[extreme_pickle_hate]

Hi, I'm a 18 year old from Wisconsin, and something has been on my mind. A few weeks ago, I was driving home and turned onto a street close to my house that I drive on every day, and I didn't recognize it. In fact, I had no idea where I was. I was really frightening and I am really thankful that it only a moment until I realized where I was. Also, sometimes when I think about my loved ones, look at them, or even myself, it all seems like it's someone else's life. They're completely unfamiliar. Again, this only happens every once in a while and doesn't last long, but it still scares me. Do other people have these feelings or is something wrong?

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by extreme_pickle_hate

Hi, I'm a 18 year old from Wisconsin, and something has been on my mind. A few weeks ago, I was driving home and turned onto a street close to my house that I drive on every day, and I didn't recognize it. In fact, I had no idea where I was. I was really frightening and I am really thankful that it only a moment until I realized where I was. Also, sometimes when I think about my loved ones, look at them, or even myself, it all seems like it's someone else's life. They're completely unfamiliar. Again, this only happens every once in a while and doesn't last long, but it still scares me. Do other people have these feelings or is something wrong?

yes other people have this same thing happen. for some people its completely normal for others its a medical problem, mental problem, medication problem or any number of other problems.

we cant tell you if there is something wrong with you. doing so is called diagnosing you. we are not able to do that here. for a diagnosis of whether there is something wrong or not you will need to contact treatment providers ie your physician, your therapist, your psychiatrist in your area.

I have gone through this.

sometimes it is part of my having bipolar disorder
sometimes it was because I was on too much medication
sometimes it was because I wasnt on enough medication
sometimes it is because of my medical problems
sometimes it is because of my lack of sleep
sometimes it is because of my lack of eating correctly
sometimes it is because of my stress and anxiety problems
sometimes it is because of my PTSD problems...

and many other reasons..

to find out what it is with you contact your treatment providers.

This happens to us a LOT. Has happened all our lives. I am not sure why though. But it is really odd.

[RapidFlyer]

Originally Posted by extreme_pickle_hate

Hi, I'm a 18 year old from Wisconsin, and something has been on my mind. A few weeks ago, I was driving home and turned onto a street close to my house that I drive on every day, and I didn't recognize it. In fact, I had no idea where I was. I was really frightening and I am really thankful that it only a moment until I realized where I was. Also, sometimes when I think about my loved ones, look at them, or even myself, it all seems like it's someone else's life. They're completely unfamiliar. Again, this only happens every once in a while and doesn't last long, but it still scares me. Do other people have these feelings or is something wrong?

This was common for me for years because of my diagnoses. But as has been said only a Doctor can narrow down the reason and Dx for you. It could be caused by any number of things.

Lately mine is caused by many rapid medication changes as my doc is busy trying to get me back to normal and not manic all the time.

Other times it is caused by excessive sleep and loss of energy and I lose track of time and space.

Other times depression is the cause.

Only by being entirely honest with my doctor can I factor in what is going on in my life, meds, and health to get the right Dx for why familiar becomes unfamiliar.

It is common for me though.

Best wishes.

[Tosspot]

Exactly the same thing happened to me, and being afraid of it made it happen even more. it passed in a few months. However i did end up in the hospital becuase it became too much to handle on my own. The pdoc wanted to rule out temporal lobe epilespy (TLE) which can cause those feelings and mood symptoms. My final dx was that it was an extreme manifestation of anxiety, causing me to dissociate and also have these odd experiences that weren't quite hallucinations. The pdoc believes it stems from my synethesia (cross-wiring of senses) For me its processing sounds visually, smells tactically. So its not a stretch that my brain messed up

Remember you are not alone here. And most likely you'll find someone with your same experiences. We are here to help!