Ah yes, what an interesting day. I had an episode of derealization driving home from rehab and shopping this afternoon. That’s a fancy way of saying that suddenly the world around me didn’t seem quite real. There are a lot of possible causes of derealization and it’s really pretty common, people just don’t know what it is when it happens. In my case it was almost certainly due to sleep deprivation. Yes, I’ve been sleeping just that badly.
I nearly didn’t go to rehab today, as a matter of fact. I slept so little last night that I felt drained and sick this morning. But I gave myself some extra time to wake up and get ready and toughed it out. I actually had a pretty good workout, too, though I was really tired.
But coming home, I don’t know – maybe five or six miles from home – I suddenly had the sensation that I was home in bed asleep. It’s hard to describe. You know that strange feeling during deja vu where time seems to slip a little? It felt more like watching a movie or being in a dream than being awake in the real world. I could talk to myself and tell myself that I was driving 60 miles per hour down a rural highway and identify landmarks as I passed them, but part of me continued to have the asleep-in-bed feeling.
Driving while part of you thinks you’re asleep in bed is not the most pleasant nor safe feeling. My driving seemed fine though I was incredibly grateful to finally arrive at the house. I came inside, put the necessary things away, and fell asleep for about two hours.
So, how was your day?
6 Comments
I get that a lot, with the world seeming unreal, and sometimes too predictable, it is weird, not sure why I have those episodes, just that they are disturbing.
Lack of sleep sucks a lot, I have been having some sleep issues too, mostly with failing to fall asleep, since I can sleep a seemingly unlimited amount of time once I am asleep. Most of today was spent sleeping actually.
Hope you will get better sleep soon and that reality will seem sufficiently real for you.
The moment you described it I knew exactly what you meant. I have them maybe once every other month – no pattern, no triggers, etc. I guess I just refer to them as being “spaced out”. Thank goodness you are safe. Are you sure you weren’t hypo?
MN, all though I have no actual data for this, I could certainly see hypoglycemia triggering an episode of derealization. If Pug actually posted around here, he could tell you how Tuesday I sat here giggling about my lips going numb as my blood sugar dropped. It was just a really surreal feeling. I wasn’t that low and was in a safe place so I kept watching it – and it is a similar feeling of detachment. I was very certain that I wasn’t low yesterday, though. I was just badly, badly sleep deprived.
TDW – reality is sufficiently real and was after I woke up from my nap. It is a disturbing feeling but if you know what it is, I think it feels a little less weird. Or perhaps that’s just the whole detached thing, observing myself.
There is some article someplace that I read that basically says doing this is the same as putting yourself into a hypnotic state. I once drove through a town I planned to stop at as I had an appointment to get my hair cut and I was on the way home from visiting my mother. Once I realized I didn’t have any idea where I was I didn’t have time or so I thought to turn around and go back or go forward not for sure where I was. When I hit the county line I knew I didn’t have time to turn around and make my appointment so I came on home and called and explained what happened. I would swear on a stack of Bibles or anything of you choice that I never drove through that town to this day. Dangerous! I have also read someplace that smart people are dangerous drivers because they do this more than people with an average IQ because those people need to be using all their wits and brains just to drive. Any way glad you got home safely and keep going Sweets.
Glad you made it home safely. I have actually fallen asleep while driving. That’s scary. And sometimes I ‘forget’ where I am while going down the road. Just last week I had to ask my daughter if we had already passed Blackfoot on the way to Pocatello (Blackfoot is about 1/2 way). I always attributed it to not paying close enough attention to landmarks, etc. I like Tomas idea that this happens to smart people. Of course, I’m smart – that’s why I can’t remember where I am.
Oh, I’m constantly unaware of where I am! I think we zone out when driving a familiar route. It’s not quite the same thing but it can pretty disconcerting in it’s own right. I remember, Tom, driving from KC to Atchison in a snowstorm and being totally unsure whether I’d passed the bridge by the power station or not. That would be a bad thing to hit wrong in a storm!
And of course our forgetfulness and distraction is a sign of intelligence, Eve! :lol: