I don't feel as if I'm "inside myself"

If this is totally genuine then see a GP. (My word... we say that a lot!)

I've heard of something similar before. I'm going to look it up!

Oh dear that can't be nice. It sounds like it sways between your eyes (everything becoming really detailed) and your concentration I've never experienced this myself, but it would worry me too. Do you have a very active imagination? Maybe when you are overtired your brain just kicks into overdrive and makes you imagine strange things? All I could suggest is to make sure you get plenty of sleep and not stress yourself.

I don't know if its possible that its a symptom of something such as epilepsy. I mean not being fully aware of your surroundings and 'waking up' somewhere sounds almost like sleepwalking or even fitting. Are you diabetic or anything? Possibly blood sugar levels? But I'm just plucking suggestions out of the air here. Sorry I can't be more help

I thought that was normal...

I sometimes get a really heightened sense of awareness of things. Things sudenly become hugely detailed, and yet somehow distant... it's an odd feeling, but I presumed it was something that happens to everyone. I doubt it's anything to worry about.

I think this is called an out of body experience. I'm not totally sure what causes it but as someone has already said, you should probably see a professional pronto because if you do end up having an experience like this in an unfamiliar place it could be pretty dangerous.

I used to get this a lot when I was younger, it's a horrible feeling. I remember everything either used to seem to be happening either really slowly or quickly; it was difficult to process things. It tended to happen when I was poorly or run-down.
I remember talking to my Mum about it and she put it down to 'hormones'. I was around 12/13 at the time, so I guess she could have been right. I take it you're older than this?

Thankfully, I've grown out of it. It really isn't very nice, but I don't think there's a big threat of you needing mental healthcare.

Yes, I'm 18, though I can remember having experiences like this for about 10 or 11 years. It's getting more and more frequent now.


So you don't think I'm going mad? I know it's silly to ask.

I may have read about this. I think it's called DEPERSONALISATION or DEREALISATION.

From One Website:

Derealisation

A feeling that you and/or your surroundings are not real
And/or experience your surroundings through a diffused light, fog or mist

Depersonalisation


Feeling as if you are "outside of your body"/ 'detached from your body', as though you are either standing alongside, above or behind it

Other dissociative sensations

Sensitivity to light and sound
Tunnel vision
Feeling as if your body has expanded so that it feels larger than normal
Feeling as if your body has shrunk to minute proportions
Stationary objects may appear to move
Driving a car and suddenly realise you don't remember what has happened during all or part of the trip
Listening to someone talk and realise you did not hear part or all of what was said
Sometimes sit staring off into space, and not being aware of the passage of time

From another Website:
This feeling can last for hours and is called depersonalisation. It can be quite difficult to describe what this feels like. You may feel a fuzzy-headed, spaced-out sort of sensation. You know that you are fully awake yet you feel distanced from things. You feel like you are a robot acting on automatic. You may seem like being an observer looking at everything from a distance. Also, things around you may not seem completely real - so called derealisation. These feelings can be very disturbing. Depersonalisation and derealisation often suddenly start, and just as suddenly stop.

From a third website:
Another possible way to describe the actual physical manifestation of the feeling is to compare the very popular film technique called a Vertigo shot or Dolly Zoom. In this technique, the subject of the picture stays fixed on the shot while all the surrounding background is pulled away - providing a sense of vertigo or detachment.

Dunno if this is it or not...xxx

I may have read about this. I think it's called DEPERSONALISATION or DEREALISATION.

From One Website:

Derealisation

A feeling that you and/or your surroundings are not real
And/or experience your surroundings through a diffused light, fog or mist

Depersonalisation


Feeling as if you are "outside of your body"/ 'detached from your body', as though you are either standing alongside, above or behind it

Other dissociative sensations

Sensitivity to light and sound
Tunnel vision
Feeling as if your body has expanded so that it feels larger than normal
Feeling as if your body has shrunk to minute proportions
Stationary objects may appear to move
Driving a car and suddenly realise you don't remember what has happened during all or part of the trip
Listening to someone talk and realise you did not hear part or all of what was said
Sometimes sit staring off into space, and not being aware of the passage of time

From another Website:
This feeling can last for hours and is called depersonalisation. It can be quite difficult to describe what this feels like. You may feel a fuzzy-headed, spaced-out sort of sensation. You know that you are fully awake yet you feel distanced from things. You feel like you are a robot acting on automatic. You may seem like being an observer looking at everything from a distance. Also, things around you may not seem completely real - so called derealisation. These feelings can be very disturbing. Depersonalisation and derealisation often suddenly start, and just as suddenly stop.

From a third website:
Another possible way to describe the actual physical manifestation of the feeling is to compare the very popular film technique called a Vertigo shot or Dolly Zoom. In this technique, the subject of the picture stays fixed on the shot while all the surrounding background is pulled away - providing a sense of vertigo or detachment.

Dunno if this is it or not...xxx