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Mental Health  (Expert Forum)
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Everything seems to go really fast
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD) , bipolar disorder , dementia , electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) , learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic , personality disorders, phobias , post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , schizophrenia , stress , transitions, and work problems.

Everything seems to go really fast

by rusty79, Nov 08, 2007 09:13AM
Not sure if this is right place to ask this but guess good a place as any. Sometimes when im lying in bed everything seems to go really fast. Personal and outside things. Like if i talk to myself the words in my head seemed to be done very quickly. Even my thoughts wiz around like lightning. If i move i seem to move very quickly, even if make sure im moving my leg very slowly it still seems to be moving extremely fast. If it's raining like it was the other night the rain seems to be dropping 90 to the dozen.

Only happens infrequently, like once every month or two, but has been happening as far back as i can remember (im 28). My heart rate doesnt go up and my pulse seems to be normal. If i turn the light on things go back to normal speed. After about 10 mins or so id imagine things start to slow down to normal rate again.

Is there any explanation for this? Ive never asked anyone about it before but after the other night thought id try and find out if there's a reason for it.

Thanks.

by Roger Gould, M.D., Nov 08, 2007 04:55PM
To: rusty79
Rusty, everyone has their own brand of anxiety state, and set of images,that is played out somatically.  this sounds like your vestige of a childhood nightmare, that is now transformed into a signal of anxiety. It is not a typical neurological symptom, and since you have had it for so long, it is not a sign of a brain problem.
Member Comments (6)

by lobespaz, Nov 11, 2007 12:24PM
To: rusty79
Hi Rusty...

You know...I used to have that alot....it was the worst feeling ever...I never sought help for it, because it was so hard to explain to people thoroughly....much of the time, it would occur for me when I was doing something repetative--eventually, I was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy, given medication, and never had issues with that anymore...until I stopped taking the medication...

Just thought I'd let you know you're not alone out there.  Get to a doctor, you deserve to feel better.

by SadieSunflower, Nov 17, 2007 02:47PM
To: rusty79
I agree with lobespz that it could be a seizure. If it doesn't really bother you then I personally wouldn't worry about it. It can be very difficult to get an epilepsy diagnosis and the meds are terrible to take anyway.

by lissayun, Nov 19, 2007 01:16AM
To: Rusty
I too have experienced what you've described, infrequently, since I was young. When the spells occur, they typically last five minutes. In that time, I perceive my movements to be extremely fast, despite the fact that i know I am moving slowly. I could be typing or just raising my arm and it seems to be in fast-forward. I never consulted medical help because I did not know how to explain what I was feeling.
Thanks for raising this issue on this forum.

by Sheralyn, Dec 14, 2007 02:21AM
To: Rusty79
I used to get racing thoughts when very anxious.  Xanax helps, but take it only as your doctor prescribes.  It completely eliminates my racing thoughts.

by Lambert995, Jan 06, 2008 08:12AM
To: Rusty
I.v had that before loads of times and i only seem to get it either when im ill or when im laid in bed and cant sleep. it lasts about 10 minutes or so and its not a nice feeling. It happened to me when i was laying on the settee and the music on the tv was going really really fast and i got up and everything i did was fast. The only way i could get rid of it was to lay down with a pillow over my head and it eventually stopped. It may sound weird but when it happens i can taste or feel something in my mouth. Its like a chunky feeling and it feels like im chewing on one of those things u stick fake flowers into. ( an oasis so iv been told.) My friend has had the same thing but i thing i get it worse than him. I,v never really seen a doctor about it because it doesnt happen enough for it to really bother me, and they would probably think im mad. Thank you for raising this issue on this forum.
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