What was that? Hyperawareness?

I had an odd experience the other day and was wondering if there was anyone else who had a similar experience or if its an issue or what. Basically, I was at work coming back from a delivery and looking at how the light was shining into my car, I've always found light and shadow to be beautiful, and I stopped for awhile as the entire world seemed to sit still. I became entrenched in memories and re-lived some of the sad moments in my life, losing those that I was interdependent with, but in a detached sort of way. The sadness was there, but it was distant.

But after that ended (that part wasn't that unusual) I started becoming overly aware of everything. It was strange, like I'd suddenly woke and I'd been sleeping my entire life, the feel of the seatbelt was sharp, like I had never felt it before in my life, the air blowing across my skin was different, the air had a different smell, my eyesight felt like it was massively sharpened and noticed things I wouldn't have noticed before, the engine noise was one of the most beautiful things I had ever heard. Upon accelerating I could feel my organs shift and where they shifted to, same when I hit the breaks. Just a glance at the steering wheel and I was struck with more information than I had ever considered about it, the harvesting of the materials used to make it, the tools and expertise used both to make the harvesting tools and to make the wheel itself, the implications of the amount of education and training needed to make it, the sheer volume of knowledge and time needed to invent something like that, that I was holding with an unusual amount of tactile feeling, knowing what that wheel meant to me in my life. It struck me how important it was to everyone. Everyone, speaking of which was also different, like the people I thought they were had changed slightly. I still recognized them, but i could hear stressors in their voices that I had never noticed before. Upon getting back to the dishes even they and the slick soap felt different (though the scrubby was a bit uncomfortable to hold, let alone scrub). I got back to my car and was again struck into silence by the beauty of the lightplay, but shook myself out of it because someone was going to want their food, but then... food. You get the idea where that went.

I've had this a rare few times, and in that form is utterly fantastic, like breathing fresh air after having nearly drowned, or eating when famished... I can see how being in that state constantly would make life impossible, but what was it? Is it a warning sign of something I need to get checked out?

Wow ~ I can't say that I've ever experienced anything quite like that. Maybe a couple of seconds of something similar -- but nothing like that! I wish I had!
That sounds pretty exciting to say the least.

i don't think it's anything that needs intense therapy, but if you're already seeing a therapist, I WOULD mention it to him/her. I don't know what I would call it, but it may be something that you would want to talk about.

You certainly have a way with words. You should try and work on that, and perhaps think about doing some REAL writing. What do you think? Or have you already done that? Think about it, huh? Just an idea.

God bless and please take care. Hugs, Lee

Hyperawareness is a good word for it. Do you meditate?
Besides elements of meditation, you seem to have an astonishing memory. Most of of us remember the start of a thought and where it takes us, but from your description I'd say you're able to recall in these hyperaware moments each step in the development. Wow.

If you don't meditate, try to find someone proficient in meditation to discuss your experience with.

Because it was triggered by light, though, be careful if you have any tendencies towards migraines or seizures.