What should I do if I lose situational awareness while in the pattern? Let's say that I'm doing some pattern work in my favorite little Cessna or Diamond at my favorite little non-towered airport. Everything is going just fine, I'm on the downwind leg...

Or, wait a minute, am I on the crosswind leg? Which runway are we using today? I just heard another plane on the radio that I can't see; what did she say, again? Is she behind me or are we on a collision course?

In short, I suddenly realize that I don't have a full picture of what's going on here.

What are my options here, and how should I choose between them?

Here are my ideas, from best-sounding to worst-sounding:


Just climb out of the pattern, then fly a safe distance away from the airport, descend, and fly back into the pattern. I assume that after starting the climb, a quick radio call wouldn't hurt: "Wobegon traffic, Skyhawk eight three four sierra tango, climbing out of the pattern and going west." (I've always heard that you should never descend or climb directly into the pattern, but I've never heard that you shouldn't climb out of the pattern.)
Keep flying, keep looking out the window, and talk fast on the radio: "Aircraft at Wobegon, where are you again? I'm not sure exactly where I am, do you have me in sight?" (I'd feel stupid saying this, but it's better to speak up and feel stupid than to stay quiet and be stupid.)
Keep flying, keep looking out the window, stay quiet, and just try to figure out what's going on.
It is the advice of the FAA that you should be looking out the window quite a bit when VFR in the pattern. According to this AC related to traffic patterns:


  Collision Avoidance. The pilot in command’s (PIC) primary
  responsibility is to see and avoid other aircraft and to help them see
  and avoid his or her aircraft. Keep lights and strobes on. The use of
  any traffic pattern procedure does not alter the responsibility of
  each pilot to see and avoid other aircraft. Pilots are encouraged to
  participate in “Operation Lights On,” a voluntary pilot safety program
  described in the AIM, paragraph 4-3-23, that is designed to improve
  the “see-and-avoid” capabilities.


If you are worried you should (over) self announce, if you lose track of an aircraft you should do every thing in your power to make sure that the other aircraft know where you are in the pattern. 


  Self-Announce Position and/or Intentions. “Self-announce” is a
  procedure whereby pilots broadcast their aircraft call sign, position,
  altitude, and intended flight activity or ground operation on the
  designated CTAF. This procedure is used almost exclusively at airports
  that do not have an operative control tower or an FSS on the airport.


The FAA also offers lots of advice on how to fly a pattern here.