

Running your hands under cold water and focusing on the cold.This is something that may require a bit of practice, but can be very helpful overall. If you start to experience this distorted reality, there are a few tips you can try to "get back." Most experts recommend performing some activity that requires you to be "in the moment," and then focusing on the sensations you get from the activity. Rarely does anyone experience this loss of reality at any point other than an anxiety attack. It's not considered permanent, it's not expected to be gradual, and it's not expected to occur as long as you don't experience extreme anxiety. It's important to remember that distorted reality from anxiety is not dangerous. Some people experience weeks without a lucid moment, others months.ĭon't forget to talk to your doctor if you're concerned. In addition, nearly every disease that causes a loss of reality isn't as temporary as those with anxiety experience. The mere fact that you can wonder to yourself whether you're losing touch with reality is indicative of the fact that you are not. They don't think they're "losing their mind" because their mind is processing those voices as if they are real and normal. When someone develops schizophrenia and hears voices (for example), those voices are really talking to them. Those that truly do have a dysfunction in their brain that causes distorted reality have no idea their reality is distorted, because their brain is processing that information as if it's normal. But the easiest way to tell that you are not losing touch with reality is that you think that you are losing touch with reality. There are health conditions that can cause a loss of touch with reality, and there is no harm in seeing a doctor if you are concerned.

It's an unfortunate reality for many of those who struggle with extreme stress, and one that doesn't have an easy solution. Those with distorted reality often think that something may be wrong with their mind, focusing on diseases like schizophrenia and brain tumors and monitoring themselves in a way that fuels further anxiety.

Anxiety can also cause physical symptoms like lightheadedness and dilated pupils that make the world around them harder to focus on.ĭerealization is also the type of condition that creates its own anxiety, which unfortunately may increase the likelihood of intense anxiety in the future. Anxiety can cause images and flashes of unusual thoughts or concerns. Anxiety can cause such intense distractions that you have trouble forming a coherent thought. Other anxiety symptoms may increase this feeling as though you're at a loss for reality.
