Atheists believe in themselves?

[Tonus]

"all people are religious to some extent. They just might not realize it. Even Atheists are religious. They believe in something too. They believe in themselves.".

There's some truth to that. When I realized that I was an atheist, I also realized that I was throwing away a crutch. My decisions and actions have more meaning to me now because they're being made free of the influence of religious belief. Or at least of a particular set of religious beliefs.

But as I said before, one way that religion harms people is to steal their motivation to trust in themselves. It takes away their ambition to make decisions that serve them and may better their own lives. People who think that way often do not realize that bettering your own life is a great first step to bettering those of everyone around you.

[NoraBrimstone]

I don't always even believe in myself or what's all around me. Sometimes things start feeling completely unreal and I have to stop and think. But I don't think that's normal or particularly healthy on my part.

[Angrboda]

I don't always even believe in myself or what's all around me. Sometimes things start feeling completely unreal and I have to stop and think. But I don't think that's normal or particularly healthy on my part.

I'm not a doctor or anything, but that doesn't sound the least bit abnormal or likely unhealthy. Similar types of experience (not just abstractly reasoning your way there) are pretty well within the range of normal. Some people have few such experiences, or very minor ones, some people have it a lot, or very intensely. It's simply an aspect of one or more of the mind's normal coping mechanisms poking its head out and saying, "here I am."

(ETA: As part of a whole group of symptoms, it might indicate the possibility of some sort of disorder or that you have some tendencies, but in and of itself, I don't think it means much.)
(ETA2: Some people who experience similar symptoms a lot carry something with a strong odor along with them, and when they feel themselves slipping away, take a whiff of it. Smell is one of the most powerful stimuli. There are other techniques.)
(ETA3: It also occurs to me that it could be job related. Derealization is not an uncommon reaction to social overload, having to deal with too many people, too much of the time, beyond that which is necessary to get one's emotional needs met.)

[Jackalope]

I don't always even believe in myself or what's all around me. Sometimes things start feeling completely unreal and I have to stop and think. But I don't think that's normal or particularly healthy on my part.

As apophenia said, feelings of derealizion and depersonalization are pretty common. I've read that most people experience them to some degree or another at least once in their lifetime. They aren't necessarily something to be concerned about.

[Jackalope]

[(ETA2: Some people who experience similar symptoms a lo. avender.something with a strong odor along with them, and when they feel themselves slipping away, take a whiff of it. Smell is one of the most powerful stimuli. There are other techniques.)
[/quote]

I keep a small swatch of cloth impregnated with lavender. I have also had some success with visualization techniques.

[Walking Void]

...Sometimes I like to think that I am a marionette pulling the strings of a puppet that I call my carcass...