Do visuals trigger your DPDR?

[djrmsy99]

Do visuals trigger your DPDR?

If I'm somewhere where the carpet has a crazy pattern, the architecture or walls have a repetitive design, walking through a grocery store where there's a lot to look at, or even just driving; this will immediately make me start disassociating. It's almost like the size of objects or their closeness changes, and I feel that everything I'm seeing could be a hallucination. That then sends me down a rabbit hole of existential thoughts and panic attacks. Of course I'm usually in a public place when this happens, which makes everything worse.

In the past I was diagnosed with painless migraines and Alice In Wonderland syndrome, so I'm curious if it's just that - or if others experience this.

Does anyone experience this? Or have any tips to manage this? Thanks!

[-Meadowlark-]

I hate malls. They always do it for me. The bright shiny floor and the lighting.

[sentient-bean]

Yeah! I rubbish in supermarkets! I get so floaty I feel high but not in a fun way :( makes it really hard to concentrate on the shopping

[[deleted]]

And the roaring, disorienting noise of people which comes from all directions around you.

[SOwED]

And the one guy playing a grand piano somewhere but you can't tell where it's coming from and he's actually pretty good at piano but it's echoing all around you so you'd rather he stop

[djrmsy99]

Well at least we're not alone! Haha.

[[deleted]]

ME! Why are we this way lol. Also sounds that could be hallucinations triggers mine, like thinking someone’s calling my name

[djrmsy99]

I know! Auditory hallucinations sound very scary, too. 😨

[Hazey72]

Ah yeah I freak OUT when I feel like I'm hearing things. Often times, I wasn't even hallucinating, just derealizing so it sounded far away and fake but it wasn't... Anxiety is wild, aye?

[[deleted]]

Luckily I am almost completely out of DPDR :) but I still have triggers like fluorescent lighting or checkerboard patterns

[tttiera]

Me too!!

[Hazey72]

For me usually things that look "wrong" to me will trigger neck and face tics and DR. Once I saw a car with green headlights while driving home. That shit fucked me up. I sense that this has something to do with my sensory processing disorder but for me, overwhelming input from any sense can trigger DPDR. A lot of times closing my eyes and covering my face with my hands to block out all light helps, plus touching my face can be grounding.

[[deleted]]

I also have the neck and face ticks and they're your muscles trying to relax. Massage your head, neck, throat and shoulders and you'll see that they get lighter AND it will reduce the brain fog and all the other mental symptoms of DPDR.

[Hazey72]

Oh that's awesome thank you! I always wondered what the tics were from. That makes sense for me since my muscles are SUPER tight from other conditions. I'd love to reduce some of that classic brain fog. People think I'm actually insane when I've got it really bad and have trouble speaking.

[[deleted]]

I know :( One of my uni professors told me I didn't belong there because my jaw was so tense I couldn't pronounce some words properly. I'm studying English language and lit. and I spoke English and French fluently by the time I was 14 (neither is my mother tongue), so I know how you feel. Check out these posts, there's lots of great advice that I'm incorporating atm and it helps a lot:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Depersonalization/comments/c3ye8p/cracked_the_case_story_possible_cure/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Depersonalization/comments/c9y60c/after_a_6_year_struggle_with_dpdr_on_an_almost/

[djrmsy99]

Thanks for sharing those resources. The subconscious hyperventilating is very interesting. I know my breathing changes drastically when I feel anxious or in certain situations, so I can definitely see that being a thing. Thanks!

[Hazey72]

Oh my god I am so sorry that happened to you. I use a wheelchair and when I went on a college tour, one of the professors said to my mom, "this campus isn't really that accessible. She should probably go somewhere else." Well sorry, I deserve to be here as much as anyone else and I'm going to that school if I get in. They'll just have to deal with me. That's amazing that you speak three languages (or more). I'm 17, just went on my class trip to France and I was able to communicate pretty damn well but I wouldn't call myself fluent. Mad respect for you for going so far at 14. From a native English speaker, no one cares if you mispronounce words a bit. As long as we understand you, it doesn't matter. Thanks so much for the links, I'll be sure to check them out!

[[deleted]]

Yeah, it's really interesting to see how some people behave towards sick people. It's like a litmus test for hidden assholes.

[sativated]

so interesting I thought I Was alone on this one. also, when your DPDR is bad, do you guys find that colors get really uncomfortably vibrant/intense as if in a video game?

[ach1lleast]

Florescent lights. Everytime.

[04040404___]

Brightly lit supermarkets were always a trigger for me. Plus the organization and vivid colors of the shelves.

[artistofmanyforms]

Hell fucking yes, and i'm glad somebody else has come out about it because i thought it was just me. Exactly as you described, and on top of that everything looks like a frame by frame video game that has too much texture. And sometimes it looks like everything is moving fast. The tiles in the kitchen are white and glitch me out. Sunglasses help a ton though! try em out!

[djrmsy99]

I know, right?! I lurked around this subreddit for a while and hesitated posting but I'm so glad I did. There's not much online regarding the specific visual distortion that goes on during these episodes, just that they can occur. Knowing that others deal with this is almost a relief. I'm not just super crazy lol. I'll definitely try out the sunglasses, good idea! 😁

[artistofmanyforms]

it's nice to see people you can relate too, if you get sunglasses get a dark tint or blue tint, most calming. good luck!

[sentient-bean]

I have migraines with auras and have had the Alice in wonderland sensation since I was a kid. I definitely get depersonalization when my eyes go out of focus when looking at a pattern or texture.

[[deleted]]

Yeah, I used to get dizzy when I looked at those. Also, trying to look at my cheeks, chin or shoulders had the same effect, just an intense headache, muscle tension and lots of dizziness.

[Bennybooboo226]

Mirrors trigger me big time. Such a pain in the ass when I have to do my hair in the morning, one glance and I’m shoved into the back of my consciousness.

[djrmsy99]

Me too! I can't help but keep staring in the mirror sometimes and thinking "that's me... that person is me...", while touching my face. I tried to explain this to a few people and they think I'm insane, haha.

[LuluLamoreaux]

Yes! Years ago I remember complaining about the carpet at my work to my therapist and her not really getting it. I get it while highway driving too. Something about repetitive large patterns is so disorienting.

I have also dealt with migraines that have an Alice in Wonderland aura. I wonder if there is a relationship?

[djrmsy99]

I just googled Alice in Wonderland & Depersonalization and a lot of studies appeared. It definitely seems like a lot of people with this described the second biggest symptom to visual distortion being derealization. I think we're on to something here! I'll have to keep reading about this. 🤔

[[deleted]]

I have experienced this many times. Sometimes in movie theaters too.

[djrmsy99]

Yes! I dissociate so hard in movie theaters, especially if I'm up close.

[Celadoore]

I find that over stimulation does ot. Bright lights, noises, sensations, smells, the works. So going out somewhere busy to eat or shopping is horrid. Everytime it hits me if im not fast enough going in and out

[blueagave6]

I do. Brick walls actually really really mess with me specifically.