Classification/ Diagnosis

Hi i sometimes experience a weird feeling at random times in my life. I'll be having fun, at a dance or another normal activity, and all of a sudden i get this feeling like "what am i doing?, who am i? why am i here?" It's as if my mind does not connect to what is going on and i become slightly confused and distant. This lasts usually for about 30 minutes, then i get over it. I don't know whether this is anxiety or not, but it occurs maybe 3 times each year, at random times like wathcing a movie. What am i experiencing?
-Janie

[kcdem]

I call those sureal moments, like in the middle of a job interview all of the sudden the person talking just bseems weird and it is like an out of body thing almost. i never connected with anxiety though. I have spoken to many people who seem to have had that what am i doing here feeling, am im posing just trying to have good time. i think I know what you mean and it certainly is different for me than a full blown panic attack...big difference. i am not minimizing you experience at all, but panic attacks or anxiety that needs meds I would not describe as your post does, hope that helps you.

kcdem

[JSGeare]

Ah yes, the classic, "What the devil is this really all about?" episode. Its like I'm in a some kind of play and have forgotten my lines and besides, there's no one in the audience, anyway.

Is it some manifestation of anxiety? I dunno. Maybe there is something deep down in there that's telling you to do something meaningful with your life, or maybe its too much chocolate, I don't know.

There does come a time (or times) in our lives when we often look at all the stuff we've been doing, much of which is socially conventional -it is way of forming an identity, giving ourselves a place, a sense of meaning. But you know what? I can't, for the life of me, see how screaming my head off at a 'stones concert -in the midst of a bunch of other people who seem overwhelmed with the significance of the occasion- does much to connect ME with anything. Matter of fact, when I see thousands of people doing that (big half-time show) I wonder what there could possibly be about an older gentleman in leather pants singing and prancing around a stage. I don't get it. Define myself by reference to someone else? I don't THINK so. Define myself by doing what thousands of others do, or drive, or listen to or watch? I don't THINK so. On the other hand, I have this "I get it" sense when I pluck a succulent red pepper from a garden I tilled, planted and cultivated myself. As many have said -I am very easily entertained. But that's just ME. If you or if anybody obtains meaning and connection by or though any particular person or thing -then maybe that works for YOU. BUT, when you suddenyl say, "What the hell am I doing THIS for?" it might mean that -as an old Hindu friend of mine would say- "you have been praying in the wrong temple."

Sermon is now over; here's the point: if your experience is making you think, ask questions and wonder, then it probably is not a BAD thing. And if some foundation level, unseen anxiety is presenting itself through the experience, then the thinking may be even a better thing. Keep paying attention to yourself, YOU, after all, are your most credible source of information about YOU.