beside oneself—overpowered with some strong emotion (also: beyond oneself ):
- Toscanelli was beside himself with joy at finding his belief had proved true.
out of oneself—
1. out of one’s normal mental condition:
- She seemed out of herself, like her spirit had been sunk with that ship half a world away.
2. = beside oneself:
- I was out of myself with emotions. How can you call 911 for an emergency and be put on hold?
Note: Neither expression correlates in meaning with the phrase above oneself—used of smb. who is self-important, thinking too highly of himself:
- She really is above herself and forgets that she is in her position because the public thinks she is “one of them.”