[marvelousness]

For the past year, I've experienced worsening brain fog and dissociation. Right now as I'm typing this, I feel a warm lump in the pit of my stomach that spreads to my throat accompanied by nausea. This has been going on for 4 days straight and I haven't been eating. My face feels hot and I'm shaking. This is uncontrollable and with no known cause.As for the brain fog, I feel very unreal, and not in my own mind. As if I were really drunk but without the slurred speech. I find it very hard to express my emotions to my friends. I have one friend, my only friend here in college, find a new group of friends to hang out with and now he doesn't talk to me as much. He doesn't want to hang out with just me anymore and i'm so upset that he's distancing himself. I feel worthless and pathetic and not good enough. I know he's going to leave entirely very soon and we won't have any contact with each other anymore cause that always seems to happen. I wish I knew how to make people stay. I think this is whats causing my recent symptoms (they've always been there, just not as bad). I can't even explain to the internet. I hate this..

[OneInBillions]

Hello marvelousness, I'm sorry you're suffering! It sounds like it could be anxiety or even depression. I've had bouts of extreme brain fog and dissociation before too -- it sucks. You could be experiencing heightened anxiety because of the situation with your friend; I've always had a really hard time making new friends, so any time one had to leave it always sent me into a panic. Maybe you could talk to him about your worries, and tell him you'd like to stay in contact if/when he leaves?

Also, have you spoken to a doctor about your symptoms? They COULD have a physiological cause, so I'd recommend a trip to your GP.

I hope you feel better soon!

[KDao]

I have felt a lot of the symptoms that you stated during my times of high panic and also some of them during my depression. It stinks, and I am sorry you are hurting. I just waned to tell you that you are not worthless or pathetic. *hugs*

[defyinggravity65]

Definitely sounds like some anxiety or depression. My advice to you would be to put yourself out there - instead of focusing inwardly on your symptoms, reach out. College is a perfect place to join a group, even if you don't know anybody. No one expects you to have a ton of friends. In fact, you don't HAVE to talk to anyone if you don't WANT to. If loneliness and anxiety are causing very significant distress, I would recommend seeing a therapist who can help with these things. I would recommend seeing a medical doctor as well to rule out other conditions that can cause similar symptoms.
Also, feeling "disconnected" or dissociated can be signs of depersonalization or derealization- a fancy term for feelings of disconnect with the outside world and with yourself. I have experienced this before, along with anxiety and depression, and it's not uncommon for anxiety to manifest in this way.
Please take care

Bear in mind we are not professionals.

I'm not sure what is triggering such an episode. Also is this a fairly new experience or would you say you've been like this for some time? Was their a precipitory event to that?

I agree with the other posters above that this could actually be depression and not just anxiety.

[BeaFlower]

Have you considered talking to a psychologist, for example at your college?

[Permacultural]

It could be a bunch of things other than anxiety and depression (although those can also be present). If it were me I'd go see a general practitioner / family doctor. Maybe some blood tests are in order. Who knows, it could be a physical or neurological issue that is leading to these feelings.