[earthangel1]

I'm starting to get paranoid like thinking things are there and then upon second glance turning over and then they are no longer there. I'm feeling very out of it and starting to dissociate. I couldn't get to sleep until 4 the last couple of nights and I don't know if its my lack of sleep that's causing this. I don't think I'm becoming manic because I don't feel elated or giddy. I just took my risperdal so hopefully that helps. My breathing has also been fast today and being in light feels blinding. I have had increased anxiety the last couple of days and this feels like a recipe for disaster.

[CopperStar]

Are you able to sit outside for a little while? Have you tried this in the past?

I personally find then when I am like what you describe, sitting outside helps. The natural world and especially plants tend to just look and feel (atmosphere-wise) more peaceful, beautiful and non-threatening.

Being cooped up indoors during that sort of thing tends to make it worse for me. I find that if I can sit outside for a little while with a cigarette and some decaf coffee and just chill, it helps calm me down.

The natural world is still, peaceful, serene. The indoors feels unnatural and I tend to see things more, as far as brief hallucinations and having startle responses.

The indoors will feel like a nightmare during that sort of episode, for me, while the outdoors will just feel kind of dreamy and magical.

That's all I've got as far as short-term suggestions, because it's all that works for me. I do know that getting in that state really sucks, especially if alone and inside.

[~Christina]

Can you increase your self care and coping skills ? I know when I am dealing with alot of hallucinations I do a whole lot of self grounding, breathing exercises and of course any and all distractions I can.

I hope the medication helps you

[Wander]

Sorry you are going through this. The above posts have some great ideas; grounding exercises and getting outdoors. These help me when I am dissociating, paranoid and delusional. I hope this passes quickly for you.

I agree.There is something cleansing about fresh air. I imagine exhaling all my problems like they are poison.

[BipolarGirl86]

Originally Posted by bpenniman

I'm starting to get paranoid like thinking things are there and then upon second glance turning over and then they are no longer there. I'm feeling very out of it and starting to dissociate. I couldn't get to sleep until 4 the last couple of nights and I don't know if its my lack of sleep that's causing this. I don't think I'm becoming manic because I don't feel elated or giddy. I just took my risperdal so hopefully that helps. My breathing has also been fast today and being in light feels blinding. I have had increased anxiety the last couple of days and this feels like a recipe for disaster.

I was getting ready to post my own problems with feeling like that and then I seen your thread so I thought I would read yours as well.

I know how you are feeling all too well right now. For me, it started last wednesday with two panic attacks roughly within a half an hour apart. I wasn't up set or anything and they just seemed to come out of no where. It started with a tight feeling in my chest, then difficulty breathing and tears starting to form. Next thing I knew I was hyperventilating and crying hysterically. It felt like it lasted for ever when it was probably no more than three minutes.

Then today when I was getting ready to leave my house to go to work I just started to feel really off, I felt paranoid, lights were to bright and sounds were too loud. I couldn't catch my breath. I began to feel really anxious, paranoid, uneasy, panicking, and a bunch of other unpleasant feelings. I thought people were looking at my strange, I felt like I was in some kind of fog and feeling like I was going to dissociate. (I do have a dissociative disorder as well). My mind felt hazy I felt terribly unstable. I couldn't tolerate people being by me or talking to me or even just someone texting me.

Luckily, I work in a group home with only two clients and only 1 of them was in their home today and I also got to work by myself which did kind of help my uneasiness slightly. I started writing in my journal (when I tend to take to work at times) and then even though I did not want to try to interact with other people or socialize in away I kinda forced myself to call a friend or two to try to just have a simple, normal conversation to, to take my mind off of how I was feeling. And it did help a little bit.

Maybe you can try journaling and find anything that may distract you for a little to give you a chance to calm yourself down. It may only help you a little but it may also help you a lot. Any relief is better than none at all.

I hope you feel better.

[Secretum]

I think you should keep taking your risperdal, and try your best to sleep. Do you have something you can take for insomnia? If these perceptual abnormalities/hallucinations persist, I'd make an appt with your pdoc. You may need to up the risperdal...adding something for anxiety might help too. When I'm in a state like that, I find that the worst part isn't the hallucinations, it is the anxiety I have over the possibility of losing my mind completely.

Also, you said that you're not manic because you're not elated or giddy, but mania (unfortunately) isn't always sunshine and rainbows euphoric. Sometimes it is storm clouds and tornados dysphoric. Do you feel more irritable than usual? Rageful? Annoyed? On edge? Have racing thoughts?