crawling out of your skin | ADHD Information

Ever since I can remember I have gone through numerous episodes where I just wish I could crawl out of my own skin. Sometimes it is in reaction to life's events but sometimes it is because I physically cannot stand being in my own body.

When I was young I attributed this to being young, going through hormonal changes and hating my body.

Nowadays, it happens when I am very upset, frustrated or feeling physically drained.

Has anyone else experienced this?

I don't know if this is what you mean...

It happens whenever my squirrel-like attention span intersects with my awareness of my behavior and in a flash, I realize I am being obnoxious. Bye-bye, cheerful cluelessness.

In those few minutes, I fully understand that I am my own worst enemy. At that point, most of my being really wants to get away from my icky bits and I have the really strong desire to crawl out of my skin.

Reisa38882.7247453704When I have anxiety/panic attacks that's what I feel like. Sometimes I feel like if I could just shake as hard as I could I would feel better, and find myself shaking my arms and hands to try to relieve some tension. But thats what I have told people that I feel like I'm crawling out of my skin, it's the worst feeling that sometimes lasts days. The right meds help.YES, busterangel, when a was a small girl i really could'nt stand it, i would stretch in hope to pop out of my body, but the more i stretched the more i wanted to get out, i cant remember how the episodes finished, i know i had it bad i used to try and stamp the floor to try to get ride of the feeling!!, it sounds mad but i know what you mean, i still get small bouts of it now, but not so bad.I'm actually having one of those moments right now. I can't keep my mind focused and the more I try to force myself to keep on task the worest I'm getting. I have noticed these eposided have occured more frequently with my divorce but I would prefer not to be dependent on meds. I do take something for the ADD but that's all. I always wonder what it would be like to be normal, but then again what is normal.The thing is with me, though, is im not adhd, or add or anything, I am a bit DIMP though!

I haven't really been prone to panic attacks (Thank Doggess!) Depression and anxiety have been my main symptoms. Sometimes I simply hate my body. Always struggling to keep the weight off and keep in shape. I get back aches and joint aches. Hate the feeling of my body being out of balance. As you probably know it is a Catch 22. If you feel crappy, you get cranky and grumpy and depressed. And then your body reacts to that mind set and vice versa.

It's hard sometimes to break out of the cycle. Exercise of course helps but sometimes you just feel so anxious that you can't really get to the point of feelilng better. Yes, I have lots of angry, cranky thoughts when I am in that state.

I also experience insominia when everything is out of synch.

When I read your post I felt like you were the first person who truly "knew". This does not come from a panic attack or anxiety for you? Also not the case for me. Just to be sitting there and all of a sudden feeling the need to crawl out of your skin for no reason. No trigger just Wham! I thought it was maybe a symptom of pre-menopause but have spoken with a few older women who said not one they've heard of. If you haven't experienced this then you are blessed. For Busterangel I can only say "I get it" what to do about it I can't say yet but maybe there is hope. It hasn't happened to me in 1 1/2 months or so but with the insomnia ruling my life right now I don't know if I know what I'm feeling. Lots of angry, cranky thoughts.I often want to crawl out of my own skin. Really hardcore exercise and
even walking seem to help a lot. I remember when I was a teenager, I felt exactly that way. Almost to the point of anger. Nothing I could do would aleviate the feeling. I think, If I would have thought to go do something physically active that my poor stamina could have tolerated, I'd have felt better. That is what helps me now, just keeping physically busy, and not sitting for too long. I happens when I start to feel overwhelmed too, but not the extent I felt in youthdom.

For me, as someone else said, it's anxiety as well, most especially during panic attacks. That is exactly how I personally describe it, is "wanting to crawl out of my skin". I just get a very uneasy, doom, antsy, irritable, wanting to crawl out of my skin feeling.
I hate it. Feels horrible.

Yea I know what you mean, I have panic attacks and so on,but just last night my husband just could not understand why Out of the blue I said" I don't want to be me anymore" Wow - this is amazing. I just entered the words "skin is crawling" on the Internet, and these posts came up. Funny thing is, I've never been officially diagnosed with ADD, but always felt like I've had at least a mild form of it - plus, it runs in my family. My whole life, I've felt at certain times like I want to crawl out of my skin - the only way to describe it, really. It occurs usually when I'm stressed, anxious, stuck in traffic, when too many people are around me at once, bored, restless, etc. I feel most at peace when I'm physically in motion, or my mind is completely absorbed in something - work, reading, movies. The worst is when I'm stuck in a situation I can't control, everything or everyone is moving too slow, and I have nothing to focus my mind on. Glad to know I'm not alone in this unnerving sensation!Can relate since Dr.'s just want lot of testing we can't pay for. Our ins. stinks we can't afford our part of the Dr./testing bills. Dr. visits will end up going to hault we can't pay.

[QUOTE=LCdc]

I have not had the skin crawling or want to get outta my skin issue, but I do have an issue with clothes. Sometimes I notice my clothes too much. The collar of my shirts gets irritating to me sometimes and I have stretched all my T-shirts out around the neck. If I wear a button shirt sometimes, I have to shift it on my shoulders because I will notice it and it bugs me. I cut the tags outta my clothes cause I can notice them too much. I wear baggy clothes because I will fixate on tight clothes all day if I have to wear them!!!! If my socks are not situated on my feet just right, I will go crazy. Has anyone else experience this???

Wierd, I know!!!

All of the above and more (that I wrote on another thread here). I'm beginning to think it's not weird, that there's a connection between ad/hd and having a super-sensitivity to anything against or on our skin. Many events have been ruined for me due to these annoyances, as I become antsy & cannot stop moving in my seat. Others near me get understandably annoyed and it's downright embarrassing. (Seamless socks...bought mine @ LandsEnd)

P.S. The majority of my tops are V-necks; minority are boat-necks, ballet necks..anything that doesn't touch my neck. It's difficult to develop a varied wardrobe

marzie020

I am going to try the v-neck thing on my days off and the socks. At work I have to wear a fire t-shirt or a uniform, no v-necks!! At home I can only use flannel sheets on my bed or I cannot stand it. I have actually, accidentally ripped the colors of my t's when yanking on them too much.

I am glad I am not the only one that experiences this type of problem, I have never talked about it before this forum because it was kinda embarrasing.

Wierd, I know!!!

I've felt this feeling too, I dont know if I'm ADD but the experiences that I have been through strongly suggest this.

Anyway yeah I feel that feeling strangely its nearly always when I wake up and I dont have to be depressed to feel this feeling. Its almost a surprise like - "oh ok I'm still in my body I have to live with myself forever". Sometimes I get frustrated with myself as its almost like I cant grasp the idea that there is only one of me and not two. Its very weird.

LCDC

I have also experienced what you describe with clothing. If a pair of pants or a skirt doesn't fit quite right around my waist it drives me nuts. I also prefer looser clothing because I can't stand the feel of the seams against my skin. Socks with seams as well. Certain kinds of fabrics drive me crazy as well. It all contributes to the sensation of want to be out of my skin.

Sometimes it is worse than others. Especially if I am feeling anxious or uncomfortable for any other reason.

Yeah, I cannot stand satin or nylon - it makes me crazy!!

I heard there were some seamless socks out there and thought I might try those! Once I get fixated on my clothes it kinda makes me fixated for the rest of the day and it is a pain in the neck.

Wool on my bare skin and satin also drive me nuts!!!

Exercising (has to be fun) and keeping busy seems to be the best weapon against that feeling you described. For me it's anything that sticks to me while sleeping. I get the crawling out of my skin thing very randomly (like right now) but I cannot sleep in flannel or flannel sheets. Nothing that hinders my movement in bed. I have chronic insomnia which is moderately under control, no meds for the adhd yet but sleeping helps. God forbid if I can't roll around freely though even with the sleep meds I will be up all night due to the fabric. Also nothing around the neck and definitely NO WOOL!!!! Today I can't stand being me at all, I have a case of the crazy's. If only I could just shut off my brain. ms.ingout38931.8375