I Really Didn't Want To Ask This But It's Bothering Me

[screen-name]

I disassociate, that's not new.

What is new is a "blinking" feeling or jerky type thing. I am having a really hard time explaining it and I don't like the way it feels. Sometimes I feel like there is a "glitch in the Matrix" or like time is jumping, less than a second per jumpy feeling. Once, I had some visual changes when it happened. It was like I was where I really was and then somewhere else and then back again and so forth.

The "jumps" (whether visual or feeling) are quick, so the whole thing is probably just a few seconds. No one but me seems to notice when it happens and I haven't been mentioning it. It feels really "crazy" and it scares me.

Does anyone else know what I am talking about?

 

[caligirl03]

Sounds like it could be related to overall anxiety symptoms, especially since I had a friend with anxiety who would have this same exact thing happen. However, if your'e really concerned about it, ask your doctor.

 

[screen-name]

I have asked a doctor and my therapist, I just didn't want to ask the public like here. They weren't much help. I've been telling myself it's anxiety so I am going to go with that and see if it eases up as I learn more relaxation stuff.

 

[BlueOrange]

I tend not to get visual disturbances, but I do tend to get flashes of experience/memory that disappear as quickly as they came. It tends to happen more when I'm tired, and when I've been working hard to break down my internal barriers.

 

[EveHarrington]

How is your diet right now? Do you take supplements?

I think these physical symptoms could stem from overall anxiety issues, and possibly be exacerbated by low levels of certain vitamins/minerals.

I take supplements myself and it's amazing how certain ones can really alleviate symptoms for me.

:hug:

 

[screen-name]

I have started taking a few but not every day. It's hard to start a new habit.

 

[Justmehere]

There could be any number of causes for this, and if it continues, it might be worth pushing for more of a workup.

That being said, I get visual disturbances with dissociation. It's not a matter of seeing things that are not there, but that everything gets super surreal and floaty - visually. Nothing moves, it just takes on a different visual quality.

My old trauma T had been through her own trauma treatment. To reassure me, they explained that they would hear people differently, as if they were far off in a surreal way.

Another trauma T explained to me once that for some people, when they get dissociative moments, their experience of time slows way down, or they will get the feeling of time repeating itself, like deja vu.

One thing that might help you to figure this out: make a log of when this happens. make a note of what you were doing earlier in the day. Then try a few grounding skills and logs those, and see if it starts to happen less. If grounding leads to a reduction in symptoms, then it's more likely it is an anxiety induced dissociative event.

 

[hodge]

I think JMH has a good strategy for this. For what it's worth, my new therapist subscribes to the belief that since we're so largely made up of electrical impulses, especially our brains, that when a trauma happens it short-circuits our bodies. What you describe really sounds like electrical misfires in the brain or somesuch to me. I know that's not going to practically help you, but just thought I'd throw it out there. Still, it would be a very good idea to get a complete physical exam with blood work just to make sure everything's okay. The therapist who diagnosed me got me to get my thyroid checked especially, as thyroid disorders can produce similar symptoms.

Otherwise, yes, I get those feelings too, sometimes. I think maybe it is some kind of electrical glitch in our brains and then our consciousness tries to explain it to us and those explanations may often be disturbing. I don't think those explanations are necessarily real, just a way for our conscious mind to try to understand what's happening.

I hope you try JMH's suggestions. Good luck, and :hug:s, if that's okay.

 

[mamachick]

I tend to look at psychological reasons first for myself, which is not always wise. I agree about a medical work up and telling your GP. It can also be a symptom of seizures I think, particularly small seizures.

The other thing I question is if you have had any medications change recently? When I go off an anti depressant, I have what you are speaking of. It is very strange. It is like when I turn my head, my skull turns seconds before my brain, like there is a trail or chain reaction of time in regard to movement particularly. Im sure they will name that someday if there isn't one. (Drs use to say there was no problem with withdrawing for AD and now they insist tapering???)

Because I assume things are psychological, I have overlooked serious stuff so be careful.