Frequent dreams about losing my mind

Elizabeth Castillo87 said:Have you maybe been spending way too much time staring at a screen right before bed, scrolling through those endless threads from Sigmund Freud?

Elizabeth Castillo87 said:Have you ever even thought about throwing on some chill, low-key music?

Olivia Smith2 said:I haven't—though I do enjoy watching a light movie, which usually helps me drift off quickly and peacefully. But these dreams just won't quit. I've also had those "falling" sensations and visual flickers twice now—specifically after my sessions with my therapist. Interestingly, I've noticed my cognitive clarity starts to slip whenever I'm dealing with stress or anxiety, much like how I felt before and after seeing my therapist. Can anxiety actually impact cognitive function?

Nicole Booth25 said:Your subconscious is trying to tell you something.
Whether you figure out what that is on your own or work through it with a therapist is entirely up to you.

If you don't mind me asking, what kind of F23 are you running?

Laura Castillo6 said:Focus. Where you direct your attention is where your energy actually flows.

If you’re constantly stuck living inside your own head, you’re basically spinning your wheels in the mud.

Get out there and look at the real world—focus on the physical stuff, people, and life happening right in front of you.

coastalwalker9 said:Of course it can.
What the individual above mentioned is correct. You have to shift your focus.
When you pour all of your mental energy into a sense of helplessness, you end up dreaming about exactly those preoccupations because your mind is so heavily burdened by them.
If you are constantly fretting over your university finals, you’re going to dream about them.
If you possess an overwhelming ambition to become the greatest quarterback in the NFL and your thoughts are perpetually occupied by that goal, that becomes the world you construct in your mind, and subsequently, that is what you will dream about.

Olivia Smith2 said:

It’s probably true—and honestly, I think it is—since I was diagnosed about two years ago with something resembling psychosis and an anxiety disorder. :/ Though, my psychiatrist told me that, in her professional opinion, I don't actually fall under the schizophrenia umbrella, and... It feels like they spent an eternity just trying to figure out which diagnosis to throw at me—it was quite the deliberation, I guess. So, I’ve finally stopped taking the antipsychotics.

So, I had my first session with a psychotherapist last week—just one of those initial consultations—and she told me... If that were actually possible. So, if I actually did have some kind of personality disorder—but let's say it was one of those things that wasn't quite... obvious? I don't know. If it were something subtle enough to fly under the radar, maybe. It's probably a bit too early to tell which one it is.

It’s hardly surprising you’re having those kinds of dreams. It’s honestly exhausting when you finally realize something is off—like you can feel the gears grinding—but you don't actually have any answers yet, and now that uncertainty is just sitting there, eating at you.

Could this be tied to you stopping your antipsychotic medication? I mean, maybe you’re just terrified that you might actually "lose control" now—like those meds were providing this artificial safety net, a guarantee that you wouldn't snap—and without them, it feels like you're walking on thin ice. That kind of uncertainty is absolutely soul-crushing. Honestly, it doesn't surprise me one bit that you're having dreams like that.

Of all the issues I’m currently dealing with, the biggest one—the real heavy hitter—is that my cognitive function feels like it's hit a massive slump. I just don't feel as mentally sharp as I used to be; things like conceptualizing ideas, memory retention, processing information, even just reading... it's all harder. It’s incredibly frustrating, and honestly, that struggle is a huge reason why I fall into these deep, dark moods. I've also noticed that my mental stability isn't quite where it needs to be lately—it's been a bit of a roller coaster, I guess.

When anxiety kicks in, basic math becomes impossible—you can't even wrap your head around 2 + 2.

Every single night, I have this recurring dream where I’m checked into some psychiatric ward—just sitting there under the gaze of doctors who think I've completely lost touch with reality. They see me as someone totally non-functional, just broken, and it’s enough to wake me up drenched in sweat. Honestly, I don't even know how to deal with it anymore. It’s not like I have trouble actually falling asleep—that part seems fine—but once I'm out, it's always the same thing. It’s just enough to keep me hovering right on the edge—just when I think I’m finally drifting off, I get these intense, sharp tingling sensations shooting through my hands. It’s enough to make me jerk awake, which happens several times a night... plus there's that unsettling feeling of falling. I guess it’s just one of those things..

I suspect most people actually experience those kinds of sensations right before they drift off—it's just that they probably don't notice them, maybe because they aren't as preoccupied with sleep and dreaming as some of us are.

Then there’s the whole issue of having to stay on top of bills and actually fund a life—all while feeling completely non-functional. At least, that's how it feels right now. I don't exactly feel up to making any massive life pivots—like hunting down a better career or pulling some grand strategic move—when I can barely manage the basics.

Then there’s that added layer of existential dread—that constant, nagging fear about the future—which just feeds right back into the anxiety. It creates this endless loop where you start worrying that you might actually "lose it," and then you spiral into wondering what on earth you'd even do if that happened. It's a bit of a vicious cycle, I guess.

Anyone else currently dealing with something similar?

I’ve been in a similar spot myself—honestly, I thought I was losing my mind at one point. I just couldn't wrap my head around what was happening or why everything felt so fundamentally wrong. I actually had this dream where an old woman walked up to me on the street and said, "My goodness, you look so pale—all the crazy people are pale." In the dream, I just told her, "Don't worry, I'll put on some blush." Anyway, the next day, I ended up heading straight to the ER—the psychiatric unit—and poured my heart out to the doctor on duty. I told her I felt like I was going insane, explained everything I was going through, and even mentioned that weird dream. She was really kind about it and reassured me that I wasn't losing my grip. At that moment, that was honestly all I needed to hear. Later on, I did receive some official diagnoses—though, if I'm being honest, I still have my doubts about them from time to time—but back then, I just needed someone to tell me what was going on with me. It took years to get to that point, but once I had those answers, things finally started to feel a bit more stable.

Thoughts?
Advice?
Critiques?

I don't have much to add, but I think you should take what they said to heart and shift your focus—it might help. It’s easy for people to say that, though. But honestly, if you spend all your energy obsessing over whether or not you're losing it—as if you're just sitting there waiting for a breakdown—you'd probably end up spiraling regardless. It's almost like you're trying to manifest it by being hyper-fixated on your own sanity.
Right now, you aren't "crazy"; you're just incredibly anxious. If you were actually experiencing a break from reality, you wouldn't be standing here questioning whether you are or aren't. I suspect you won't "lose it"—at least, not completely.

Maria Price3 said:It’s hardly surprising you're having those kinds of dreams. It’s exhausting when you realize something isn't quite right—but without any answers—and it just starts weighing on you.

Could this be tied to stopping your antipsychotics? Maybe you're worried about "losing control"—as if the meds provided this safety net against losing your grip on reality—and now that they're gone, you feel like you're walking on thin ice? That uncertainty is brutal. Honestly, those dreams make perfect sense given the circumstances.
When anxiety hits, even basic math feels impossible.
I think most people experience those sensations right before drifting off to sleep—they probably just don't notice because they aren't as preoccupied with sleep and dreaming as you are.

Plus, there's that added layer of existential dread and worrying about the future—it just feeds into the anxiety and the fear that you might "go crazy," which then creates this endless cycle.

I went through something similar—I thought I was losing my mind because I knew something was wrong, but I couldn't put my finger on it. I had a dream where an old woman approached me on the street and said, "Oh, you look so pale; all the crazy people are pale." In the dream, I just told her, "I'll put on some blush." The next day, I ended up at the psychiatric ER telling the doctor on duty that I thought I was losing it, explaining everything that was happening, including that dream. She was kind and told me I wasn't going crazy. At the time, that was enough. I eventually received official diagnoses later on (though I still have my doubts sometimes), but simply having someone tell me what was happening—even if it took years to figure out—finally gave me some peace of mind.

I don't have much to add—though what they told you is solid advice—but I’d suggest shifting your focus entirely. It sounds easier said than done, right? But if you spend all your energy obsessing over whether you're losing it or just waiting for the breakdown to happen, you're practically inviting it. If you act like you're the most mentally stable person on the planet while constantly bracing for impact, wouldn't you eventually crack?
You aren't losing it—you're just overthinking things—and honestly, isn't that the sign of a sound mind? If you were actually losing your grip, you wouldn't even be worried about whether you were or not. I truly believe you won't "go crazy"—at least, not entirely.

Carl Rivera43 said:How was your sleep lately? Do you ever get those weirdly familiar dreams where some old, distant dream just keeps looping back in similar ways?