l have an anxiety disorder and l often get panic attacks. I've been to the ER enough times by now to know that the symptoms are not going to kill me, so l usually just ride them out now or pop a Xanax to avoid racking up another bill.

But yesterday while at a drive-thru with my friend, l had what l can only describe as a ''brain glitch.'' l just got extremely confused all of a sudden. My friend was talking to me about work, and it is like l had no idea what he was saying. l had to concentrate all l could to make sense of it. Then the man at the window asked for my money, and it is like it took me a second to understand and l was like ''What am l doing here?'' It felt like how you feel in the morning sometimes when you just wake up and your mind is not functioning on all cylinders yet.

l started freaking out because the feeling was so upsetting, and l was thankful when we got out food so l could get out of there. After a few more minutes of driving, the feeling seemed to subside and things became more clear. But for a while there, it was like my mind was in a fog or something.

My initial reaction was that it was a panic attack, but my pulse was not racing, which is usually the norm for me when l have one.

Has anyone ever had this happen to them, and does it sound anxiety-related to you?

l cant help you there

It sounds like you were feeling kind of ''spaced out.''
Sometimes if we feel too much anxiety we may dissociate a little bit.
This is a way for our mind to take a mental break. Maybe you were feeling overwhelmed and you did not realize this. Best Wishes.

Probably is anxiety-related. l take prozac for my anxiety issues & have done better, but l do occassionally have my moments. l have not had a panic attack in several months, but l do know the feeling you're describing.

l can be in mid-convo with someone & then just space out. l can not understand what they're saying even,, like it is a different language. My mind feels so cluttered that whatever they're saying sounds muffled.

Other times l get a sudden feeling of complete emptiness. as if l am in a crowded room naked & everyone is looking at me. It is happened whether l am alone, with strangers, or even with family.

Our minds r weird... good luck

It does not sound anxiety related to me. l would probably keep a log on how many times this happens. If it happens often l would bring it up to the Doc.

Negative emotions (like sadness, stress, anger, etc.) causes ur Serotonin production to be low; when ur Serotonin level is low, u r more prone to getting Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Depression, etc.

Medication like Antidepressants (SSR l - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) helps to boost Serotonin level.
But there r natural ways to do it without medication. There is this strange herb called ''St John is Wort'' - it is said to be more effective than Prozac. No, it is not for mild depression only & ignore those sayings. In fact, it does help anxiety & panic-attacks as St John is Wort works like prozac. Other natural ways will be exercise, diet, more exposure to light, etc.

The problem is that, even if ur Serotonin is balanced. u have that ''learned behavior'' in ur mind. You need to break that initial cycle to destroy that learned behavior - Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) does this. A technique that u can use without CBT will be Distraction. There r several other techniques to help cope them!
Ok, to use Distraction: Firstly, try to..

Extracted from Source.

Anxiety and fear can cause dissociation and that is what your story sounds like. It is an internal protection mechanism (like fight or flight). Have you tried any other treatments to get rid of your anxiety and panic attacks? l had them for years and was on meds as well. Problem was, it only masked my symptoms but did not help me get rid of the cause - the fear that l had about so many things.
This site may help give you some ideas.
All the best to you.
Tessa