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Original poster

Middle of the Night and something Strange just happened

66 replies

HiveHoofHole · 16/12/2020 00:37

I woke up with a start about 10 minutes ago. Thought I could hear something moving around the house outside. I got out of bed, feeling a bit weird, then walked around the upstairs peering out the windows. In one corner of the house there are some curious vibrating sounds. Eventually after much craning of my neck out of the window, I see a badger rubbing it’s backside against the wall, obviously scratching some ticks out.

Now here is the weird bit. I shut the window, walk down the corridor thinking I will just pop to the loo, am definitely wide awake, not groggy or the like. I catch a glance in the mirror and I have the head of a Thomson’s gazelle. I blink and think this cannot be real, but sure enough it is. It’s faded now but really shook me up. I’ve had no wine, don’t do drugs or on any meds. Very bloody weird.

OP posts:
cheesemongery · 16/12/2020 01:47

@SakiSiam

Responding because this struck a cord with me, although I don't know what a Thomson's gazelle is. In 2012 I had a bad fall in poor weather, walking my dog. My head hit the pavement. It resulted in a massively swollen black eye and bruised face, but I didn't get it checked out - it was just a fall. For months after that, several times a day, I would seem to fade out of reality and see a specific sort of image. It involved a woman with short, dark, wavy hair. Over time it became more frequent, and if somebody was in the room with me they'd know it was happening. I started making a mark on the calendar everytime it happened, which could be up to five times a day, and by the time it stopped happening it had occurred over 100 times. I felt as if I was getting closer and closer to knowing what this image was showing me, and it would turn out to be something lodged in my memory. That never happened, and I never had any explanation for it as I had no idea how I could ever have explained it so that a GP could understand what I was experiencing. It was a bit like what I imagine a small epilectic seizure might be like.

The closest I came to it was through researching deja vu and finding out that there was more than one form of this type of 'vu' vision. It was such a weird period (and frightening, simply because I couldn't understand it). Might the image in the mirror be connected to some physical thing that's happened to you - and the badger's just coincidence? I was about to turn off the laptop but when I saw this I responded because, as strange as your experience is, I totally believe that you saw what you saw.

This is why I had my MRI scan as had VERY similar and the specialists were exploring epilepsy because of the deja vu.

Completely unrelated to what happened when couldnt recognise a face and symptoms are too much to write about here - plus I dont like to go back there if that makes sense as i still remember what was 'coming to me'.

Original poster
HiveHoofHole · 16/12/2020 01:48

@cheesemongery
I have googled ‘ocular hallucination’ as another poster mentioned it. In doing so I came across Charles Bonnet syndrome. I’m free to do that aren’t I? If I decide - and I may not - to investigate this further I will go to the GP, the optician, he’ll I may even go to see the vet...!

Is that ok with you?

OP posts:
Yellownotblue · 16/12/2020 01:48

How did you rule out the other 18 gazelle species so quickly?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Spooky & paranormal
Backbee · 16/12/2020 01:49

Carbon monoxide leak?

cheesemongery · 16/12/2020 01:49

[quote Frownette]@cheesemongery Grin

So what ails you tonight, my child?[/quote]
well...

my cats just puked on Dds school bag.

Apart from that, just the usual. I'm thinking tumour of the left ventricle fibular around the gluteus.

Iz wot im finkin.

Night!

cheesemongery · 16/12/2020 01:52

[quote HiveHoofHole]@cheesemongery
I have googled ‘ocular hallucination’ as another poster mentioned it. In doing so I came across Charles Bonnet syndrome. I’m free to do that aren’t I? If I decide - and I may not - to investigate this further I will go to the GP, the optician, he’ll I may even go to see the vet...!

Is that ok with you?[/quote]
Absolutely,

or you could go to sleep, because believe me as soon as anyone mentions occular hallucinations or epilepsy based on one incident then you've lost your driving license for starters - immediately. Been there, be careful what you wish for.

Original poster
HiveHoofHole · 16/12/2020 01:54

No need to project. Your words.

OP posts:
Frownette · 16/12/2020 01:55

@cheesemongery I'm sure cat was showing love and appreciation of dedication to study in a special way, sleep well

MawnyStannit · 16/12/2020 01:55

I’m thinking it was your subconscious playing tricks on you in some way because it’s making connections where you’re processing something that’s on your mind. You saw a badger - wildlife - then saw a gazelle, wildlife. The incident in the village - you’ve remembered being there last in the summertime, and you briefly see summertime.
Not sure if I’ve explained it properly cos I’m tired, but that’s how I would interpret the situation.

Yellownotblue · 16/12/2020 02:07

Did you ever watch Homeland? There is a shot in the credits with an image like you describe.

ImNotMeImSomeoneElse · 16/12/2020 02:08

I had a bizarre thing once. I was living away from home, and there was a knock on the door.

I opened the door, and in front of me was a old gypsy woman, but I couldn't think what to say, I just stood while my brain tried to think of something to say. Not even 'hello' came to mind,

Then the person in front of me said 'aren't you going to invite me in?' and it was a totally unexpected visit from a friend from home.

I cant explain it, it makes no sense. But it happened. It was a LONG time ago now, and nothing like it has ever happened since.

Basically, don't worry about it, unless anything else happens that is concerning.

Original poster
HiveHoofHole · 16/12/2020 02:09

I’m beginning to doubt myself now. I don’t think it was a Thomson’s gazelle. More like an Okapi, on reflection.

OP posts:
HannaYeah · 16/12/2020 02:38

Perhaps a past life. Any strange cravings?

Frownette · 16/12/2020 02:42

Do you believe in past lives @@HannaYeah?

How are you getting on?

theThreeofWeevils · 16/12/2020 02:43

IBS (Itchy Badger Arse) Syndrome by Proxy and vivid waking dreams. OP, you are fine and so, probably, is the badger. Get the heid doon.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 16/12/2020 02:53

Lucky it was a badger you saw and not a lion... mind you at least you'd be able run fast.

DailyCandy · 16/12/2020 03:27

Once, soon after giving birth to my son- I woke up facing my husband in bed - only his face was the baby’s face. I stared at him for ages before he became himself again.
At the same time while I was watching TV (Glee if it matters) all the characters looked like elves. Not the Christmas variety but small and elfin...
I put that down to sleep deprivation. But overzealous googling suggested postpartum psychosis.

Inkpaperstars · 16/12/2020 03:55

Peduncular hallucinosis thrown up by Google. But don’t know if it can affect someone twice, years apart with nothing happening in between. If it weren’t for the previous experience (which could be something different anyway) I would say it was related to having recently woken...you might have felt wide awake but that can be deceptive.

custardbear · 16/12/2020 07:54

On reflection it may have been ... lol 😆

ohgetoveryourself · 16/12/2020 08:15

I watched an anime once where all the foxes had to shapeshifter into people to adapt to the modern world. It reminded me of this Grin. My best guess is that you were not as awake as you thought you were, and some part of your dream transferred over to your conscious mind?

ScrapThatThen · 16/12/2020 08:19

Don't worry OP auditory and visual hallucinations are a normal part of the human experience, especially this type which occur between sleeping and waking (look up hympnopompic and hypnogogic hallucinations). A psychiatrist would not be at all concerned. Obviously if you have other symptoms or it increases or you are worried then speak to a GP.

StealthPolarBear · 16/12/2020 08:23

@Yellownotblue

Did you ever watch Homeland? There is a shot in the credits with an image like you describe.
Thank you! I knew this was making me think of something. Op it sounds scary but hopefully just a brain blip and never repeated.
BackAtIt · 16/12/2020 09:37

Have you got a carbon monoxide detector? There’s a famous story’s where a woman was having hallucinations around her house and it was a CO leak Shock

Nore · 16/12/2020 09:41

@HiveHoofHole

I’m beginning to doubt myself now. I don’t think it was a Thomson’s gazelle. More like an Okapi, on reflection.
No ideas here, but loving that you’re being extremely zoologically specific in your hallucinations.
AddisonM · 16/12/2020 09:45

Oh they have those in Zoo Tycoon 🤓