“Am I going crazy?” Why anxiety makes you feel this way, and whether you’ll be okay

Your thoughts are racing. Things look strange, like you’re in a dream. Your mind throws up thoughts you’d never act on. And a terrifying question takes over: Am I going crazy?

If that’s you right now, take a slow breath. This is one of the most common fears people with anxiety have, and it’s a symptom of anxiety, not a sign you’re losing your mind.

Why anxiety makes you feel like you’re going crazy

When you’re very anxious, your body’s alarm system is switched on. That can cause:

• Racing or jumbled thoughts, making it hard to think clearly.
• Feeling unreal or detached, called derealisation or depersonalisation. Our post on what derealization feels like explains it.
• Intrusive thoughts, like unwanted violent, sexual or strange thoughts. Our post on intrusive thoughts myths explains why they don’t mean anything about you.
• Brain fog, forgetfulness or trouble concentrating. See our post on anxiety and brain fog.
• Odd sensations in your head, like pressure or feeling spaced out. See our post on why your head feels weird with anxiety.
• A sense of losing control. The National Institute of Mental Health lists “a feeling of being out of control” as a symptom of panic attacks.

These sensations are unpleasant and scary, but they’re caused by anxiety and they pass.

Am I going crazy, or is it anxiety?

Worrying that you’re going crazy is very common with anxiety, and it isn’t a sign of psychosis on its own. Psychosis is when someone loses some contact with reality. According to the NHS, the main symptoms are:

• hallucinations: seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling or tasting things that others can’t, like hearing voices
• delusions: strong beliefs that aren’t shared by others, like believing there’s a plot to harm you

With anxiety, you usually know your thoughts and feelings are strange, and that’s exactly what frightens you. If you notice hallucinations, beliefs others find very strange, or big changes in behaviour, sleep or self-care, see a doctor promptly. Psychosis is treatable too, and early help makes a difference.

What to do in the moment

1. Name it: “This is anxiety. It feels awful, but it isn’t dangerous, and it will pass.”
2. Breathe out slowly, making each out-breath longer than the in-breath.
3. Ground yourself with 5-4-3-2-1: name 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell and 1 you can taste.
4. Let the thoughts be there without arguing with them. Fighting them tends to make them louder.
5. Do something normal, like making a drink or stepping outside.

Our post on grounding techniques for anxiety has more ideas.

Will I be okay?

The outlook is very good. Anxiety and panic disorder are very treatable. Treatments like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and medicine help most people feel much better, and many people find the “going crazy” feeling fades as they understand it and stop fearing it.

When to get help

See a doctor if you often feel like you’re going crazy, if anxiety or panic attacks are affecting your life, or if you notice hallucinations or beliefs that others don’t share. If you’re having thoughts of ending your life, call or text 988 (US) now. Call 911 if you or someone else is in immediate danger.

Frequently asked questions

Can anxiety make you go crazy?

Anxiety can make you feel like you’re losing your mind, but that feeling is a symptom of anxiety, not psychosis, and it passes.

How do I know if I’m going crazy?

Worrying that you’re going crazy is very common with anxiety and isn’t a sign of it on its own. Signs of psychosis include hearing or seeing things others can’t, and strong beliefs others don’t share. If you’re unsure, a doctor can help.

Why do I feel like I’m losing my mind?

Usually because anxiety causes racing thoughts, feeling unreal, intrusive thoughts and brain fog. Stress, poor sleep and exhaustion can make it worse.

Will I ever feel normal again?

Yes. Anxiety is very treatable, and with support most people feel like themselves again. Many people find that once they understand the feeling, it loses its power.

How Breatheasy can help

When the “am I going crazy?” feeling takes over, Breatheasy can help you come back to the present. Tap “I’m feeling anxious”, rate how you feel, and Luma walks you through slow breathing as your phone pulses, then 5-4-3-2-1 grounding. Afterwards you can see how far your anxiety came down, which is a powerful reminder that the feeling passes. It works offline and without an account. Breatheasy is coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Sources

• Panic disorder: when fear overwhelms, National Institute of Mental Health
• Panic disorder, NHS
• Psychosis, NHS
• Understanding psychosis, National Institute of Mental Health