Fear of going crazy, a very common reality

The fear of going crazy is an increasingly common reality. Far from being ironic about this situation, we must become aware of what it means to have the feeling that one is losing control over oneself. Feeling that what dominates our life is fear and that our own body is gripped by a thousand different sensations, terrifies and immobilizes.

So, What exists in most cases behind these experiences and situations is anxiety. However, this does not mean we are going to minimize it, because anxiety disorders are exhausting, they completely alter people’s quality of life and, sometimes, they can take them to extreme situations. We also cannot ignore the fact that in recent years (and months) these situations have been increasing.

“Tell me… am I going crazy?” This is possibly one of the most frequently asked questions in psychological therapy. It’s time to understand that As Viktor Frankl said, an abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal. That is to say, there are times when experiencing fear, concern, insecurity or even panic is understandable.

Let’s dig a little deeper.

Fear of going crazy: what is it due to? what explains this situation?

“Crazy” is a word that carries a great stigma and that we have been trying to eradicate from the world of psychology for decades. However, in popular language there is no shortage of people who use this term to designate someone who behaves differently, someone who reacts in an unusual way, or someone who, using courage and determination, lives a life according to their desires.

Now, even though we understand that this word does not fit anything in particular and is highly unfortunate, It is used when you feel like you are losing control. It is basically the most recurrent thought among those who suffer from an anxiety disorder. We analyze it.

The fear of going crazy and its relationship with anxiety

Many people who suffer from anxiety end up, sooner or later, assuming that there is something wrong with their brain. “Why does everyone take things so calmly and I end up falling into a black hole of worry? What is wrong with me?” The thoughts that accompany these psychological states are self-destructive and difficult to master.

These realities increase their intensity even more when, for example, the first panic attack appears. It is then when the fear intensifies, when the mind becomes obsessed with the fear of experiencing again that extreme symptomatology in which one lacks breathing, the heart races and one believes one is about to die. The feeling of unreality that accompanies These states (and caused by an increase in adrenaline) intensify that feeling, that of losing one’s mind. Seeing that one cannot control what is triggered in one’s body and mind makes all the alarms go off. Am I going crazy? On the other hand, These types of thoughts are also common in obsessive-compulsive disorders.. Thus, studies such as the one carried out at Concordia University in Canada, for example, affect this same fact. The need to verify, for example, five to ten times that we have turned off the light at home or not being able to go out Without first carrying out certain behaviors or rituals, it plunges the person into an almost desperate state of mind. The fear of going crazy or believing that one already is crazy is recurrent and even understandable.

What other dimensions can make us believe that we are losing our sanity?

In reality, the fear of “losing your mind” almost always occurs with anxiety states. However, there may also be other triggers that are important to consider. They are the following:

Going through periods of very intense stress in which cognitive failures appear. Thus, events such as realizing that we forget certain things, that we cannot concentrate or that we have less and less patience and that emotions are gripping us, can trigger this thought.Have family members who suffer or have suffered mental disorders. Sometimes, we can become obsessed with the idea that we too will suffer from them. On the other hand, there is another important fact to consider. There are those who do not stop self-observing, paying attention to everything that their own body experiences or that their mind feels.. Then, do an internet search to find out what may be behind those symptoms. The fear of contracting diseases or even more so, of suffering certain psychological disorders is another factor that feeds this belief.Likewise, Intense stages of change also intensify the fear of going crazy. Changing house, job, having a child… All of this places us before great challenges.

What to do when faced with persistent anxiety about losing your mind?

One cannot become obsessed with the idea of ​​having heart disease and not go to a cardiologist.. It is also not illogical to obsess over the fact that we have a skin carcinoma and not go to the dermatologist. Therefore, it is equally contradictory to believe that we are losing our sanity and not go to a psychologist.

The fear of going crazy is an irrational idea that must be redirected. We are not crazy, we are going through a complex personal and emotional situation that is normal. Whether we suffer from an anxiety disorder or any other psychological problem, we must be clear about one aspect. Anxiety, depression, phobias, panic attacks, etc. They are not manifestations of madness. They are conditions that everyone can go through and that have treatment.Every fear or obsessive idea is faced by getting in touch with oneself, with what is needed and naming each process. Little by little, we will take control of our mind and our behavior.

Therefore, let us be clear, madness as such does not exist. There are specific needs that require specific and personalized attention. Every mental or emotional problem, disorder or challenge has a therapeutic response. Let’s not hesitate to request it.

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