Why do I feel like I'm losing my mind?

Many of us have had the thought, “I feel like I'm losing my mind” at one time or another. 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.


Is it normal to feel like you're losing your mind?

It's a much more common experience than you might think, even among people who appear in control of their lives. 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.

How do you stop feeling like you're losing your mind?

Go for a walk, go to a different room, or face a different direction. These subtle changes can interrupt the processes in your brain just enough to shift gears. For a bigger mental reboot, take a mini-vacation to a new location. This time, make sure your mind gets to think about something else.


How do you know if you're losing your sanity?

Signs of a Nervous Breakdown
  1. Low self-esteem.
  2. Fearfulness.
  3. Irritability.
  4. Worrying.
  5. Feeling helpless.
  6. Getting angry easily.
  7. Withdrawing from family and friends.
  8. Losing interest in your favorite activities.


What does it mean when your losing your mind?

to become mentally ill, or to start behaving in a silly or strange way: You just spent all that money on a pair of shoes?


I'm losing my mind



What is a mental breakdown?

Instead, a mental health crisis or a breakdown of your mental health is a situation that happens when you have intense physical and emotional stress, have difficulty coping and aren't able to function effectively. It's the feeling of being physically, mentally and emotionally overwhelmed by the stress of life.

How do I think normally again?

How to Get Back to "Normal"
  1. Realize the reunion is more than just coming home. ...
  2. Spend time with family and friends. ...
  3. View stress as normal. ...
  4. Go slowly. ...
  5. Communicate with others. ...
  6. Take care of your physical health. ...
  7. Do things you find relaxing. ...
  8. Watch what you spend.


What is a nervous breakdown like?

feel overwhelmed — unable to concentrate or make decisions. be moody — feeling low or depression; feeling burnt out; emotional outbursts of uncontrollable anger, fear, helplessness or crying. feel depersonalised — not feeling like themselves or feeling detached from situations.


What causes a mental breakdown?

A nervous breakdown is ultimately caused by an inability to cope with large amounts of stress, but how that manifests exactly varies by individual. Work stress, mental illness, family responsibilities, and poor coping strategies are all things that can lead to a nervous breakdown and the inability to function normally.

Why does my brain feel broken?

What leads to a broken brain? You might not know that too much sugar and refined carbs, not enough good fats, inadequate intake of the right nutrients, and exposure to toxins can create a brain disorder. So can inadequate sleep, stress, lack of exercise, and overuse of drugs and alcohol.

What is the fear of losing your mind called?

Dementophobia is a type of phobia that involves the fear of madness or insanity. People who have this fear are afraid that they are going insane or losing touch with reality. The fear may be triggered by a family history of mental illness or periods of severe stress.


What does anxiety feel like in your head?

Some common mental symptoms of anxiety include:

Feeling nervous, restless or tense. Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom. Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry. Having difficulty controlling worry.

Can anxiety drive you crazy?

It's important to note that there is no connection between anxiety and going crazy. While it may feel like you could go crazy due to anxiety, you actually can't.

How do you know if you are broken mentally?

Signs and symptoms of emotional & psychological trauma
  1. Intrusive thoughts of the event that may occur out of the blue.
  2. Nightmares.
  3. Visual images of the event.
  4. Loss of memory and concentration abilities.
  5. Disorientation.
  6. Confusion.
  7. Mood swings.


Why do I feel crazy?

Severe and chronic anxiety can make a person feel like they are “going crazy” or losing control. Those with anxiety typically have not lost touch with reality, but may be struggling with reality. Different types of anxiety cause different types of “crazy” feelings, so knowing your anxiety type matters.

What does a psychotic episode look like?

Symptoms of psychosis include delusions (false beliefs) and hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that others do not see or hear). Other symptoms include incoherent or nonsense speech and behavior that is inappropriate for the situation.

What does burnout feel like?

Being burned out means feeling empty and mentally exhausted, devoid of motivation, and beyond caring. People experiencing burnout often don't see any hope of positive change in their situations. If excessive stress feels like you're drowning in responsibilities, burnout is a sense of being all dried up.


What happens if a nervous breakdown is left untreated?

Untreated mental health conditions can result in unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, and suicide, and poor quality of life. The economic cost of untreated mental illness is more than 100 billion dollars each year in the United States.

What are the anxiety attacks?

You may have feelings of impending doom, shortness of breath, chest pain, or a rapid, fluttering or pounding heart (heart palpitations). These panic attacks may lead to worrying about them happening again or avoiding situations in which they've occurred.

How do I get my mental state of mind back to normal?

8 Ways to Give Your Mind a Deep Cleaning
  1. Be mindful.
  2. Start writing.
  3. Put on music.
  4. Get some sleep.
  5. Take a walk.
  6. Tidy up.
  7. Unfocus.
  8. Talk about it.


How do I reset my mental?

These strategies can help restore your serenity and keep you emotionally grounded:
  1. Start with a stabilizing routine. ...
  2. Reach out to others. ...
  3. Have phone conversations or video chats. ...
  4. Practice mindfulness and meditation. ...
  5. Try out a mental health app. ...
  6. Declutter your relationship. ...
  7. Enjoy fun, creative activities. ...
  8. Eat healthily.


How do I make myself feel normal?

I just want to feel 'normal' again.”
...
This could include:
  1. connecting with friends and family.
  2. practicing self-compassion.
  3. eating nutrient-dense, unprocessed foods (if accessible)
  4. meditation practice.
  5. regular exercise.
  6. sleeping 7 to 9 hours a night.
  7. spending time in nature.
  8. engaging in self-soothing and grounding exercises.


What is a mental shutdown?

The term "nervous breakdown" is sometimes used by people to describe a stressful situation in which they're temporarily unable to function normally in day-to-day life. It's commonly understood to occur when life's demands become physically and emotionally overwhelming.


What are the 5 signs of mental illness?

Examples of signs and symptoms include:
  • Feeling sad or down.
  • Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate.
  • Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt.
  • Extreme mood changes of highs and lows.
  • Withdrawal from friends and activities.
  • Significant tiredness, low energy or problems sleeping.


How long do nervous breakdowns last?

A nervous breakdown can last from a few hours to a few weeks. If your breakdown has been going on for a while, and you need some relief, the following ten tips are for you. They will help you not only survive this difficult time, but they might even help you grow from this difficult experience.