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Weird mental flashes - what could it be?

A few months ago, I walked outside of my office and felt this weird "flash".  It was basically like deja vu in a way, except that it did not happen.  It lasted only a few seconds, and I could not place it.  A week or so later as I was walking out, I remembered it happening and before I could do anything else, it happened again.  It was odd, but the "visions" were few and far between.  Then, it increased to eventually get to where it is 3-4 times a day for maybe 2 minutes each.  I try hard to isolate and figure out what it is I am seeing.  There are certain things that  seem to "trigger" them, and sometimes they come completely out of no where.  There are flashes of things.  An Asian language, a red switch, something done wrong the first time, but was known for the second time. . . I can never quite lock onto it or relate it to myself.  Although the memories or flashes or whatever do not seem to be of anything sad, when they finish I am overcome with grief.  My heart is beating like crazy and sometimes I am shaking.  Lately, I have been getting terrible headaches that last for hours.  Usually my headaches are in my forehead area, but these seem to be over my whole head.  Sometimes they get to the point where I almost do not want to close my eyes for fear they will not open again and things will just end.  They are not terribly painful, but make me dizzy and are kind of consuming.  
A few weeks ago, I watched a fictional show, and on it one of the characters had flashes that seemed a lot like I was having.  Quick at first and then longer and closer together.  On the show, it turned out to be this memory from his past, but were coming across that way because he had a tumor.  Obviously, it kind of freaked me out.  If I go to a doctor and explain this, I think they will give me some Tylenol and tell me I am stressed or something and I will feel dumb and will have wasted $50 or so.  If I do not go, though, and later find out something really was wrong. . .    I can not tell if I am being paranoid or not.  
I do not have a regular doctor, or would probably feel more comfortable.  I also had a big problem with a doctor when I was a teenager that has caused me to feel a bit skeptical of doctors.  My mind tells me to trust doctors, but my memory tells me I am on my own.  


Not sure if any of this will help, but just in case:
I am a female, 26 years old.  
5'6" 175 pounds
I have been losing weight by cutting calories, but doing it gradually (25 pounds over about a year).  There have been no changes to what I eat, just how much.  
No tobacco, drugs, or alcohol.
I generally have between 6-8 glasses of water each day.  
Oversleep a lot (many days 12-13 hours).  
Usually have around 40 oz. of caffeine each day.
I do not take any medicine, except for Aleve during my periods.  
My job is a basic desk job with an evening shift.
Although I have stress, it is not at an unusual level.
Nothing traumatic has happened recently.  
I decreased elevation by around 2,500 feet when I moved, but that was over a year ago.  
I do change elevation at least 4 times a week (but only by a few hundred feet as far as I can tell. . .basically from the valley to the top of the mountain and back).
I do not have any allergies that I know of.
I have never had any surgeries.
I have never given birth or been pregnant.
My bowel movements are generally once a week except during my period, when they are daily.
My periods seem about regular, but were extremely heavy when I was in my teens.

The "flashes" have happened at home, in the car, in a store, and at work.  Both night and day.  Both with other people around and without.  

Any ideas or suggestions welcome as to what might be causing this, what I might be able to do on my on, or what to ask the doctor (and what kind of doctor to see).  Any other information that I can provide, please let me know.   I really appreciate anyone who spent their time to read this.  Thank you.  
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Avatar universal
Not sure if my previous comment was posted, so I'm posting again.
I'm not sure what is causing your weird mental flashes but I want to comment on your bowel movements.  The following is an extract on bowel movement frequency and colon cancer:
"The relationship between bowel movement (BM) frequency and the risk of colorectal cancer was examined in a large cohort of 25 731 men and 37 198 women living in 24 communities in Japan. At enrolment, each participant completed a self-administrated questionnaire on BM frequency and laxative use. Incidence rate ratios (IRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using Cox's proportional-hazard model. During the follow-up period (average length 7.6 years), 649 cases of colorectal cancer, including 429 cases of colon cancer, were identified. Among women, subjects who reported a BM every 2-3 days had the lowest risk of developing colorectal (IRR=0.71, 95% CI=0.52-0.97) and colon cancer (IRR=0.70, 95% CI=0.49-1.00), whereas those reporting a BM every 6 days or less had an increased risk of developing colorectal (IRR=2.47, 95% CI=1.01-6.01) and colon cancer (IRR=2.52, 95% CI=0.93-6.82) compared with those reporting 1 BM per day. A similar, but nonsignificant, association between the frequency of BM and cancer risk was observed in men. There was no association between colorectal or colon cancer risk and laxative use. Regulating BM frequency might therefore have a role in the prevention of colorectal cancer".
British Journal of Cancer (2004) 90, 1397-1401.
doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6601735 Published online 9 March 2004)

You should eat more fibrous foods such as fruit and vegetables to increase the frequency of bowel movements.  You might also eat a number of under-ripe apricots or dried prunes to get started.

Helpful - 0
563773 tn?1374246539
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,

Deja-Vu is the feeling that you are re-experiencing some specific event from the past in the present.There can be a few possibilities for this.Firstly it can be due to hypoglycemia causing insufficient supply to glucose to the brain via the blood and hence such symptoms.Eat healthy,nutritious food and take them at regular intervals rather than a huge fatty meal.

Secondly,it can represent some problem with the amygdla or parahippocampus in the brain. amygdala controls present thoughts and short term memory. The parahippocampal controls past thoughts or long term memory.

Thirdly,it can be due to association with temporal-lobe epilepsy.

I feel that this needs consultation from a neurologist if even after taking healthy food the symptoms persist.In that case ,pls get yourself evaluated.

Hope it helps.
Take care and pls do keep us posted on how you are doing.


Helpful - 0
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