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?

Are you on any medication? (because you said you have suffered with bouts of depression in the past). Some medications have hallucinations etc as a side effect and even if you have taken them for a long time, you can suddenly start developing a side effect much later on.

I second INSISTING on a referral, these symptoms absolutely require thorough investigation, especially with your family history of epilepsy and your mental health history. A GP doing a brief neuro check on you is disgustingly insufficient. How dare he write something so significant off as stress? 😡

That’s really scary OP, I’m so sorry you’re going through that. I’ve had two periods of extreme stress in my life (although during the second I didn’t feel that stressed, just depressed really), and I started seeing things. It’s nothing compared to what you’ve been seeing though. Mine was shadows and bugs or spiders moving across a wall, I could see them out the corner of my eye, but when I would turn to look properly, they weren’t there. To me that sounds quite different to what you’re experiencing.

How long have you been experiencing it? I think mine lasted about two months each time. I would absolutely push the GPS on this.

Are you able to go private?

Hi everyone sorry I have only just seen the latest posts on this thread. In answer to your questions, no I’m not on any medications but yes, I do have private health insurance so I will look into getting a second opinion. I will also see an optician as soon as I can because I feel like my eyes have become slower recently - if that makes sense. Like one of the previous posters I have been seeing funny things out of the corner of my eye for a couple of months - the more extreme stuff has only been going on for the last couple of weeks.

The doctors at my GP surgery never seem to believe me about anything. Eg when I got Covid right at the start of the pandemic they refused to test me and actually suggested it was all in my head. It’s as if as soon as they find out you’ve had previous mental health problems, everything must be down to that. But I will keep pushing.

If you have private medical insurance can you go straight to a neurologist?

That GP sounds shocking.

Hope you get some answers. This sounds really disconcerting and can't be pleasant for you.

Can you find a new GP? This surgery don't sound great in general, from your latest update. Also, can you book with a specialist direct where you live? (You can here, you don't need to see a GP first.) It sounds terrifying, please do keep pushing until you get to see someone helpful!