeekes #MentalHealthAwareness #PanicAttackHelp #GroundingTechniques #AnxietyRecovery #EmotionalWellbeing #SelfCare #MentalHealthMatters #AnxietyRelief #OvercomingAnxiety #BrainFog #SecondFear #InnerCalm #Aloha #ACP
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Want to listen to the show AD-FREE?
Access every episode ad-free in our Premium Podcast Subscription.
That includes the entire back catalog of episodes without ads, bonus meditations, and more! All starting at
$5.00 a month :) https://anxietycoaches.supercast.tech/
Or on Apple Podcast Anxiety Coaches Podcast Premium
Hope you join us in the Ad-Free Premium for even more peace and calm!
Be Well and Aloha!
Gina🌺
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does anxiety make you feel like you are going crazy?
Intense anxiety can trigger unfamiliar symptoms like racing thoughts, depersonalization, derealization, and brain fog. When these strange sensations occur, the frightened mind often misinterprets them as a sign that you are losing control or going crazy.
What is the second fear loop in anxiety?
The second fear loop is the cycle where an initial harmless symptom or strange thought creates panic, leading to hyper-vigilant checking. This intense focus then amplifies the original symptom, creating more anxiety.
How can I stop worrying about intrusive thoughts regarding Am I Going Crazy Anxiety?
Understand that having an intrusive thought does not mean you want, believe, or will act on it. Instead of fighting or analyzing the thought, practice letting it pass without demanding certainty or giving it excessive attention.
What should I do when experiencing derealization or depersonalization?
Instead of repeatedly checking if things feel normal, try to name the experience without dramatizing it, soften your physical tension, and gently return your attention to ordinary, present-moment activities.
