Is any of this real?

[phillyvx]

For while now about the last four months ive been dealing with panic attacks cause I thought I was in imminent danger of a heart attack. Ive never been an anxious person, always been outgoing but this led me down the first time experiencing panic, anxiety and DPDR. Turns out my heart is in great shape. The feelings have gotten better over the last few months im not in a constant state of panic and I absolutely have relaxed good moments. The thing now is that all of this has had me question the absolute fuck out of reality and what's real and what's not. There's almost like this haze im in I want to get out of and feel in touch and intact with my surroundings but constantly doubting everything. If I'll ever feel the same again, is this real, etc. Which led me looking for answers here, and on actualized YouTube channel but that even gave me more doubt and fear. Nearly everyday im questioning everything and it doesn't feel good, I understand questioning for development but I can't even enjoy my day most of the time or just be in PEACE. It's always a fear and a what if and im not sure what to do. I try just forgetting about it but I can't help but feel like Ill be at peace when its resolved. Things I hear from here like "You aren't real" "This is a dream" "The physical world is not real" "This is magic" "Consciousness is imaginary" all are driving me even more scared and I can't even get to a point where I can be relaxed and understand in a logical way. Then there's always that one jackass on here that responds to things in fragmented cryptic sentences talking in a super "spiritual" way I guess is what you would call it. It's gotten to the point where im asking for help on here now after watching videos for 12 years and Ive only posted one other time. I just want to feel at peace and connected with the world around me, this constant doubt isn't productive and I just want to be okay again. Any advice? Thanks in advance. 

[LordFall]

Grounding mechanisms in spiritual work are so fundamental, otherwise you will literally go psychotic and insane.

I've had similar experiences of overthinking my bodily functions and I've come to the conclusion it's just the psyche scanning for threats. If you actually feel perfectly safe in your reality and think that's too good to be true probably your psyche is coming to the conclusion that the only thing that can harm you is a random heart attack and over focusing on that. 

When I overfocus on things that don't make sense I try to use the most basic grounding mechanisms possible like drinking cold water, doing pushups or masturbating lol. It doesn't really make sense to focus on the grand picture scheme of is reality fundamentally real or not especially if it gives you anxiety,  whatever you can experience right now is real enough in my books. 

 

[Ziran]

On 7/19/2026 at 2:54 PM, phillyvx said:

Any advice?

Sure.  First, please know that I've read your entire post.  And I have experience with those feelings myself.  This is what helps.

When in fear, focus on your breath.  Follow the breath with your mind's eye.  In through the nose, up across the top of the mouth along the palette.  Down down down, parallel to the spine, into the belly.  Then release.  Practice this.   Focus on the breathing.  The breathing is real.

After that, affirmations:  "Here are things I know are true, always and forever:"  

• My name. 
• My parent's names. 
• My birthdate. 
• My affinities. 
• My aversions. 
• My talents. 
• My flaws. 
• When I was young, I had a birthmark removed from my thigh.  I can see the scar. 
• When I was young, I heard about prison tattoos, and I gave myself one on the palm of my right hand.  I can still see the mark.

 

On 7/19/2026 at 2:54 PM, phillyvx said:

Things I hear from here like "You aren't real" "This is a dream" "The physical world is not real" "This is magic" "Consciousness is imaginary" all are driving me even more scared and I can't even get to a point where I can be relaxed and understand in a logical way.

Ah.  For this specifically: distinguishing between existence and reality is useful.  Whether or not something is real is a philosophical conundrum.  Whether or not something exists is much easier:

1. Does it have physical dimensions?
2. Is it located at a specific unique time and place?
3. Does it break down over time?

If the answer is yes, it exists!  It's a material manifestation.  If not, it's something else, potentially a non-existent or quasi-existent aspect of reality.

Edited 4 hours ago by Ziran

[Ziran]

On 7/19/2026 at 2:54 PM, phillyvx said:

all are driving me even more scared and I can't even get to a point where I can be relaxed and understand in a logical way.

Maybe this will help with finding logic in it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_der_Waals_force