Seeing things that aren’t there

[HarryHarryHarry3]

I guess this doesn’t belong in AIBU but I want people to see it in the hope that someone has had a similar experience and advice.

I have a history of mental illness but nothing too extreme, mostly periodic bouts of depression with one notable manic phase, though my doctor agrees I’m not bipolar.

Recently I have started seeing things that aren’t there. Specifically, I think I see someone, but when I look again, they’re a completely different person. For example I was in the supermarket car park waiting for a young woman to back out of her parking space so I could get to my car. I could see her clearly - hair colour, style, clothing. When she finished reversing I looked again and got a shock to see that “she” was actually an elderly man, different hair colour, body shape, posture, clothing, everything.

I then got in my car and drove out of the car park. When I was waiting at the junction I suddenly realized that I could not turn right, as I always do, as there was no lane on the right, only on the left. I was really confused and sat there for a minute or so (there was no one behind me) trying to figure out where I had gone wrong and what I should do. I ended up turning left and heading back home on the main road. As I passed the junction, I looked back and saw that the road I had been on did in fact have 1 lane in either direction, just like always. I cannot understand what happened and why I was unable to see it when it was right in front of me. In the end it took me about 15 minutes to complete what is normally a 5 minute drive. I was really shaken up and cried when I got home.

My doctor thinks there is nothing wrong except maybe “stress” (I don’t really have any). Should I keep pushing it? Is there something wrong or is it just age (I’m 35) or what?

I would see someone privately, that sounds scary and a horrible experience I would want more of an explanation that stress. hope you can get some answers

*than stress

I’d go back to the GP (or another GP) to try and get help for this. Hoping you’re ok x

Im 40 and theres times at work im rushing about then stop dead trying to remember what it is ive to get, like my mind goes totally blank. It could be our ages or even the onset of menopause, which could take years or just a total mental block because of stress. We are living in unnerving times and its playing havoc with our mental state whether we know it or not. Dont be hard on yourself though.

At the very least i'd stop driving til you get this sorted out, you could end up seriously injuring someone, or worse.

But that's completely normal, @Itsmeagainandagain. That's not what the OP is saying.

OP, I think you need to get an urgent second opinion. What you're describing isn't a normal stress reaction and as you say, you're not suffering from stress anyway. I would ask for a referral to a psychiatrist. Can you afford to book a private appointment?

Id see a new GP, go private if you have to. This doesnt sound like stress. Although stress can cause onset of a whole host of either mental or neurological issues. You need to get neurological issues ruled out first before you go down mental health route.

Yes, a second opinion needed. I lived like this for a long time- seeing things/confused. It turned out to be epilepsy. Worth just checking.

Could also be something like narcolepsy. A relative of mine would see things but they had actually fallen asleep for a few seconds and were dreaming. Get it checked out and I would also agree with AlmostJillSandwich, don't drive.

Transitory psychotic phenomena at times of stress is more common than you might think, but what you are describing sounds like it is having a real impact in your life and wellbeing.

I'd be going back to the GP, and being as assertive as you can. Seeing things when you are driving is a big safety concern.

I'm afraid I also think you need to disclose this to the DVLA.

Very definitely ask for a second opinion - they were wrong to fob you off, that's not stress-related confusion that's (potentially) visual hallucination, which should always be investigated.

I'm sorry - I imagine it's very scary and even more so not to be believed by your doctor. Push for another, urgent, appointment with a different doctor, and write down any examples you remember. Also good to find and practice some grounding tips - if these are hallucinations they won't make them go away necessarily but they may help center you if you feel panicked.

Good luck, OP.

I meant to ask; were you sleep deprived? Years ago after not sleeping for days and jet lag I hallucinated that there was a gorilla in an army uniform on the bus beside me

I’m not stressed or sleep-deprived so I can’t really think of an explanation. Another doctor ruled out neurological problems when I was having dizzy spells recently. I’m not in the UK but yes I am going to avoid driving from now on.

Please see someone else for a second opinion. This could end up being serious.

This sounds really scary, you poor thing. My ex sil has epilepsy and this is how she describes her absence seizures. I'd get the neurological route checked out again.

Have uou wvwr suffered from migraine? Migraine can "blank out" areas of the visual field, and our brains can fill in the gaps with something it "expects" to be ther (eg tarmac, but missing the white lines. So rhis might be an avenue to investigate, it may be via the same routw as investigating possible epilepsy. But you do need to get to the bottom of it I think

Sounds very disconcerting. Get your eyes tested!

www.nhs.uk/conditions/charles-bonnet-syndrome/

This sounds like me when I have aura symptoms at the start of a migraine. Migraines are neurological but you usually can't see them on a brain scan, same with pseudo-seizures (which are real seizures just with a psychological root cause), it could also be narcolepsy or epilepsy or many other neurological and/or psychological conditions. How did they rule it out being something neurological? It's not as simple as just asking a few questions or doing a MRI, as a lot of conditions do not show up on MRI and can have atypical symptoms, especially migraine which IME you can have almost any symptom, and not always a headache in the case of so called silent migraines

The doctor did some tests on my eye movement and said they move normally which indicates no neurological problems. I guess he was fobbing me off again. I will have to go back I think.

I know derealisation can be really scary…things don’t feel real and like different to what they are, maybe worth looking into that. It does sound scary and a dr really should be referring you for further tests.

My sister has epilepsy and she sees people making horrible demonic faces when a seizure is coming on.

@Housechaos

Yes, a second opinion needed. I lived like this for a long time- seeing things/confused. It turned out to be epilepsy. Worth just checking.

I was coming on here to write the same thing. My sister has epilepsy in this form and she was unable to drive for 12 months until they knew her medication was correct.

OP, push for second opinion and get neuro causes properly investigated/ruled out. Sounds scary to me.

@HarryHarryHarry3

The doctor did some tests on my eye movement and said they move normally which indicates no neurological problems. I guess he was fobbing me off again. I will have to go back I think.

This is only a very cursory check to do, if you are seeing things you need something more.

I was gping to suggest charles bonnet syndrome. N alternative option is to go to the optician and describe you symptoms. They can check your eye health, do a field of vision test and send a letter to your gp recommending a referral, your gp might be more inclined with another person backing you up