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Originally Posted by RebbieDoll
You describe that sensation very well (and I agree with you, I don't think it's related to anxiety), and I WANT a nice explanation like the eyesight thing, but when this has happened to me, about half the time it starts when I'm lying in bed with my eyes closed. So ??? (Also, sounds feel fast as well, not just movements). That's interesting that with you it correlated with video games, but it doesn't now that you're an adult. Very mystifying. And I totally know what you mean about the "brain change" before it really ramps up.
I love hearing about everyone's experiences with this. The more people that comment here, the more curious I get because it means this is happening for some actual reason, and isn't just a random freak occurrence.
OH and on the thyroid note: I've had my thyroid hormones checked many many MANY times, and they're always steady and normal. So the thyroid cause, at least for me, is out.
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The spell I had last night was in darkness laying in bed for about a half hour after a day of work, followed later by watching two movies on my iPhone at a close proximity to my eyes.
It tends to happen in darkness, or with eyes closed, because your eyes/brain are going from excessive stimuli to no stimuli. This is why I am fairly certain the eyes are a main cause. The reactions/feelings in the brain and touch/hearing senses leave more to discover though...
It is almost as if your eyes have been focusing too long, or focusing excessivly on something "abnormal" (like the framerates of TV, computer, video games), and then your eye focus going back to the "real world" for a time causes a perception distortion with what you see and perceive as slow/fast. What the brain thinks is fast on a computer/tv screen is different than what the brain thinks is fast in the real world aka you physically walking across a room..
Next time it happens, jot down or think back to what you had been doing in the 12-24 hours prior to the spell. Also think of your intake(food,beverage,chemicals,meds)... I have never noticed a theme related to intake and the onset of the spells, but it is worth noting as a possible genesis..
The last time it happened before last night was in the winter after writing a very long article on a message board, probably 5-6 hours worth of staring at a computer. Not saying that the genesis is the same for everyone, but the common theme for me is exposing my focus to excessive stimuli for long periods of time.
I would bet you that a % computer programmers tend to get this problem as well. I used to build websites as a kid and it would happen after long coding sessions..
It doesn't happen to everyone who uses a digital screen for hours, so what is the unique difference with our eyes/brains?? That is the biggest question.
Glad I could be of service. I tend to think of myself as a semi-expert onthe topic, as it has happened probably over a hundred times in my lifetime, the majority in my youth.
Your comment about why it would happen more in childhood.. seems like a simple answer: my brain was undeveloped, thus a lesser ability for my brain/senses to adjust to the change in focus.
The people who report this happening before/during/after a fever is interesting. This may have something to do with the senses/brain in a weaker state, thus more prone to speed perception distortion.