We all battle with physique picture infrequently. But what in case your precise notion of the way you (and issues round you) look is being affected? We clarify extra about Alice in Wonderland syndrome, the way it impacts completely different folks, and the place you’ll find assist to cease from falling down this rabbit gap
It will be arduous to recollect generally, however we every understand the world in our personal distinctive means. While some variations are extra frequent – we’ve all heard of color blindness – others can happen a lot much less often.
Despite the whimsical identify, Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AWS), often known as Todd’s syndrome, is a uncommon neurological dysfunction. First found within the Fifties by British psychiatrist Dr John Todd, and named as a result of its signs resemble experiences that occurred to Alice in Lewis Carroll’s well-known novel, the syndrome may cause momentary adjustments in your visible notion, physique picture, and the way you expertise time. It can lead folks to really feel like they’re bodily bigger or smaller than they are surely, or that the furnishings or room round them is shifting to turn into nearer or additional away.
Mostly present in kids, there’s nonetheless lots we don’t learn about this uncommon neurological dysfunction, why it occurs, or what we are able to do to repair it. But, as with most wellbeing-related issues, with consciousness comes some reduction in itself.
How does AWS have an effect on folks?
Alice in Wonderland syndrome can have an effect on your imaginative and prescient, listening to, and contact, in addition to your notion of time – making you suppose it’s passing quicker or slower. Exactly the way it can have an effect on you varies from individual to individual, in addition to episode to episode.
Typically, these episodes can final wherever from a couple of minutes to half an hour, and customary signs you could expertise embody:
- Migraines
- Size, perceptual, sound, or time distortion
- Loss of coordination or limb management
Some folks additionally expertise a sense of disconnection from their physique, ideas, emotions, and/or atmosphere, which will be unsettling.
While kids and younger adults are thought to expertise it extra usually, some consultants suppose that adults may very well expertise AWS greater than is reported. As we regularly see with psychological well being issues, stigma might be taking part in a task right here, inflicting folks to not attain out as a consequence of worries about describing what they’re seeing, and being afraid it could be mistaken for hallucinations, or dismissed fully.
What causes AWS?
The precise causes of Alice in Wonderland syndrome aren’t at the moment identified. Some consultants imagine AWS may very well be an aura (an early sensory indication of a migraine), or a uncommon sort of migraine in and of itself. Other researchers imagine it might be brought on by head trauma, infections, or uncommon electrical exercise within the mind affecting blood circulation to the components of your mind that course of your atmosphere and visible perceptions.
Other attainable causes are considered stress, epilepsy, stroke, mind tumour, or cough drugs. Those with a household historical past of AWS or migraines
could have the next threat of experiencing it themselves.
But what’s necessary to recognise is that signs aren’t brought on by hallucinations, issues along with your imaginative and prescient, or psychological or neurological sickness, somewhat, they’re brought on by adjustments in how your mind is perceiving your physique, and the atmosphere you’re in.
How to get a analysis
If you suppose you could be experiencing signs of AWS, step one is to make an appointment along with your GP. There at the moment isn’t a single check to diagnose AWS, so your physician could must refer you to specialists to rule out different attainable causes of your signs. This might embody getting an MRI scan, an EEG, and blood assessments to rule out different viruses or infections.
How do you deal with AWS?
While there aren’t at the moment any particular therapies to assist with AWS, it’s beneficial to relaxation and anticipate signs to go, as whereas they are often disconcerting, they aren’t technically dangerous. Some medical doctors could counsel treating sure signs like migraines, as this will likely assist to stop additional episodes.
If you or your GP really feel that stress might be making your signs worse, they could suggest stress administration or leisure methods, meditation or practising mindfulness. Understanding your stress triggers, taking care of your wellbeing (bodily and mentally), adopting more healthy coping mechanisms, and making certain self-care is part of your common routine, can all assist to scale back general stress ranges.
Common suggestions can embody over-the-counter painkillers, anti-sickness treatment prescribed by your GP, acupuncture, or working with a specialist migraine clinic.
Typically, Alice in Wonderland syndrome will get higher over time. It’s extraordinarily uncommon to have any additional issues or issues, so if studying about this seems like peering in a wanting glass, it gained’t final eternally and you’ll find assist.
To discover assist to your psychological well being, go to the Counselling Directory or converse to a certified counsellor.