I know exactly what you are talking about. I call it zoning out. You go into your own zone and nothing enters it. People talking to you get aggravated because you are somewhere else mentally. What they thought was ADD in me was mania at the same time as severe depression aka mixy bipolar. If they had known then what they know now I would maybe be a step further in the game.

After 20+ years and several shrinks in 2 states, it is pretty much a solved case for me. I have been on so many meds that it isn't even funny. I do know that I can take an antidepressent BUT it has to be a low dose. That is the problem they would keep increasing it to get me over the depression. That would increase the mania. Back in October I was so depressed and suicidal that I said okay enough! Do something. I cannot live like this. That was when they really examined my history for the last five years and decided that it was mixed. Without the patient getting involved they don't know how the medicine is working. I was going with the flow hoping it would get better. When I hit bottom and knew I was in trouble, I knew that there were 2 options on my plate- get more help or end it. I realize that option 2 was stupid and knew it then. I lived in fear of myself for weeks while they changed me to Lamictal. I cannot believe the difference in my behavior so far. I did have a severe problem of insomnia that caused hallucinations from a lack of sleep. So after the hallucinations started I was put on seroquel. I am slowly come off it with no problems. Overall so far this medicine is proving to be worth the hades of the first 6 weeks of getting on it. Without a long term history it IS hard to determine what is going on with you. If you don't agree with a diagnosis tell them so and explain why you feel that way. I did. I still disagree with things. But you get more answers and a greater understanding by asking and or repeating what they say. (so what you are saying is that...)Information is the key to getting what you need for you or your son. My son is schizo affective(bipolar with schizophrenia) To have someone tell you I understand is the greatest thing on Earth. For my son to say I understand was both humiliating and inspiring. He is 19 now. The last year has been a groundbreaker for us. We are closer because he said those 2 words. I learned from him that support was more important than dealing with this alone. Up until then I did it by myself. I supported him but had none for myself. Even if you are not bipolar - you yourself need support for yourself because you still deal with it with your son. Bless you and yours.

That is when they come to sit with me too. It is almost a litany in my head. Being an insomniac anyway it doesn't matter if I get up and write it down. If I think I can go to sleep, I lay there trying to get them to go away. I usually end up writing to get rid of them. Catch 22 is that yes I stand a good chance of prolonging sleeping. I am just glad to get silence though. Watching tv even the news does wire me though. I have movies I have watched so much that I can close my eyes and do the dialouge. lol My husband knows if it isn't in stereo any more he can cut the tv off !