The "fast feeling"

While i was in my kitchen cooking today a very strange and unsettling thing happened to me that hasn't happened since i was a small boy. The feeling that everything around me is moving at an extremely fast pace and sounds and movements are amplified and exaggerated, this coupled with the sensation of hearing shouting in my head but not being able to discern what is being shouted. This is accompanied by a very bizarre feeling of objects being very distant and the sensation of either feeling paper thin or extremely thick and bloated.. It is incredibly hard to describe properly.

I have never looked into the problem before because like i said it hasn't happened in a very long time, and i truly thought it was something specific to me but when i searched the symptoms i came up with some forum boards and posts where people have described the same feeling. This description of the symptoms i found describes perfectly what it feels like.

"Not sure what this is. For as long as I can remember I get this strange feeling coming over me every now and again where everything around me and myself is moving extremely fast, a bit like watching a video tape in fast forward, even slight movements seem fast and anything I hear seems fast as well. I don't know if my breathing becomes fast or not but it seems like it to me. I have to sit or lie still without moving and keep my eyes shut and concentrate on my breathing (slowing it down whether it is fast or not) until it passes. It can last for anywhere between 1 to 10 minutes and can happen anytime, anywhere for no apparent reason. I could be in a busy crowded street or lying peacefully in my bed just resting. It used to happen maybe only 2-3 times in a year maximum but it has happened several times in the last few months. There's also another strange feeling that comes along with it which is difficult to describe. It's like distances and objects are warped (nothing to do with my sight as I can see it is normal) but it "feels" like an object or thing can be both up very close to me almost touching and yet miles away from me at the same time and my body can "feel" like it is huge and bloated and also small and paper thin. In a way like one of those optical illusions like the old woman and young woman or the duck and the rabbit where at one point you see the duck and then suddenly with barely a shift you see the rabbit only it's not optical, it's a "feeling". I spoke to my therapist first about it but she told me to speak to my doctor, but then my doctor thinks it's in my mind???? The same doctors that told me my headaches and dizzy spells were in my mind when I actually had high blood pressure causing them!!!! Took them 3 years to figure that one out. Has anyone experienced these same feelings or have any idea what it is?"
forums.psychcentral.com...

I also found a post here on ats from 2007 describing the same thing :
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Does anyone have any more info on this phenomenon?

a reply to: Retikx

Sounds like the feelings associated with light headedness before feinting.

Have you been eating a good diet, and hydrating enough?

Des

a reply to: Destinyone

Yes and yes. I take good care of my body and brain.

It didn't make me feel faint or dizzy at all, just a sudden onset of rushed panic accompanied with the sensation of moving very fast and perceiving the world around me as moving abnormally quick. And the sharp fast shouting of woman, but its more like a memory of shouting not actual comprehension of the sound.. Its the distance thing with objects that is the most boggling part to me.

Google depersonalisation and derealization. It might help explain your symptoms.

a reply to: Retikx

I spoke to my therapist first about it but she told me to speak to my doctor, but then my doctor thinks it's in my mind???? The same doctors that told me my headaches and dizzy spells were in my mind when I actually had high blood pressure causing them!!!! Took them 3 years to figure that one out.

If I were you the first thing I would do is find a new doctor. If it took your doc. 3 years to diagnose high blood pressure I would worry.

I wonder if some of the symptoms you describe are related to your high blood pressure or a side effect from medication if you are currently taking any meds.

Ever taken Lysergic acid diethylamide (ATS won't let me post '___'. See?)? Maybe you're going schizo, lol. Maybe you should seek some help via a mental therapist, and they can guide you to further treatment?

Just a thought.

a reply to: minusinfinity

I didn't write that. That was an example of some one else describing it accurately.

And no im not having flashbacks because ive never done lsd.

originally posted by: Retikx
a reply to: minusinfinity

I didn't write that. That was an example of some one else describing it accurately.

And no im not having flashbacks because ive never done lsd.

My mistake, I skimmed and that section really stood out.

Sorry.

The first thought that entered my mind was high blood pressure or something related. It could be as simple as an ear infection.

I would see a doctor, better safe than sorry.

originally posted by: earthblaze
Google depersonalisation and derealization. It might help explain your symptoms.

I think earthblaze is on to something there.

en.wikipedia.org...

I experienced a fast feeling and other weird quirks in my perception (like there was way to much stuff in the room, and other oddness) when I was a kid. This thread actually reminded me that I have had these experiences.

I think it is a form of derealization. Do you ever have bad anxiety or stress? May be related.

a reply to: GoShredAK


No stress. I am about at Zen as person can be. No kids no wife no mortgage no worries. Good job, good diet, good friends happy family.

I've had this experience many times throughout my life, sometimes when stressed, other times when life is great
I've never understood why it happens, but it doesn't really interfere with life in any way.
I've never done drugs, and rarely used prescribed medicine - until old age hit! lol - so I just learned to live with it.
Sometimes my body feels like it's 100 times bigger than I know it is for a brief moment.

Maybe our subconscious minds get bored, and play with our brain cells for a little entertainment?

originally posted by: Retikx
a reply to: GoShredAK


No stress. I am about at Zen as person can be. No kids no wife no mortgage no worries. Good job, good diet, good friends happy family.

Hmm. Mabye your peace of mind allows for the vale of reality to run a bit thin sometimes?

Interesting stuff regardless

originally posted by: Retikx
While i was in my kitchen cooking today a very strange and unsettling thing happened to me that hasn't happened since i was a small boy. The feeling that everything around me is moving at an extremely fast pace and sounds and movements are amplified and exaggerated, this coupled with the sensation of hearing shouting in my head but not being able to discern what is being shouted. This is accompanied by a very bizarre feeling of objects being very distant and the sensation of either feeling paper thin or extremely thick and bloated.. It is incredibly hard to describe properly.

I have never looked into the problem before because like i said it hasn't happened in a very long time, and i truly thought it was something specific to me but when i searched the symptoms i came up with some forum boards and posts where people have described the same feeling. This description of the symptoms i found describes perfectly what it feels like.

"Not sure what this is. For as long as I can remember I get this strange feeling coming over me every now and again where everything around me and myself is moving extremely fast, a bit like watching a video tape in fast forward, even slight movements seem fast and anything I hear seems fast as well. I don't know if my breathing becomes fast or not but it seems like it to me. I have to sit or lie still without moving and keep my eyes shut and concentrate on my breathing (slowing it down whether it is fast or not) until it passes. It can last for anywhere between 1 to 10 minutes and can happen anytime, anywhere for no apparent reason. I could be in a busy crowded street or lying peacefully in my bed just resting. It used to happen maybe only 2-3 times in a year maximum but it has happened several times in the last few months. There's also another strange feeling that comes along with it which is difficult to describe. It's like distances and objects are warped (nothing to do with my sight as I can see it is normal) but it "feels" like an object or thing can be both up very close to me almost touching and yet miles away from me at the same time and my body can "feel" like it is huge and bloated and also small and paper thin. In a way like one of those optical illusions like the old woman and young woman or the duck and the rabbit where at one point you see the duck and then suddenly with barely a shift you see the rabbit only it's not optical, it's a "feeling". I spoke to my therapist first about it but she told me to speak to my doctor, but then my doctor thinks it's in my mind???? The same doctors that told me my headaches and dizzy spells were in my mind when I actually had high blood pressure causing them!!!! Took them 3 years to figure that one out. Has anyone experienced these same feelings or have any idea what it is?"
forums.psychcentral.com...

I also found a post here on ats from 2007 describing the same thing :
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Does anyone have any more info on this phenomenon?

I had the same feeling a couple of months ago and it turned out to be a High BPM (240) per minute so get your ass checked out ASAP!

I am most likely wrong but until you know what is what you never know.
What you describe in your OP is almost to a Tee what I experienced and not to scare you but I died that day.
Regards, Iwinder

originally posted by: nugget1
Sometimes my body feels like it's 100 times bigger than I know it is for a brief moment.

Maybe our subconscious minds get bored, and play with our brain cells for a little entertainment?

Now that's a trip nugget. I've had something like that as well.

For me it feels like my mind is getting really tall, like my head is floating up to the ceiling yet everything stays the same size. Really weird.

I must say thanks again to the OP for creating this thread, I like it.

a reply to: Retikx

Possibility: Sounds a bit like a fluid issue imbalance suddenly in the brain. It also resembles a type of mini-stroke in the brain. Every single symptom you describe fits that. Problems suddenly with hearing, sight, feeling, rushing and shouting sounds, rushing etc.

The brain could be trying to readjust quickly to a fluid imbalance for a hundred different reasons, Id be thinking since you had it many years ago, and have a recurrence now, the brain function may be a big clue.

I am only an EMT in Advance Life Support. Go to a doctor. Please. And don't look as you are for answers on a Conspiracy Forum! Consult professional medical personnel/specialists.

Let us know how you make out...just go.

Yeah I'm going with medical over some unique one of a kind starchild with super special superhero powers.

That sensation sounds like what I experienced in my sleep from time to time as a kid. I considered it a night terror. I remember conceiving huge dimensions, but feeling absolutely tiny. Wasn't really dreaming, and not completely awake. Nearly like sleep paralysis. Later I had problems with derealization in daily life and it felt the same. Very unpleasant feeling.

It sounds like a seizure of some sort. Not sure if it is epileptic or not (all kinds of things can cause seizures) but it sounds like a simple partial seizure.

In simple partial seizures, you don't lose consciousness and can experience strange sensations.

Ask your GP to refer you for EEG.

If there is anything wrong, this will tell you.

a reply to: Retikx

Perhaps it is some form of panic attack? I know that you said you aren't currently stressed about anything but, you could still be experiencing them. I haven't had one in quite some time but I used to have them frequently and the feelings you describe are quite similar to the feelings I had that preceded an episode. I found that behavior therapy and relaxation helped immensely, though at one particularly bad point I did have to turn to anti-anxiety medication.

Barring that, off the top of my head...I really have no idea. I think at this stage it's important that you do figure out what is going on so that you can get a proper diagnosis and treatment. If your physician is telling you it's all "in your head", I think it's time to find a new one. A good doctor will never brush off your concerns. They will help you find what is wrong or point you in the direction of a specialist who can.

In any case, good luck to you. I hope better days are ahead.

Low blood sugar? It sometimes does that to me, but I also get cold sweats and the feeling that things are going fast is not as pronounced as you stated.