I think it would be incredibly useful if someone here—perhaps someone who has actually sat down with a psychologist or psychiatrist for one reason or another (or maybe specifically because of this)—could describe the phenomenon to a professional. It would be great to hear what the clinical side of things has to say about it. Speaking purely from a layman's perspective, I don't necessarily view this as something "abnormal," but it’s certainly intriguing given how many people seem to experience it. The theory proposed by Charles Smith8 isn't something we can just dismiss, either. Who knows what kind of remnants might still be lingering in our subconscious from those early stages of life when we hadn't yet developed a sense of self or an awareness of our own existence..🤷
crimsonwalker80 said:I am going to attempt to articulate this with as much precision as possible, though, quite frankly, even I struggle to pin down a definition for this sensation.
I’m twenty-two years old, and looking back, I can recall these episodes occurring since I was just a child. It always follows the exact same trajectory; I recognize the onset instantly, knowing full well that I am about to embark on this experience again within the next few minutes. It typically strikes when I am exhausted—perhaps during a mid-afternoon nap or just as I’m drifting off to sleep. Suddenly, my perception of the objects surrounding me undergoes a radical shift. Objects seem to gain this immense mass, yet simultaneously, I harbor this bizarre impression that they have shrunk in scale and are hovering right within arm's reach; for instance, if I’m lying in bed, I get this overwhelming sense that I could simply reach out and grab the doorknob across the room.
Inside my mind, things become even more surreal. These aren't hallucinations in the traditional sense, but rather an intense internal sensation—a constant, paradoxical tug-of-war between thoughts of something being gargantuan and something being microscopic. There is this quiet voice that manages to be piercingly loud at the same time, almost as if it’s shouting at me, all underscored by a mounting sense of dread. Then, I experience this sensation of hurtling through something perfectly smooth and level, only to plunge headlong into a chaotic nightmare of jagged edges and sharp protrusions, moving through it all at breakneck speed. None of this manifests physically; it is purely a phenomenon existing within my consciousness. The moment I attempt to focus on one specific sensation, it slips from my grasp, only to reappear in some other part of my periphery that I wasn't attending to. I am perpetually submerged in this medium, unable to truly grasp its nature. It feels as though I am constantly on the precipice of understanding exactly what is happening, but the truth always eludes me by a hair's breadth.
The entire episode lasts about five minutes before vanishing entirely without any lingering physical aftereffects. What infuriates me most is this absolute inability to comprehend the mechanics of it. Once the event concludes, the memory begins to fade immediately, making it incredibly difficult to describe the sheer intensity of those few minutes. It is as if my brain switched into an entirely different operating mode. This doesn't happen often—maybe just a couple of times a year.
In the past, I kept this to myself because the sheer strangeness of it was frightening, but I was stunned last year when, during a conversation with my college roommate, I realized he experiences the exact same thing. He tried to explain his version, but he too found himself stumbling for the right words. However, we are both certain that we are navigating the same type of "disorder"—this strange duality of something being tiny, quiet, and yet massive and deafening, combined with that feeling of passing through a specific medium. He described it somewhat like traveling through a tube that isn't hollow, but is instead completely solid.
I would be immensely grateful if anyone else who experiences such phenomena would share their accounts. Does anyone know what this might be? Is it a recognized condition? Is there any literature or research on this topic? Most importantly, is this something serious, and should I be seeking out a psychiatrist to discuss it?
Yeah, this happens to me too. I haven't really brought it up to anyone, not because I thought it was "crazy" or anything weird, but mostly because I just chalked it up to being tired. You know how it is—when your eyes are strained, they just start playing tricks on you...🤷
brightnomad22 said:It’s a possibility, but certainly not a certainty. It is perfectly standard for young women to deal with irregular cycles before things finally stabilize around age 20. It's just part of the biological script. That said, if you’re feeling anxious about it, there’s no harm in checking in with a doctor or an OB-GYN just for your own peace of mind.
Of course it could be one way or the other. And frankly, you SHOULD see an OB-GYN regardless of the circumstances. If only the internet could solve all our medical dilemmas—maybe we could even schedule childbirth via a Zoom call at this rate.🙄
It’s entirely possible we're looking at some kind of localized infection here. You really ought to stop trying to crowdsource your medical diagnoses from random internet forums and just head straight over to the Mayo Clinic.☕
Donna Sullivan7 said:-okay, glad to see there are still "some good people" left out there.... -Professor, it reminds me of myself back in the day, when I had all this energy to go out and do good things.... but man, honestly, over time I just burned out. My nerves got frayed, my body wore down, and it seems like so many people just stayed selfish... totally egocentric.
Ah... I hear you. There are moments now where I find myself snapping at someone for absolutely no reason at all, and then I'm left feeling genuinely guilty about it. It’s like that old saying about being an old lady who's lost her marbles. This wasn't me years ago.😢
slywolf45, I was trying to warn you from the jump too but you only started listening once I actually began sharing the cardboard boxes, so what can you do? 🤷 😬
I suppose I’ve earned most of my warnings from you, quite deservedly, I must admit. That’s not quite what I was getting at. But then again, you aren't wrong about one thing—it’s incredibly easy to lose your cool when dealing with sheer stupidity. Honestly, Septy, it happens to the best of us.🤷
I can really only speak to my experience in LJES, since that's where I spend most of my time (and where I frequently find myself grumbling at the mods like a total chatterbox)😬
Smart Bitch is alright in my book; they actually give you a heads-up and a fair shake before they start handing out bans left and right. Honestly, they seem to have a thicker skin than some of the others here.😉
Now that Aaron Harris2 and Uncle Strile have stepped in... well, we'll see. So far, they both strike me as being pretty fair.👍
Susan Price30 said:but I really wouldn't suggest going under general anesthesia; there’s honestly no reason for it. Local is perfectly fine—if they can perform a C-section using just local, then this should be no problem at all.
I'm inclined to agree here. First and foremost, you're looking at a much higher risk of complications with general anesthesia compared to local, not to mention that "delightful" sensation of waking up feeling completely nauseous and sick to your stomach.👎 Secondly... let's be realistic, we aren't talking about open-heart surgery here. This is a minor procedure by comparison.🙄
Susan Price30 said:someone mentioned an epidural😕 and apparently, that's actually restricted in certain parts of the world because it carries such high risks and can lead to lasting, permanent consequences.
You know, I actually wasn't aware of that... I seem to recall back when I was working in the hospital, epidurals were handed out left and right.🤷
Ethan Richardson3 said:My advice? Put reminders everywhere you hang out. Leave little notes in your workspace or wherever you spend most of your time. Also, tell your inner circle—friends, family, whoever—that if they catch you mid-bite, they need to call you out on it. It takes some serious patience, but it actually works.
Take me, for example. Back when I was in a long-term relationship with my ex, she used to bite her nails constantly. Every single time I caught her doing it, I’d give her fingers a firm tap to snap her out of it. After about a year of that, she finally quit. And man, she’d been doing it since she was a kid.
My ex worked at that firm for four years... we actually split up two years ago, yet here I am, still chewing my nails like a nervous teenager before a big presentation. Seriously, Doc, what exactly is going on with me? Is there some kind of glitch in the system?😲
neonraven8 said:From what I've gathered, there's some talk that the vaccine might actually cure those already infected... I'm just repeating what I've heard, and typically, that's not how vaccines operate, but hey, that's the rumor... So, it's entirely unverified information, and frankly, I don't have the bandwidth to fact-check it right now...
steelsurfer74 said:So, what exactly is HPV? Look, I get it—I’m young too, and honestly, this isn't exactly the most thrilling topic to dive into when you're just trying to live your life. But since we're talking about it, let's break it down without all the clinical jargon. Basically, HPV is a super common group of viruses. It’s one of those things that most people end up encountering at some point, regardless of how careful they think they're being. Think of it like catching a common cold, but instead of just a runny nose, it carries different risks depending on the specific strain you pick up. Some versions are totally harmless and your body just clears them out like a minor annoyance, while others can actually cause issues down the road—like certain types of cancer. It’s definitely one of those "better to know now than find out later" situations. If you're feeling a bit overwhelmed by the sheer amount of info out there, don't sweat it; it's a lot to digest. Just take it one step at a time. 😁
Human papillomavirus... honestly, do yourself a favor and just look it up on Google.
Could someone please move this over to the Health section or wherever it belongs?🙄
I suppose there’s also a certain quiet fascination in watching how someone else navigates the mundane trivialities of daily life... It gives us a chance to hold up a mirror to our own habits and reactions, leading us to either judge their approach or, perhaps more interestingly, find ourselves nodding in silent agreement.
I’ll take 5 mg of Xanax when I’m truly hitting a wall and just can't drift off... It works well enough because by the second day, I'm back to my usual self and can function without any issues. Besides, Xanax (or Norvasc) acts more as a muscle relaxant anyway; it essentially just eases all that physical tension.