I've experienced shrinking, though not a lot and quite specifically related to my arms. I've seen them shrink, like to length of five or six-year-old arms (and I looked away to reorient myself quickly). I chalk it up to nothing super fancy in psych terms, just a peculiar episode of derealization/depersonalization, which I experience in many different ways.
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Feeling as if shrinking?
- Post starter MizzASG
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H
Holly113
I get these as well. Look up Alice in wonderland syndrome or todd syndrome, same thing really.
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baronNigel
New Here
Ive experienced this since chilhood, shrinking and expanding alternatley or rising and descending simultaneously. The feeling always comes with a sense of gladness and of being loved and protected, thus I always welcome it. There seems to be a stong sense of something feminine. Ocassionally there is classical music. I have no explanations other than that there are dimensions beyond the material one which we all share and that experiencing them is a great gift.
This is very interesting. I hope some of you still read this thread it's kind of old but wow.
When I was younger on a few occasions I would get the distinct impression that myself, my soul,had shrunken way down inside of my skull and I could literally look up and see this big black cavern that was the inside of my head... it seemed to happen when I was ill or very stressed... I might also add that I seem to have a suppressed, very dramatic event from my childhood that I have never been able to face because of fear, incredible fear. I have regained the memory of the terrifying feeling that went with it, but no visual memories except that it seems to be a huge fear of some person.
When I was younger on a few occasions I would get the distinct impression that myself, my soul,had shrunken way down inside of my skull and I could literally look up and see this big black cavern that was the inside of my head... it seemed to happen when I was ill or very stressed... I might also add that I seem to have a suppressed, very dramatic event from my childhood that I have never been able to face because of fear, incredible fear. I have regained the memory of the terrifying feeling that went with it, but no visual memories except that it seems to be a huge fear of some person.
Glad to see this thread pop up, I have tried to describe the sensation to other people and they look at me like I'm crackers - which I suppose I am but that's not the point... Buildings would feel like they were towering up and I was shrinking down to the size of a mouse. Or I'd feel like I could peer into 2nd floor windows because I'd suddenly be growing taller. My feet looked really far away.
I thought it must be dissociation related because I experienced it most strongly during one of the heaviest dissociative periods of my life. I felt like there was an empty void surrounding me, even though I could see things there they didn't feel real. I felt like I was going to fall into nothingness forever. I'd put my arm down on a table and it would feel like I'd passed straight through and it took years to complete the movement. Sometimes I would feel like I was blind, like I could see the things around me but my brain wasn't registering the signals? At the most dissociative, after a panic attack escalated to the extreme and I ended up in A&E screaming I could feel myself dying. in the fugue following the adrenaline I looked down at the hospital bed and I could see my body but I felt like it wasn't there, I was just a head or a brain observing this body that I had no attachment to, physically or mentally. It was pretty trippy.
I thought it must be dissociation related because I experienced it most strongly during one of the heaviest dissociative periods of my life. I felt like there was an empty void surrounding me, even though I could see things there they didn't feel real. I felt like I was going to fall into nothingness forever. I'd put my arm down on a table and it would feel like I'd passed straight through and it took years to complete the movement. Sometimes I would feel like I was blind, like I could see the things around me but my brain wasn't registering the signals? At the most dissociative, after a panic attack escalated to the extreme and I ended up in A&E screaming I could feel myself dying. in the fugue following the adrenaline I looked down at the hospital bed and I could see my body but I felt like it wasn't there, I was just a head or a brain observing this body that I had no attachment to, physically or mentally. It was pretty trippy.
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Sidney
I have had these same feelings my whole life too but as far as I know I do not have any PTSD. What is recommender to treat these feelings? Nothing? It is uncomfortable.
K
Khardie
I'm so glad I'm not the only one sometimes when I'm walking I feel like I'm shrinking with every step like something is pulling me down then I freak out inside. And just because the way my family is the members Iv told just took the piss I love them but they aren't exactly helpful
WishfulThinking123
Gold Member
I have experienced what is described as above as well or similar to the camera being zoomed out. It doesn't feel as if I am physically shrinking but, rather as if I am sinking further into my body and someone else is talking but, yet it is me-I know its me-its not like having parts or anything. It's a very weird sensation that has only occurred a few times in T when discussing uncomfortable topics. I have always assumed it was a form of disassociation. I try to mentally stop it from happening so, it hasn't occurred in a while.
R
Reporter
Have had the very same experience, once years ago and once recently. Was walking my dog along a narrow, paved path and felt I was half my height and the ground was twice as close as it had been. Looking down at the pavement enhanced the feeling. Wondered if I was reliving some childhood experience or perhaps having a flashback from the years when I took psychedelics.
S
Skfisnfisifidnrjrid
What I feel is sorta like the Alice in Wonderlnd syndrome, but instead of seeing things change I just feel it and sometimes I’ll feel and imagine things happening. This hasn’t happened to me in maybe a year but I remember when it happened I tried to pinch my arm, not with my nails but with my fingers and it felt like I was using my nails. I don’t know how to explain it but it can sometimes happen but I feel as though I am getting smaller or bigger and I feel panicked. Sometimes when I feel like I’m getting smaller the room will spin and if I walk while this is happening it feels like my feet aren’t touching the ground and nothing feels real. If there is a name for this please let me know. I know the Alice in wonderland syndrome is the closest I’ve gotten to what I go through but if there is something closer to what I expirience it’d be a relief to know.
Gamereign555
Diamond Member
I have this Alice and wonderland syndrome from time to time and recall experiencing all the symptoms. I’ve felt the sensations while laying in bed trying to sleep, sitting watching tv, at therapy sessions and even walking or running. I Distinctly remember once watching TV sitting in my recliner and gradually I felt like my eyes were set ten or more feet behind me. This sensation was accompanied by some nausea and disorientation, and some panic.
I also experience visual perception that inanimate objects are moving or changing, usually subtle.
I don’t know if it is related, sometimes when I am trying to sleep I can see light in my vision which is actually kind of common but I have been able to form shapes in my mind and with that light sort of burn the image in my retina. I open my eyes the image appears to still be there, though it fades. This reminds me of accidentally looking at the sun and when I turn away real quick I’m left with a blur of color and light that slowly fades from my vision, it is no different from what I have explained.
Here’s where it’s even stranger though; if I’m doing this and experience the Alice in Wonderland effect, the shapes I form in my head will grow, shrink, pulsate and I might feel as if I am near them, really far away from them or orbiting them. I might even feel sick and disoriented And I have feelings of vertigo and nausea. Most of the shapes a form I can control what they look like, they tend to be around like a sphere or like a square but they can be rather Complex and geometrical in nature also,
I have noticed I have some control over the color they appear to be.
Sometimes a positive experience and sometimes it is a little bit disruptive and not so good. I don’t know if this is all one thing or if it is a mashup of a couple of different things I have going on with me.
This seems to come and go throughout my life in clusters. My last experience was several months ago and it occurred around then for a few days at different times.
I suppose it is worth mentioning that I also have an aura. I call it an ocular migraine. It consists of a small cluster of flashing colorful lights in the center of my vision spreads out usually to the upper right quadrant of my vision and into a shattering, jagged or streaming-watery sort of iridescent light effects, which sort of slowly grow and move across my field of vision and out. I very, very seldom get migraine headaches.
I also experience visual perception that inanimate objects are moving or changing, usually subtle.
I don’t know if it is related, sometimes when I am trying to sleep I can see light in my vision which is actually kind of common but I have been able to form shapes in my mind and with that light sort of burn the image in my retina. I open my eyes the image appears to still be there, though it fades. This reminds me of accidentally looking at the sun and when I turn away real quick I’m left with a blur of color and light that slowly fades from my vision, it is no different from what I have explained.
Here’s where it’s even stranger though; if I’m doing this and experience the Alice in Wonderland effect, the shapes I form in my head will grow, shrink, pulsate and I might feel as if I am near them, really far away from them or orbiting them. I might even feel sick and disoriented And I have feelings of vertigo and nausea. Most of the shapes a form I can control what they look like, they tend to be around like a sphere or like a square but they can be rather Complex and geometrical in nature also,
I have noticed I have some control over the color they appear to be.
Sometimes a positive experience and sometimes it is a little bit disruptive and not so good. I don’t know if this is all one thing or if it is a mashup of a couple of different things I have going on with me.
This seems to come and go throughout my life in clusters. My last experience was several months ago and it occurred around then for a few days at different times.
I suppose it is worth mentioning that I also have an aura. I call it an ocular migraine. It consists of a small cluster of flashing colorful lights in the center of my vision spreads out usually to the upper right quadrant of my vision and into a shattering, jagged or streaming-watery sort of iridescent light effects, which sort of slowly grow and move across my field of vision and out. I very, very seldom get migraine headaches.
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MyWillow
Platinum Member
For me it's about the room getting larger rather than me getting smaller. Funny how we perceive things.
I remember it happening as a kid and it was comforting. As an adult it's bloody terrifying. I was away for work and barely slept because it was freaking me out. And it took me a long while to make the connection to what would happen when I was a kid. It was happening a LOT in therapy but I didn't realise until it stopped happening. I'd walk into a small room and walk out of a huge room. Once I realised I brought it up with my therapist. Before that I had no idea what dissociation was. Now I try to use it as a sign that I'm struggling and need to get grounded....
I remember it happening as a kid and it was comforting. As an adult it's bloody terrifying. I was away for work and barely slept because it was freaking me out. And it took me a long while to make the connection to what would happen when I was a kid. It was happening a LOT in therapy but I didn't realise until it stopped happening. I'd walk into a small room and walk out of a huge room. Once I realised I brought it up with my therapist. Before that I had no idea what dissociation was. Now I try to use it as a sign that I'm struggling and need to get grounded....
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