[MiddayNap]

There are instances in which I will be overtaken by a very strange sort of dizzy. It is rather difficult to explain, so please bear with me.

It is as if I am looking at the world through my eyes-which, I suppose we all do. Imagine you were put into the body of a doll and now saw the world through those eyes. You move your hand, and are aware that you control its movement, but still it doesn't seem as though it is your hand.
The world looks off-not fuzzy or blurry, just off. It looks a lot like the world does when dreaming. And your hand seems far away. Like one of those first-person video-games.

It's very disorienting. I've been attempting to isolate the cause, but it seems to just happen whenever. The last time it happened was a couple nights ago right in the middle of talking with my uncle and father. I wasn't anxious or upset; I was just goofing around with family.

It has been happening for about a year or so-not frequently enough for me to go to the doctor, but enough for me to start wondering if it's normal. As a little girl, I would quite often be unable to tell whether I was awake or still dreaming and would constantly ask my cousins if I was still sleeping. It wasn't a dizziness back then, but the world still looked "off".

Is this what is called "derealization"?

[Armadillo Roll]

I believe what you're experiencing is derealization. I'm going through it too. I can relate to the feeling of not being able to tell if you're awake or dreaming. It's simply worrisome. Also I think you're having a little depersonalization as well due to you mentioning it didn't feel like it was your hand you were controlling. Here, you'll find techniques to help you when you get these episodes.

[healingme4me]

Doesn't hurt to get a complete physical and mention to your doctor.
Doesn't rule out, derealization, however it could rule in or out other conditions with your health.
Are you getting enough sleep? Exercise? Healthy diet? Any other symptoms to go along with this one?

[MiddayNap]

Originally Posted by healingme4me

Doesn't hurt to get a complete physical and mention to your doctor.
Doesn't rule out, derealization, however it could rule in or out other conditions with your health.
Are you getting enough sleep? Exercise? Healthy diet? Any other symptoms to go along with this one?

You've got a very good point. There are four situations in which my body reacts in a "dizzy" manner. They are:

Exhaustion: My head feels like a helium balloon wrapped in steel and I bump into everything.

Hunger: My hands do not do what I want. I get a bit jittery.

Stress-When having to interact with a lot of people: Somedays I'm fine; other days my hands are shaky and my brain and mouth won't cooperate.

Stress-When in a crowded area: Aggravated. Take the feeling of claustrophobia and mix it with the annoyance of a fly continually buzzing round your head.
These all feel different than what has been happening, however, and as I said before there are times when it happens out of the blue.
I am a vegetarian and I do take a multivitamin. I exercise 20 minutes at least every other day. My BMI is 18.6, so I don't think that's anything to do with it.
Still, you are right that it's something to check with a doctor about.

[MiddayNap]

Originally Posted by Armadillo Roll

I believe what you're experiencing is derealization. I'm going through it too. I can relate to the feeling of not being able to tell if you're awake or dreaming. It's simply worrisome. Also I think you're having a little depersonalization as well due to you mentioning it didn't feel like it was your hand you were controlling. Here, you'll find techniques to help you when you get these episodes.

I read up on depersonalization, thank you for the suggestion. I can definitely relate to the "I know I have feelings, but I don't feel them" although I always thought that was somewhat normal.
As for derealization, I find the description fits my experience well. I thought the fact that I was aware that I still had control of my hand, despite the fact that it doesn't seem like my own meant I wasn't really experiencing it. I always think of D.I.D. or schizophrenia, you know? I still have a grasp of reality while it happens.

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by MiddayNap

There are instances in which I will be overtaken by a very strange sort of dizzy. It is rather difficult to explain, so please bear with me.

It is as if I am looking at the world through my eyes-which, I suppose we all do. Imagine you were put into the body of a doll and now saw the world through those eyes. You move your hand, and are aware that you control its movement, but still it doesn't seem as though it is your hand.
The world looks off-not fuzzy or blurry, just off. It looks a lot like the world does when dreaming. And your hand seems far away. Like one of those first-person video-games.

It's very disorienting. I've been attempting to isolate the cause, but it seems to just happen whenever. The last time it happened was a couple nights ago right in the middle of talking with my uncle and father. I wasn't anxious or upset; I was just goofing around with family.

It has been happening for about a year or so-not frequently enough for me to go to the doctor, but enough for me to start wondering if it's normal. As a little girl, I would quite often be unable to tell whether I was awake or still dreaming and would constantly ask my cousins if I was still sleeping. It wasn't a dizziness back then, but the world still looked "off".

Is this what is called "derealization"?

You have described exactly the sensation I've experienced for 25 years. For me, it started out as intermittent; after a few years it became constant and has remained constant.

I firmly believe that what you've described is some kind of neurological disorder, something going on in our brains. For decades I have told p-docs and neurologists about my experience of derealization. None of the many, many meds I've been on/am on help - Klonopin helped for the first 2 years I was on it, but that was 18 years ago. No CT scan shows anything abnormal & the last neurologist I saw refused to give me an EEG as long as I'm on Klonopin. The sensation of derealization is very odd and uncomfortable. It infuriates me that not one of the many MD's I've seen really take it seriously. I suspect they haven't a clue as to how to diagnose or treat it, so they just blow it off.

There is a forum... Depersonalization Community

[amandalouise]

this can be any normal, medical and mental problem...

example sometimes when this happens to me its a symptom of my MS Multiple Sclerosis (a physical health problem not mental disorder) sometimes it because of my antihistamine (allergy medication) and other medications, sometimes it completely normal result from my not getting enough sleep or not eating correctly or normal everyday stress, sometimes its a part of my depression, sometimes its one of my bipolar symptoms , sometimes its one of my PTSD symptoms, sometimes its part of my other physical health problems...

my suggestion is if this continues to bother you contact your or a treatment provider in your location, they will be able to look at your health issues, mental issues and daily life style and tell you whether this is normal or a physical health problem or a mental problem with in you.

[Tauren]

I have had this several times when I have been suffering from exhaustion.