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Derealization (people/places not feeling familiar)
Fri, 12/27/2019 - 08:26Topic: Share Your Story
Hi Fellow Warriors,
Does anyone else here suffer from derealization for days after a seizure? I have temporal lobe epilepsy with simple partial seizures. During seizures I get extreme deja vu, nausea and some fear. I already know that during the deja vu, I should definitely not try to “follow” or go deeper into this deja vu to explore it, cause it makes it even worse. Best thing is to ignore it and focus on something else. While an episode like that is not enjoyable, it only lasts seconds. What is much more troubling is the days after.
The days after my TLE (especially if I had several ones), places and people no longer feel familiar. I or course remember everything about them and their whole history, but it’s like I see them for the first time (very hard to describe it). It really sucks to see my daughter in a way like I don’t know her.
On the positive side, I tell people that almost noone has the opportunity in life to meet their family and friends from a true “outsider” perspective and meet them for the first time again, while still knowing everything about them.
My question: does anyone experience the same? And more importantly: how long does it last on average? For me it’s been days now so I hope it will go away soon.
Comments
I can't say that I feel the
Submitted by birdman on Sat, 2019-12-28 - 09:47
I can't say that I feel the same "derealization", but I did experience an extreme opposite many times just days after the generalized seizures. As a teen I had the generalized seizures and spent a couple days recovering with resting, migraines, and vomit. By the third or fourth day Mom offered to take me to town and get my first meal in days. Then I went along with her shopping. Along the isles I say shoppers whom I was sure I recognized. I smiled and nodded my head as we passed but out of the side of my eye I saw their look that said, "who was that?" Later at checkout I saw people I knew. For example, "Mom, is that the lady that sings in choir at church?" "No; I know who you are talking about but no that isn't her."This lasted for only a couple days but I often wonder how it has influenced my confidence in greeting others.Mike
Olivier,Thank you for sharing
Submitted by birdman on Sun, 2019-12-29 - 15:48
Olivier,Thank you for sharing that. I think you're the first person with epilepsy who has told me they have that experience where others look familiar. I never thought of it as related to deja vu but I guess it could be.
Hi, Thank you for sharing
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 2019-12-27 - 09:05
Hi, Thank you for sharing your story. It’s important that you're following up with your healthcare team to review this further and if you experience any changes in seizure types, frequency, side effects, behaviors and symptoms, to determine what individual treatment plan is best for you. Seizures can take on many different forms and affect different people in different ways.Some commonly reported symptoms before, during or after a seizure include Déjà vu (a feeling that a person, place or thing is familiar, but you've never experienced it before), or Jamais vu (feeling that a person, place or thing is new or unfamiliar, but it's not). To learn more about TLE, please visit: ,https://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-epilepsy-syndromes/temporal-lobe-epilepsy-aka-tleIf you do not already, you may want to consider keeping a journal or a diary. My Seizure Diary:https://www.epilepsy.com/living-epilepsy/epilepsy-foundation-my-seizure-diaryis a great tool for identifying & tracking seizures, setting reminders,managing medications & side effects, recording medical history, moods, behaviors, triggers,and other personal experiences, that may affect seizures and wellness, which can be shared with your healthcare team. Additionally, you may always to contact our 24/7 Helpline, where trained information specialists are available to answer your questions, offer help, hope, support, guidance, and access to national and local resources. 1-800-332-1000, or contactus@efa.org. epilepsy.com/helpline