Vision and hearing issues, or something else?

Lately, I’ve been going through something really weird.

When I’m out walking, I can’t bring myself to look up from the sidewalk. Everything just feels... off. It’s hard to even put my finger on it. Even when I’m talking to people, focusing on their faces is a massive struggle. I see them, I know who they are, but they just look... strange.
I'll be chatting with older folks, and even though I know it's them, it’s like my brain just won't process their features properly.
It’s making it harder and harder to spend time at my desk, too. The letters on my screen start dancing around. Reading is a nightmare because the black text against the white background is just way too much for my eyes. (And now I’m mostly just living on 🙄).

Also, sometimes it’s incredibly hard to actually listen to people. I hear what they’re saying, but their voices just... grate on me. They feel too loud. It makes keeping a conversation going feel exhausting, and honestly, I just want to retreat somewhere quiet.

I don't know if this is all in my head or if it's something else entirely... I'm just wondering if anyone else has dealt with anything similar.

Please, just be serious with me. I’m not joking around here, and this is genuinely messing with my life. If you think this is funny, stupid, or some kind of joke, please just keep those thoughts to yourself.

Thanks 🙂

you seriously need to see a neurologist. those weird visual distortions aren't just some minor glitch...

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So, what kind of checkup are we even talking about here?

So, first your primary care doctor sends you off to see a neurologist... who basically runs through a checklist and orders whatever tests they think are necessary, like an MRI or blood work and stuff

Wondering what the actual appointment feels like? They’ll sit you down and chat, ask a million questions, check your eye movements, have you stand up, squint, touch your nose with different fingers, walk heel-to-toe in a straight line, all that jazz 🙂 It’s honestly not awkward at all, don't sweat it

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aha. ok 🙂
I’m honestly terrified of getting an MRI (is that even the right way to say it?).. I’d love to find some way to dodge it if there's any possible way..

looks like I'll be heading to the doctor soon.. this whole thing is actually starting to freak me out a bit 😢

Seriously, why are you so freaked out about getting an MRI? It’s totally non-invasive... nothing actually touches you. You can even grab some headphones if the machine's humming gets too loud for you...

because if they end up sending me to the nearest hospital for it (if it even comes to that...), I doubt I'll get anything out of them. It’s basically a relic from the Stone Age, and the people working there are more like butchers than actual doctors...

The MRI machines are pretty much all the same, whether you're looking at an older model or a brand-new one. There isn't really anything to be intimidated by on them...

Have you actually seen what it looks like? You have to take off all your jewelry first. Then you just lie down on this table that’s basically like a sliding tray, your head is held in this padded frame, and the technician is running everything from a different room. No one is even touching you. The tray just slides right into the big ring of the machine until your head is inside, and then you just lie there perfectly still for maybe twenty minutes. You aren't doing anything, nobody is poking you. The machine makes this loud noise, kind of like a train clattering over the tracks. They can play some music through the radio for you, but honestly, the whole thing goes by fast. Then they slide you out, you get up, and you go home. Seriously, there’s nothing to be scared of.

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It’s not even about being afraid, honestly. It’s just that I can’t stay still for twenty minutes without losing my mind... between the panic attacks and everything else, I feel like I constantly have to be on the move. Plus, loud, repetitive noises absolutely drive me up the wall. That's the real struggle. For me, twenty minutes feels like an absolute eternity.😢

If your neurologist clears you, they’ll likely refer you to a psychiatrist for further evaluation. What you're describing sounds quite similar to derealization.

P.S. I noticed you mentioned panic attacks. If you're dealing with an anxiety disorder, derealization often comes along for the ride. Still, definitely make sure that neurologist checks you out to rule out anything physical...

First off, you really need to get checked out by a neurologist, because they aren't just going to order an MRI unless they see some serious red flags. It’s definitely not a given... and if things are actually life-threatening, you'll probably be pumped full of sedatives before they even start the scan, so just remember why you're even bothering with the treatment in the first place.

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My bad, I totally missed the instructions earlier

I know what derealization feels like—trust me, I’m going through it right now... but this? This is different. It’s like one massive, never-ending wave of derealization that hasn't let up for a month or two. But deep down, I just know it can't be that.

Elizabeth Davis said:I know what derealization feels like—I’m actually going through it right now... but this feels different. It’s like one massive, unending episode that hasn't let up for a month or two. It just doesn't feel possible that it's just that...

If you feel like it can't be that because of how long it's lasted, it absolutely can. At least, that's what people who deal with this say, whether it stems from neurological issues or psychological ones...

I don't want to push too hard, but please go see a neurologist...

It’s just not possible for this derealization stuff to never let up... It's like a panic attack. Eventually, it has to stop. There's no way it can just drag on forever without a break...

But whatever, I guess I'll head to my doctor and ask for a referral... 🙂

Yes, go for it.

People often complain about being stuck with it 24/7 for months on end—and by "months," I don't mean just a couple of weeks. It should be doable...

I’ve got a feeling that’s really it. I'm telling you, it's different... it feels similar, sure, but it just isn't the same thing. Anyway, enough rambling about deregulation 😬

Elizabeth Davis said:Lately, I’ve been experiencing something really strange.

When I’m out walking, I find myself unable to look at anything except the ground... everything just feels off. It's hard to put into words. When I talk to people, focusing on their faces has become incredibly difficult. I can see them, and I know who they are, but they just look... wrong.
Even when I'm chatting with elderly neighbors, I know it's them, but it's like my brain isn't processing their features correctly.
Because of this, spending time at my laptop has become such a struggle because the letters seem to dance around the screen. Reading is hard too, since the black text against the white background is so jarring... (and now it's all just 🙄blurred vision)

It’s also becoming quite difficult to listen to people sometimes. I hear them, but their voices feel intrusive—almost too loud. It makes keeping up a conversation tough because all I want to do is retreat somewhere quiet.

Is this psychological, or could it be something else? I honestly don't know... I'm just wondering if anyone else has gone through something similar.

Please, I ask that you take this seriously. I'm not joking, and this is genuinely distressing for me. If you find this funny or trivial, please just keep those thoughts to yourself.

Thank you. 🙂

Okay, you've already been advised to see a neurologist, but based on what you've shared, I suspect anxiety might be the culprit.
Go ahead and get some tests done just so you can be 100% sure; maybe that will give you some peace of mind. But I think you probably know that for those of us dealing with anxiety, we tend to overthink things. We're more sensitive than most, and the moment we notice something "new" or "weird," our minds immediately jump to the worst-case scenarios.

I experience exactly what you're describing whenever my anxiety spikes. I start worrying that something is terribly wrong, so I hyper-focus on a non-existent issue until it actually starts feeling real. 🙂
In short, I go through all of this too, and it usually passes once I stop obsessing over it.

Could be... I have such a hard time focusing on anything sometimes. Like, once my brain locks onto something, it’s game over. Nothing can break the spell—not turning on the TV, trying to read, scrolling on my MacBook, or even if someone starts talking to me. It's just impossible to snap out of it.

Anyway, I guess I'll go check it out just to be safe, but honestly, it's probably nothing. 🙂

Elizabeth Davis said:I don't think that's quite it—it feels different... similar, sure, but not the same thing... anyway, there's a lot to say about depersonalization😬

It’s totally possible—I've been dealing with depersonalization for two years now and it hasn't let up for a single second. Honestly, I just accepted it and learned how to live with it—even though I'm on edge every single moment, I'm still here, I'm not crazy... sometimes it just has to stop... trust me, if anyone actually knows what depersonalization feels like, it's me... and I'm not even taking meds because I just don't want to, I can handle this—plus my psychiatrist told me I'm technically recovered even if it's dragging on... you just have to try thinking that way, because eventually, it’s gotta end

I've got those exact same symptoms too—whenever things start feeling unreal, I just tell myself: "DUH, YOU ARE REAL AND THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING" (okay, maybe I sigh a little first)... I use ice water to ground myself... but man, I'm fighting this every single second and nobody even notices I'm struggling😁