Nothing seems real

[Azhrei98]

I have been to my doctor for this repeatedly but he seems either unable or unwilling to help me. This started about 1 year ago, I had secure upper abdominal pain and was diagnosed with pancreatitis. At first, when I noticed the problem, I was under the impression that my feeling of disjointed reality was being caused by the medicine I was taking. After weaning myself off of the meds the problem remained. I struggled with this for a time and finally sought medical help. Basically, it appears as though the world is not real....or possible that I am sleeping even thugh I am awake. I am also struggling with anxiety even though I have never before had ANY problems with it. My doctor diagnosed me with low testosterone after a few months of just placing me on different antidepressants. I began taking the testosterone injections and things began to improve, I even had a few episodes of clarity. However, a few weeks after beginning the injections the abdominal pain returned along with all of the other pancreatitis symptoms. I went to my doctor who thoroughly tested me and said I do not have pancreatitis despite the symptoms. I would also add that he does not know what I have and seems to be under the impression I just want drugs. The feelings of things not being real had returned even stronger despite the injections and I am freaking out. Has anyone heard of anything  similar? I am a 32 year old male with a very mild, meaning no meds needed, case of diabetes.

[Azhrei98]

I will keep that in mind thank you!

[ggreg]

Well, since your regular doc doesn't have a clue and offers no help, I think you first of all need to see a specialist about your pancreatitis, to get treatment in case it really has flared back up.  Secondly, I am unsure if you are still on antidepressants, I think I understood you to say you got off those.  Taking those have been associated with sometimes lowering testosterone levels.  But I do not know if there is a relationship between pancreatitis and anything related to SSRIs or testosterone, though, but the specialist will.

Anxiety and a sense of unreality and your description of sleeping while awake, I do believe this may partly have something to do with, for whatever reason, you're not getting enough deep and restful sleep.  Could be stress and anxiety is goofing up your sleep.  And then there's a chance any medicine you're still on is doing this.  And then illness, like your pancreatitis or some other underlying health issue, will do this.  IN ANY CASE, medication can help with this, perhaps some temporary tranquilizers, the specialist may be inclined to help you with sleep if you tell him about it.  If not, you may visit a county mental health clinic and they will, plus they will talk with you about how it feels to get these unreal feelings, both of which will bring some relief until your health issues are better resolved.

Until you see a specialist, I can suggest a few things that may help you sleep better or maybe partly straighten out this unreality thing, whatever the causes.  You can take a name-brand complex multivitamin and mineral supplement, just twice a week.  Eat more protein.  Drink extra water.  Exercise regularly.  Take some long hot baths.  Also, anytime you feel any anxiety welling up in you that scares you a little, take some nice deep breaths, it'll slow the heart and thus anxiety a few degrees.