Anxiety Is Causing Personality “Disorder” ? Not Panic Attack

Posted by SusanEllen66 @SusanEllen66, Sep 27, 2023

I’m under lots of stress and anxiety right now from health issues and future plans. Panic attacks are not new to me but today’s happening was different.
Today I really cracked and broke apart I fear. This afternoon, I found myself having a two way conversation with 2 different me(s). One me was bossing the other me around. There was a bit of arguing back and forth. It was 2 different people having a very “normal” conversation. Except that it was just me and me!
One me was passive. I took my phone and did a Voice Memo so I have the conversation for my doctor.

Has anxiety caused anyone else to act like this? I’m assuming it’s anxiety and not the mild dementia symptoms I’m experiencing.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

peacetoyou | @peacetoyou | Sep 28, 2023

I'm sorry to hear that you are under a lot of stress and anxiety. It's wonderful that you are caring for yourself by reaching out to doctor and to us. That's so courageous- pat yourself on the back! A health condition that l have facilitates stress and anxiety in form of (panic attacks)-unremarkable symptoms. Trying to stay focused on today's task is no easy feat, but it may help with remaining calm, reducing stress. Hope your doctor will help resolve what recently happened, SusanEllen66❤️

SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | Sep 28, 2023

@peacetoyou thank you!
Yes, I going to step back and stay in today only as best I can. My latest dementia related problem is apathy. I know I have things to do but I cannot care.

I’m sorry you experience panic attacks. I know from my own experience how difficult that can be.

Thanks for your thoughtful reply ❤️

peacetoyou | @peacetoyou | Sep 28, 2023

Wow-my first response!! You have just made my day, friend. Truly.

SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | Sep 28, 2023

In reply to @peacetoyou "Wow-my first response!! You have just made my day, friend. Truly." + (show)

@peacetoyou wow! I’m happy I made you happy!
You must be new around these parts (as they would say in old westerns).

Glad you are here. I’m doing better today. 🌞

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Sep 29, 2023

@SusanEllen66 That must have been pretty disconcerting for you to experience! How are you doing today, if I may ask?

Sometimes our minds may take more than one side in a situation, and in your situation, those two different sides had voices. Does this sound like what happened? In the voice memo you did, is there a noticeable difference in the two voices? I will be curious what your doctor has to say about it all.
Ginger

SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | Sep 29, 2023

In reply to @gingerw "@SusanEllen66 That must have been pretty disconcerting for you to experience! How are you doing today,..." + (show)

@gingerw voice was different from one another. I think it is the stress that I feel about my sister’s upcoming visit with me in November. I was actually yelling at her in anticipation of her coming here and messing around in my kitchen…crazy I know.
She will be here for 3 weeks, and that’s way more than I expected. But, she is coming to “help” me…

I have so much going on right now that my anxiety is getting the better of me. I’m smarter than that but sometimes…

Thanks for checking on me.

SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | Sep 29, 2023

I’m really feeling scared. I shouldn’t be worried about the future because I don’t know what will happen. I really feel like my brain has gotten worse and that I have progressed to dementia. That’s a scary situation. My whole life will change, as well as whoever gets the job of being my caretaker. My family is small. I will have to move, and I don’t want to. I like living by myself. Oh well. I’m not there yet but I just need to get my fear out in the open.

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Sep 29, 2023

In reply to @SusanEllen66 "@gingerw voice was different from one another. I think it is the stress that I feel..." + (show)

@SusanEllen66 Wow, that is a long visit. So, now we need to come up with some coping strategies for a long visit, and the stress that incurs. Anxiety can be a wicked thing. The relationship with your sister may have some shaky aspects, but it will be important for you to set boundaries on what to accept and deal with, right? Now is the time to figure that out. And let her know if that is what you want to do, so she understands clearly what is going to happen.

If you have other family members around your area, perhaps your sister can spend some time with them, also?
Ginger

SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | Sep 30, 2023

In reply to @gingerw "@SusanEllen66 Wow, that is a long visit. So, now we need to come up with some..." + (show)

@gingerw well, my sister is 11 years younger than me and our personalities could not be more different.
She is a good person, but we have different opinions and values. I’m so used to being by myself that it’s hard for me to let go of my “stuff” and trust someone else with it. I’ve been hurt too many times by people close to me. I have trouble with “sharing” my stuff. So all this stress and anxiety is because of myself.

She knows I am not in the best place physically and mentally so she is coming to take care of me.

The only family I have left is my youngest son. She may spend an afternoon with him. My daughter died 5 years ago.

It will work out fine for me if I can keep my eyes focused on what’s good, and peaceful.

Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Sep 30, 2023

In reply to @SusanEllen66 "@gingerw well, my sister is 11 years younger than me and our personalities could not be..." + (show)

@SusanEllen66 It's a tough spot to be in. It might be difficult to word your expectations in a way she will hear and accept. You may need to repeat the same thing several times. Yep, I've been there/done that.

Graciously accept her help, but remain true to yourself and not lose yourself. There might be a soul-baring conversation between you two, and that could be a wondrous/wonderful thing. Be open to that.
Ginger