It began subtly—a whisper in the back of her mind, a whisper of doubt. She viewed it as stress, fatigue, or maybe just a short-term mood. But as the days turned into weeks, the whispers intensified. She found herself questioning her decisions, her convictions, and even her identity. She felt like she was coming apart, like a jigsaw puzzle with pieces scattered across the floor. She was overwhelmed and had no idea what to do.
She forgets where she put her keys, her phone, the name of her street, her company, and even her job description. Simple tasks became Herculean feats. The world blurred at the edges, and she stumbled everyday, a marionette with tangled strings
She was overwhelmed with anxiety. She was afraid of judgment, failure, and the abyss creeping beneath her feet. Sleep eluded her, replaced by a carousel of nightmares. She would wake up, breathing, her heart pounding, wondering if she would ever get back on solid ground.
Some friends kindly advised her to engage more in physical exercise. Some others advised her to engage in yoga and meditate. Her family told her to take a break. But how could she when her mind was a tempest? She stuck to routines like a shipwrecked sailor. Maybe, just maybe if she followed the same path, ate the same cereal, and wore the same socks, she’d regain her bearings.
Alone in her room, she decided to google “lost my mind”. The board was full of information, sessions, and self-help guides. She clicked on one titled “Coping Strategies for the Unraveling Mind”. The author talked about acceptance—not fighting chaos but riding its waves. She read about grounding techniques: feeling the texture of the rock, counting her breath, naming five things she could see, four she could touch, and three she could hear. It was like building scaffolding around a crumbling tower.
She practiced mindfulness. Most days, she sat with her thoughts, observing them like passing clouds. Some days she still fell into the abyss, but she wasn’t afraid. Instead, she reached out to others—friends, therapists, anyone who would listen. Measures of support were offered; they all held space for her unraveling. And slowly, unconsciously, she climbed. Not discrimination, but acceptance. She suddenly realizes that losing her mind wasn’t a failure—it was a mental illness that can only be managed by the right treatment and medication.
Many of us have likely had the thought “I’ve lost my mind” at some point in our lives. These thoughts may emerge during periods of high stress, but they may also be psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety, panic attack, or depersonalization. Sometimes the thought itself can trigger more stress or anxiety. Feeling like you’re losing your mind is a pretty scary thought! The good news is that if you know yourself well enough to come up with this idea, you’re unlikely to lose your mind. That being said, dealing with this kind of thought and the emotions that go with it can be very difficult. Feeling like you’ve lost your mind is nothing to be ashamed of, as you can take steps to cope and feel like yourself again.
Have you ever felt like you were losing your mind?
When you say to yourself, “I feel like I’m losing my mind,” it’s not just a thought. It is usually accompanied by a plethora of physical and emotional manifestations. People who have this thought are usually under more stress than usual. Most times, these set of people are recovering from a trauma or are experiencing a spike in an anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or other mental health condition.
Symptoms
The feeling of “losing mind” is usually experienced by people in different ways. Many of these symptoms are related to your stress response (“fight or flight” response) being triggered.
There are several ways in which this can manifest itself:
- Having uncontrollable thoughts
- The feeling of being in danger, even if you are not
- Rapid heartbeat, laboured breathing
- Headaches and stomach pains
- The feeling of detachement from yourself or the world around you
- A feeling of panic or impending doom
- The feeling that something is wrong with you
- Having difficulty concentrating or relaxing
- Difficulty in sleeping
Why do You have the feeling that you are losing my mind?
Just as everyone experiences the feeling of losing their mind” a little differently, there are different reasons why you might have this thought. Sometimes there is a combination of reasons why these thoughts and feelings are triggered.
For example, you may be experiencing more stress in your life than usual, which in turn exacerbates your anxiety disorder. Sometimes increased anxiety can also trigger an episode of depersonalization or derealization, which can also feel like you are “losing your mind. ”
Stress
Many types of situations can trigger stress, such as a difficult job situation, family or marital conflict, stress from a health crisis, stress as a parent, or stress from hearing about disturbing events in the world.
We all experience and cope with stress in different ways, but when it is prolonged or particularly intense, we can feel like we are losing control or “losing our minds.”
Stress triggers hormones in our bodies, such as cortisol and adrenaline, which puts our bodies on high alert. This makes us feel like our thoughts are spinning out of control. Our heart beats rapidly and our breathing becomes shallow as a result of these hormones.
Our reaction to stimuli changes when we are under heightened stress, and we may flinch at sudden noises. This can make us feel like we are losing our minds.
Anxiety
When you are faced with a particularly stressful situation, you may feel more anxious. For seemingly no reason at all, people who have anxiety disorders may become anxious. This is the main reason they might often think, “I feel like I’m losing my mind.” Either way, anxiety and anxiety disorders can make you feel out of control, and can make you feel as though you are “going crazy” or losing your mind.
There are a number of anxiety disorders symptoms that are associated with a feeling of losing one’s mind, including:
Obsessive thoughts about death
Feeling of detachment
Experiencing Racing heart and rapid pulse
Inability to quit worrying thoughts or unsettling thoughts and images
Inability to sit still or concentrate
A feeling of dread, doom, losing control
Panic Attack
Encountering a panic attack can be an extremely frightening occurrence. If you are facing one for the first time, you may find yourself completely unaware of what is happening, leading you to feel like your sanity is slipping away. Suddenly, panic attacks can manifest, and while often there may be a recognizable trigger, at times they can appear unexpectedly.
A key aspect of why panic attacks can induce a sense of losing control is the sensation of facing a terrifying situation when in reality, there is no such threat. Although your rational mind may assure you that everything is fine, another part of your mind is bent on convincing you otherwise. This internal conflict can create the sensation of being unable to manage your thoughts and feeling that something is amiss.
Symptoms of panic attacks can manifest in various ways such as:
Increased sweating
Trouble breathing (even hyperventilation)
Racing heartbeats
Nausea
Dizziness
Chest pain
The occurrence of multiple panic attacks in succession is common among individuals suffering from panic disorders. This can exacerbate the perception of losing control and experiencing a sense of betrayal by one’s mind.
Depersonalization Or Derealization
Individuals who have undergone trauma or periods of intense anxiety and panic attacks may develop symptoms of depersonalization or derealization. These dissociative disorders manifest as a disconnection between one’s thoughts and identity or self.
It is reported that up to 75% of people have encountered episodes of dissociation at some point in their lives.
The symptoms associated with depersonalization and derealization often lead individuals to feel as though they are losing touch with reality.
Several symptoms may be present:
The feeling of being disconnected from your body
Feeling as if you are watching your life from the outside
Numbness and emotionlessness
Uncertainty about your identity
You feel as if you are losing your identity
Having anxiety or depression feelings
How to cope when you feel like you are losing your mind
If you find yourself thinking, “I feel like I’m losing my mind,” it’s crucial to remember that there are valid reasons behind these thoughts and emotions. It’s important to note that it’s highly improbable that you are truly losing your mind; more likely, you are going through a difficult time or facing a mental health challenge.
Nevertheless, ignoring these thoughts or expecting them to disappear on their own is not advisable. If the sensation of losing your mind arises, consider it as a signal to prioritize caring for your mental well-being and managing stress effectively.
Addressing Stress Through Self-Care
When experiencing heightened stress, activating your “relaxation response” becomes essential to counteract the stress triggered by your “stress response.” The key is to communicate to your body’s nervous system that there is no imminent threat, prompting your body’s systems to calm down and unwind.
There are various uncomplicated methods to achieve this:
1. Engage in deep breathing exercises: Focusing on extending your exhalation can help in soothing your nervous system.
2. Practice meditation: Use a meditation app on your device, put on your headphones, and even a short session can be beneficial. Research has proven that mindfulness meditation reduced stress levels in healthcare professionals.
3. Incorporate physical activity: Physical exercise releases endorphins and other mood-enhancing hormones.
4. Seek support: Sharing your emotions with a trusted individual, including those feelings of “I feel like I’m losing my mind,” can offer a cathartic outlet and alleviate feelings of isolation. This can exacerbate the perception of losing control and experiencing a sense of betrayal by one’s mind.
A combination of therapy and medication
In cases where anxiety, panic, or depersonalization/derealization symptoms are present, it can be beneficial to consider seeking professional mental health assistance. This is especially important if your symptoms are severe, significantly impacting your daily functioning, or proving resistant to self-care practices and other stress management techniques.
Therapeutic interventions and medications have been found to effectively address anxiety disorders, such as general anxiety and panic disorder. Below are treatments that can yield positive results in managing and alleviating symptoms.
Psychotherapy/talk therapy Psychotherapy/talk therapy
Cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT)
Exposure therapy
Anti-anxiety medications like benzodiazepines
Antidepressants (usually SSRIs)
