[Crook32]

I was driving my kid to tutoring and all the sudden l didn’t recognize where I was or where I was driving to. It only lasted a minute or two but completely freaked me out especially since I was driving. My pdoc said hopefully it doesn’t happen again and to follow up with my primary care. I haven’t felt this way since ECT. He said he thinks it could be more medical but he wants to know if it happens again and if I need more med changes.

Has this happened to anyone else? It was just so scary because it was like ECT all over again.

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[*Beth*]

That's a scary feeling. I have derealisation (a type of dissociation)...it's always present to varying degrees. So I know exactly the feeling you've described. Unfortunately, nothing has ever helped the perception. It's a reaction (imo) to anxiety.

[MickeyCheeky]

So Sorry you have experienced that yourself! It must have been scary! i agree with the wise and wonderful BethRags that it may be a reaction to anxiety. Hopefully this won't happen again. If it does, definitely talk to your doctor like it has been suggested. Keep yourself in check if that is Needed. Stay Safe. Sending many Safe, warm hugs to BOTH you, @Crook32, your Family, your Friends and ALL of your Loved Ones! Keep fighting and keep rocking NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, OK?!

[Scooter9]

It happens to me about once a year. Scary stuff no doubt!

I can't say what the cause might be but if it helps I've been depressed for years and have anxiety too.

[Mountaindewed]

I don’t know if this is dissociation or not but often I’ll be randomly talking about weird stuff and then I’ll just be focused again and I’ll have this incredibly confused look on my face and I think “what just happened?” Also one time in therapy I was staring so intently at a spot on the wall for awhile totally checked out and then my therapist looked too and then that made me snap out of it and I just felt and looked confused. I kinda checked out one time in a therapy session a few weeks ago and I got asked by my therapist if I was ok. Luckily my eye contact sucks so people don’t notice most of the time when I’m having a staring spell.

[Soupe du jour]

Hi Crook32. It's definitely happened to me, but not lately. I agree it can be disconcerting. I've surely experienced dissociative amnesia, depersonalization and derealization, some with time/space (visual)/sound distortions and/or hallucinations (not as part of any discernable bipolar episode). In my cases, I am guessing these episodes were a result of a sort of brain injury from years of severe bipolar episodes. During that period, some doctors even suspected seizure activity, which never proved definitive. I also had a period of migraines, which I had never had before. Some were more traditional types, while others were what my pdoc labeled likely "silent migraines", which included most migraine symptoms, but without the pain. These I mention were beyond the norm that most all humans occasionally experience. I had other peculiar symptoms I won't go into, which may or may not have been related to bipolar disorder or one of the above. Anyway, they stopped a while ago. Frightening!

I found that all of the above likely had triggers. I won't write my usual "want to be novel" on all of this, but can add more if this thread goes further on the topic. In the end, both my carbamazepine ER (Tegretol) and grounding techniques seemed to help. Also, what I think was "brain healing" even from time mentally stable.

I also had ECT in the past, so understand those memory issues.

[FluffyDinosaur]

I have chronic derealization and I get this stuff a lot. I guess I'm used to it because I usually don't think much of it.

@Crook32 and all:

I guess dissociation occurs on a continuum. If it interferes with your functionality, then it's a problem. But many people experience 'highway-hypnosis.'

Indeed, i get this so intensely and enjoyed it so much i used to take three hour bus rides to purposely induce it!

I know it's a concern when you're driving tho, especially when there are kids in the car. It can be scary when you're the one at the wheel.

Glad it was fleeting and it sounds like the grounding techniques are the answer rather than meds.

I've gotten SCARY forms in the past too, but fleeting. Just, everything seems weird for a few moments and i feel disoriented.

Perhaps this is closer to what you felt than merely 'highway-hypnosis.' Of course, THAT'S more serious.

I know you're concerned that it might get more severe, but perhaps cross that bridge when you come to it?

[mssweatypalms]

I had a similar experience before. My mom and I were driving and I was shocked when she suddenly shouted. I was confused and found myself almost crashing to a tree on the side of the road. I knew I wasn't sleepy and my mom said I was even singing, so she was puzzled when I seemed to have lot control of the car. I didn't know what happened. I must've blacked out for less than a minute. One of our tires was damaged since the side of the road had some metal bars jutting out from the side of the paved road. Luckily, someone found us and helped us change the tire. In addition, I also experienced some lost seconds while I was teaching my students. My doctor changed the dosage of my medicine after that.

[Breaking Dawn]

Very interesting thread. Thank you, @Crook32, for initiating this topic. Since your therapist was considering a medical reason, I wondered if you were in need of sleep or food? Just a thought. I dissociate a lot, myself, but I also have sleep problems & can't eat sometimes, so have symptoms because of those issues, too.