Am I Going Crazy?

Reader’s Question

I am 23 years old and I have had OCD for most of my life. I always think that I am going to die from everything and have horrible panic attacks. Recently I have got it into my head that I am going to go crazy and keep imagining this horrible scenario. The other night while I was in bed I had the thought: “What if I am in a dream and nothing is real?” It has caused me so much stress and sadness and I am thinking if I am not looking at something that it disappears and questioning if anything is real. I do not want to think these things, but I cannot get them out of my head. I am so scared that I am going crazy and am wondering if this is just my OCD.

Our Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

Feelings of unreality and concerns about losing one’s sanity can accompany heightened states of anxiety, and particularly panic. So can depression. Fortunately, there are safe and highly effective treatments for this, including therapies that do not overly rely on medications (although that might be the treatment of choice at the outset). So, put your mind at ease and consider seeking the counsel of a mental health professional with expertise in the treatment of anxiety and depression. You can also begin to reduce anxiety levels by self-monitoring the self-talk that triggers and exacerbates anxiety. Be especially mindful of words like “horrible,” “always,” and “can’t.” Try substituting less harsh or severe descriptions for the more extreme words (even if you don’t believe the more secure thoughts) and watch how anxiety levels come down!