The battle of the 2nd Languages! Arabic vs Spanish!

Okay, so I recently posted the following on a forum:

Okay, so I know some MSA. I actually had a fair understanding of everyday conversational MSA, food, weather, family, meals, sports, religion, and day to day stuff that you say around the house. Thought as the years went by my abilities gradually became more and more passive. I noticed that I was missing more and more of the plot in Cartoons or that I couldn't translate the kids books from English to Arabic as readily as I used to be able to...(Are You My Mother, I used to be able to translate perfectly and on the fly)

Anyway, I find that I am suddenly blocking on Arabic. Terribly. I've noticed it subtly since...well, since I started studying Spanish actually. In the beginning, when I was speaking Spanish, (Last fall, when I was first starting to take the class) I would often blend in some Arabic words if I didn't have the Spanish equivalent, I never meant to, it just happened. I guess my brain was just kicking out the first "non-english" word that fit the bill.

Before, even when I stood in a group of Arabic speakers, I could understand even when I couldn't reply to them, they all speak English so if the adressed me I just responded in English...

But, yesterday I was in a situation where I needed to speak Arabic on the fly and...I couldn't. Not even the little conversational bits that I KNOW! I just couldn't say the words, and when Arabic was spoken to me....nothing. I sort of understand but every time I moved to reply...Spanish came out.

I didn't realize it until I thought that I had a reply and I started speaking and the person looked at me like I was crazy and told me..."I dont speak Spanish"


Whats going on? Now, I tried again last night and all day and no matter what I want to say, even if I have the Arabic for it, it comes out Spanish or...not at all...

What is this and how do I fix it?

I recievied only a few responces but most people were "oh, hey, no problema dude! Just go con la flow" (Okay, that was facetious, it was more articulately put than that)

However, its been bugging me. Often I'd see something and the Arabic for that object would just pop in my head without any concious effort on my part. Arabic has been my constant 2nd language companion most of my life.

Arabic and I have been through Wolof, Spanish (early attempts) and French together. My MSA has stood the test of 4 dialects and 3 big moves from one place to another. I'd sometimes dream where Arabic was spoken, and now that it seems to have vanished overnight, I miss it. Terribly.

I have only been able to honestly claim conversant/basic fluency skills in Arabic at one point in my life, about 4 years ago, but during that time was when I made the big transition and began to have full thoughts in Arabic.

I got a book from the library and just reading some of the dialogs in Arabic I find that I understand lots still, but the passive "just there-ness" of Arabic is gone...and I want it BACK!!!