Have you ever had this strange feeling before?

[Omniyoji]

No, it's not the warm fuzzy one from luv...

So earlier today when I went outside to check the mail, I suddenly experienced this sort of jamais vu (not deja vu) feeling. I haven't felt like this in quite a long time. Last time I remember was in high school (that was over 5 years ago). I've also experienced this in middle school and the earliest was when I was in the 3rd-4th grade elementary. The best way to describe it is a sense of "who am I" "where am I". Everything around me including myself is unreal, dreamlike etc.

The feeling doesn't last long (probably way less than 30 sec) and my sense of "realism" returns quickly and I shrug it off. Trying to get back into that "mode" I experienced earlier (now while I type this to best help describe it) is very hard to do. The multiple simultaneous feelings that happen during this "experience" is just plain weird and unexplainable.

I was wondering if there was a term used to portray this unrealistic sense of feeling. As I've gotten older I've become interested in it and wanted to learn more. I know I can't be the only one. Has anyone felt anything like this or similar?

And before anyone says it, no I wasn't using nor do I do drugs...

[Serif]

Were you extremely dehydrated?

I know when I drank a good bit the previous night. I sometimes have this feeling.

I think it is my kidneys and liver saying they hate me.

[Kajii]

Evangelion did it first!

[Kiro]

I want to experience this prease.

[Rammses]

God is trying to speak to you. He wants you to form a new religion.

[Iono]

Not attempting to be an ass, but isn't the feeling called jamais vu? (Like you said) >.>a

[Milkster]

I get this feeling sometimes out of nowhere and I just start thinking about why are we here what is our purpose, where do we go when we die, everything we work for is pointless etc.It depresses me so much for about 10 minutes and then I'm fine and happy again.

No I'm not emo or suicidal.

[Shenrien]

drink some water, eat some food, my god your not a fucking plant you cant perform photosynthesis by sitting in front of your PC all day.

[Epical]

Actually, yes, I know what you're trying to describe. It's a surreal feeling where you kind of come outside your body and see things (your placement, life, etc) completely objectively. Whenever I had it, it was soon followed by a feeling of complete blackness and "non-living" -- one that I'd assume I would have if I were dead. Haven't experienced this in YEARS though...

It's weird/cool and doesn't last longer than maybe 10-20 seconds, and I usually can't snap back into it unless I really try.

[Tyche]

Runner's high. Since you got it going to the mail box...are you obese?

[scrockstar]

This is part of terror management theory.

Our psyche is not strong enough to deal with issues such as death and the meaning (or meaninglessness) of life so we have a whole network of defense mechanisms that keep us blissfully in denial. Sometimes part of these defense mechanisms lapse for whatever reason (mostly when our bodies remind us of our own mortality) and we have feelings that range from what the OP described to downright terror and deep depression.

Terror management theory is pretty broad and this is only a part of it. This theory also suggests that one of the reasons why males are so attracted to breasts is because they remind the male of life and not death.

[Kiro]

Actually, yes, I know what you're trying to describe. It's a surreal feeling where you kind of come outside your body and see things (your placement, life, etc) completely objectively. Whenever I had it, it was soon followed by a feeling of complete blackness and "non-living" -- one that I'd assume I would have if I were dead. Haven't experienced this in YEARS though...

It's weird/cool and doesn't last longer than maybe 10-20 seconds, and I usually can't snap back into it unless I really try.

Don't try next time, that's what I'd do. If something like that happened to me I'd just go along for the ride and see what happens.

[Omniyoji]

Oh BG you're so lol...


I used jamais vu cause it's sort of like that in the sense of it feels like the first time it happened but I know it definitely isn't.

Anyways I found out more about it. It's a sort of combination of these two:

Derealization

Derealization (DR) is an alteration in the perception or experience of the external world so that it seems strange or unreal. Other symptoms include feeling as though one's environment is lacking in spontaneity, emotional colouring and depth. It is a dissociative symptom of many conditions, such as psychiatric and neurological disorders, and not a standalone disorder. It is also a transient side effect of acute drug intoxication, sleep deprivation, and stress.

Derealization is a subjective experience of unreality of the outside world, while depersonalization is unreality in one's sense of self. Although most authors currently regard derealization (surroundings) and depersonalization (self) as independent constructs, many do not want to separate derealization from depersonalization. The main reason for this is nosological, because these symptoms often co-occur, but there is another reason of great philosophical importance, namely, that the phenomenological experience of self, others, and world is one continuous whole. Thus, feelings of unreality may blend in and the person may puzzle over deciding whether it is the self or the world that feels unreal to them.

Depersonalisation

Depersonalization (or depersonalisation) can be referred as a malfunction or anomaly of the mechanism in which an individual has awareness or perception of his or her own self. It is a feeling of watching oneself act, while having no control over a situation. It can be considered desirable, such as in the use of recreational drugs, but it usually refers to the severe form found in anxiety and, in the most intense cases, panic attacks. A sufferer feels that he or she has changed and the world has become less real, vague, dreamlike, or lacking in significance. It can sometimes be a rather disturbing experience, since many feel that, indeed, they are living in a "dream".

Depersonalization is a subjective experience of unreality in one's sense of self, while derealization is unreality of the outside world. Although most authors currently regard depersonalization (self) and derealization (surroundings) as independent constructs, many do not want to separate derealization from depersonalization. The main reason for this is nosological, because these symptoms often co-occur, but there is another reason of great philosophical importance, namely, that the phenomenological experience of self, others, and world is one continuous whole. Thus, feelings of unreality may blend in and the person may puzzle over deciding whether it is the self or the world that feels unreal to them.

And I also stumbled onto this interesting bit:

Solipsism

Solipsism is the philosophical idea that one's own mind is all that exists. Solipsism is an epistemological or ontological position that knowledge of anything outside the mind is unjustified. The external world and other minds cannot be known and might not exist. In the history of philosophy, solipsism has served as a skeptical hypothesis.

It's funny that Serif mentions dehydration cause I don't think I've had much water today...

Thanks guys.

[Sythe]

Right where it belongs- NIN

[Plow]

Oh BG you're so lol...


I used jamais vu cause it's sort of like that in the sense of it feels like the first time it happened but I know it definitely isn't.

Anyways I found out more about it. It's a sort of combination of these two:

Derealization


Depersonalisation


And I also stumbled onto this interesting bit:

Solipsism


It's funny that Serif mentions dehydration cause I don't think I've had much water today...

Thanks guys.

Yeah, you've pretty much got it, I was going to point out that while jamais vu covers it pretty well, derealization is probably the "other word" you're looking for.

If you're concerned about this, and possibilities such as depersonalization disorder, hit me up with a pm if you want, I can provide you some materials on the subject, and/or direct you to a specialist to discuss it with if you like.

[Meian]

Isn't it just a short amnesia toward familiar things for a moment?

[Kerberoz]

Taken a lot of DXM/DPH lately?

[Plow]

Isn't it just a short amnesia toward familiar things for a moment?

Not exactly, jamais vu implies the knowledge that you've experienced the situation before, and are just experiencing sensations similar to those you would feel in a new situation.

[Tyche]

Yeah, you've pretty much got it, I was going to point out that while jamais vu covers it pretty well, derealization is probably the "other word" you're looking for.

If you're concerned about this, and possibilities such as depersonalization disorder, hit me up with a pm if you want, I can provide you some materials on the subject, and/or direct you to a specialist to discuss it with if you like.

Oh how obvious it all is now. You have a disorder trying to figure out what's realistic and what's not. All the sports threads make so much more sense now.

[Darus Grey]

Not exactly, jamais vu implies the knowledge that you've experienced the situation before, and are just experiencing sensations similar to those you would feel in a new situation.

It's also a really cheesy line!

Oh baby, à chaque fois je te touche ou nous faire l'amour, c'est comme j'amais vu.