Very Strange Experience - Dissociation? Need Input Please

Hello everyone,

Last night I had one of the strangest sensations I've had in my life. It's very hard to explain, and it was so strange at the time that it's difficult for me to even imagine what it was like now.

As I was lying down to go to bed, the crinkly/rubbing noise the covers made against my ears as I pulled them up sounded different, almost alien. I made some type of verbal remark like "Oh, that's strange," which also sounded/felt different, almost as if I wasn't the one saying the words (though obviously I knew that my body was physically emitting them).

I remained in bed for a while, and the noises of the fan were still sounding odd to me. All the sensory input I was gathering, the physical world itself, seemed to be being experienced by someone else entirely, even though I knew it was my body that was experiencing them. I felt somehow detached, though still physically inside my body.

I then thought that I might be having some type of stroke or something since it came on so suddenly, so I got out of bed and started doing the various tests: counting, reciting my name/address, holding my arms out, closing my eyes, etc. Everything seemed to be in working order except that this weird dissociative sensation was still persisting.

It wasn't exactly a constant sensation though. It was intermittent, happening every few seconds or so. It kind of felt like my conscious awareness was being pulled back into my head/mind, and everything my body was experiencing was no longer part of me.

This lasted for around 30-40 minutes (it could have been longer, but I fell asleep after becoming used to it).


Does anyone know what this could have been or if it is some type of symptom of something larger?

Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ailos

Hello everyone,

Last night I had one of the strangest sensations I've had in my life. It's very hard to explain, and it was so strange at the time that it's difficult for me to even imagine what it was like now.

As I was lying down to go to bed, the crinkly/rubbing noise the covers made against my ears as I pulled them up sounded different, almost alien. I made some type of verbal remark like "Oh, that's strange," which also sounded/felt different, almost as if I wasn't the one saying the words (though obviously I knew that my body was physically emitting them).

I remained in bed for a while, and the noises of the fan were still sounding odd to me. All the sensory input I was gathering, the physical world itself, seemed to be being experienced by someone else entirely, even though I knew it was my body that was experiencing them. I felt somehow detached, though still physically inside my body.

I then thought that I might be having some type of stroke or something since it came on so suddenly, so I got out of bed and started doing the various tests: counting, reciting my name/address, holding my arms out, closing my eyes, etc. Everything seemed to be in working order except that this weird dissociative sensation was still persisting.

It wasn't exactly a constant sensation though. It was intermittent, happening every few seconds or so. It kind of felt like my conscious awareness was being pulled back into my head/mind, and everything my body was experiencing was no longer part of me.

This lasted for around 30-40 minutes (it could have been longer, but I fell asleep after becoming used to it).


Does anyone know what this could have been or if it is some type of symptom of something larger?

Thanks!

---

I am dissociative so I have alot of experience in this sort of thing. What were you doing before you went to bed? What was your day like? Did you have anything on your mind?

At first it sounded a bit like you were describing a very mild panic attack, which is extremely common these days. Do you have any anxiety or stress?

Though from the way you wrote this, it seems as though you were feeling fine when you went to sleep, but only became distressed as a result of strange things you were experiencing...which I think caused you to freak out a bit.

To be honest, to me it sounds like something that I would just shrug off, but since you reacted in such a way, it's obvious to me that this is NOT something you've ever experienced before, correct?

If you did indeed have a short dissociative episode the causes for it are most likely stress/anxiety related. Honestly though it could have been anything. Hell, it could have been something you ate. I really don't think you should be too worried about this, unless it starts happening regularly. Talk to your doctor about it if you are still concerned.

Don't know if that was helpful at all, but I tried. :)

Thanks for the reply, it was pretty helpful actually.

I have had full-blown panic attacks before, and this did feel like one, but without all the panic (the kind of dissociative feeling of a panic attack). I mean, I wasn't at all worried about it at the time, and I was actually kind of intrigued by the whole feeling (maybe a little worried at the thought of having a stroke though, but I quickly dispelled that thought).

I don't remember doing anything too stressful previously. I had a hard think about what I wanted in life while in the shower before going to bed... and I'm often unsure of what I want out of my life. Maybe I was subconsciously still worried about it. I dunno...

I played guitar a bit before going to bed too, but I doubt that had anything to do with it.

Stress wise, I do have quite a bit of school-related stress right now... mid-term examinations and such. But I don't really feel all that stressed about it physically... but perhaps mentally I am.


But you're probably right, I probably don't need to worry about it unless its severely interfering with me functioning in life.

Honestly the fact that you are stressed right now but don't really feel like you are, sounds like a very typical dissociative reaction to stress. I really don't think you have anything to worry about, it sounds pretty normal to me. Sometimes when I know that I have so much to do, I just can't handle stress...so I dissociate. So even though I am incredibly stressed at times...no one would know it. You know what I mean? It's just the way some people deal with stress. It's also a sign that instead of allowing yourself to ignore or dissociate from that which is causing you stress, you need to face it head on. I've yet to figure out how to do that though lol. ;)

Yeah, that sounds almost exactly like me. All my friends and classmates are stressing out their eyeballs about projects and such, and I just sit there smiling pretending (and feeling) like I don't care. I suppose thats just the way I've learned to deal with stress. Most of the time I feel happier as a result, but I suppose not all good things can stay that way ;P

I'll try and take my obligations head on instead of trying to ignore them and surpressing the stress.

Thanks for the tips :)

Sure! :) Let me know if you have anymore questions or anything.

hey i'm like that i don't stress and yet i haven't had such experience...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ailos

Hello everyone,

Last night I had one of the strangest sensations I've had in my life. It's very hard to explain, and it was so strange at the time that it's difficult for me to even imagine what it was like now.

As I was lying down to go to bed, the crinkly/rubbing noise the covers made against my ears as I pulled them up sounded different, almost alien. I made some type of verbal remark like "Oh, that's strange," which also sounded/felt different, almost as if I wasn't the one saying the words (though obviously I knew that my body was physically emitting them).

I remained in bed for a while, and the noises of the fan were still sounding odd to me. All the sensory input I was gathering, the physical world itself, seemed to be being experienced by someone else entirely, even though I knew it was my body that was experiencing them. I felt somehow detached, though still physically inside my body.

I then thought that I might be having some type of stroke or something since it came on so suddenly, so I got out of bed and started doing the various tests: counting, reciting my name/address, holding my arms out, closing my eyes, etc. Everything seemed to be in working order except that this weird dissociative sensation was still persisting.

It wasn't exactly a constant sensation though. It was intermittent, happening every few seconds or so. It kind of felt like my conscious awareness was being pulled back into my head/mind, and everything my body was experiencing was no longer part of me.

This lasted for around 30-40 minutes (it could have been longer, but I fell asleep after becoming used to it).


Does anyone know what this could have been or if it is some type of symptom of something larger?

Thanks!

---

First off, were you tired when this dissociation occured? This kind of thing happens to me often when I am tired a somewhat tranced out.

Also, did you comsume any pharmacutical medications, like Benedryl or Robotussin that day?

this happens to me pretty much and I don't enjoy it

I also pretend to be not stressed

and I'm usually tired when this happens :)