Looking through red glasses - visual disturbance when dissociating

[New girl]

Hello!

I’m wondering if anyone has ever seen “color” during dissociation? I had this happen a few weeks ago - where in addition to suddenly feeling super small, getting tunnel vision, and the person seeming very far away - it was like I was looking through red tinted glasses or like a red curtain.

I’m not sure if this could have been part of the dissociation or if it was more likely due to my rapid breathing.

Any links to explain this are welcome!

Thank you!

 

[littleoc]

I have gotten this, but only once.

I am synesthesic so I sense colors through hearing as well, but this wasn’t that. I was just so panicked that I started seeing yellow blotches everywhere.

If everything else was fine, it probably was not psychosis. But it’s definitely something neurological. I don’t have any links. But if it keeps up, I’d ask your doctor about it :)

Also, welcome!



Edit to add: I remembered that I used to see red when I was a kid, when my eyes would get too tired after staring at a computer screen for way too long. (I liked to game.) If I didn’t look away often enough, I’d find myself seeing in red.

Maybe your eyes are experiencing fatigue?

 

[somerandomguy]

Huh. I also get tunnel vision.

Thanks for this post. I didn't realize this happened to me until you posted this!

 

[MyWillow]

I’ve had a variety of experiences - tunnel vision, room changing size, total amnesia but my favourite was when everything turned fog white. Like if white noise had a colour that would be it. Very calming - couldn’t hear, see, speak, move or feel. And damn but I was SO resentful when my T drew me back. That was actually the first time I was aware I was dissociating.

 

[Newgiel]

Thanks for sharing guys! Interesting.

The tunnel vision is a normal - I feel small etc but the everything tinted red was weird! Maybe it was my breathing ? Not sure. Was hoping to find some article explaining.

 

[Friday]

Seeing red is a common side effect of anger.

I thought that was just a metaphor until I actually got that mad.

 

[Nessa7]

Maybe it had something to do with increased blood flow to your head? I've heard that suggested as a reason that some people might literally see red when they are very angry.

 

[Abbysmom06$]

Hello!

I’m wondering if anyone has ever seen “color” during dissociation? I had this happen a few weeks ago - where in addition to suddenly feeling super small, getting tunnel vision, and the person seeming very far away - it was like I was looking through red tinted glasses or like a red curtain.

I’m not sure if this could have been part of the dissociation or if it was more likely due to my rapid breathing.

Any links to explain this are welcome!

Thank you!

This whole dissociation thing is the hardest thing to deal with for me. Its downright terrifying. I hate to say misery loves company but I am so grateful to hear other people go through this phenomenon as well. I personally haven't had the color aspect of it but I'm sure its frightening just like the tunnel vision, outside your body experiences that seem to be pretty common with all this. I'm certain for what it's worth that that's all it is...just your mind screwing with your head so to speak. I don't know if that helps at all but sometimes it helps me to know that it is a symptom of the condition just like there are symptoms to every other condition. One of the symptoms I think we sufferers hate the most. God Bless you and keep putting one foot in front of the other. The grounding technique one of the other members of the group shared with me really seems to help with the dissociation symptoms for me. I hope it helps you too!

 

[Angelwings]

I haven't had the color phenomenon happen, but I do get pulled into a tunnel and am far away. There are also times when everything outside me starts to appear to be really small and I get a headache.

 

[Abstract]

I haven't had the colour aspect of this. Have you spoken to your t about it? I'm really not familiar with that possibility. You weren't flashing back to something in the past? I used to have masses dissociation and its unusual for someone to mention something I haven't experienced so this is interesting. Have had the visual white snow and blanked out but that doesn't feel like a colour change as such. Had masses of visual disturbances - a real smorgasbord of them - and it was just part of my life. Never questioned it for most of my life. What emotion were you dealing with at the time?

 

[Mercy Joy]

I’ve had the room turn strange colors on a few different occasions but it was a long time ago. Recently, during therapy, I was staring down at my hands and they started turning crazy vivid colors. Yellow, pink, green and such. It was so weird. I felt extremely spacy and was having a hard time connecting with reality.