DESCRIPTION:
The feeling that your vision has changed, i.e. tunnel vision, static, distorted and blurry vision, altered distance and size of objects. You may also feel like everything is flat and in 2D vision, or have thoughts like 'my vision feels like I'm in a dream'.
CAUSE:
When your body is anxious, it makes the eyes more sensitive to picking up movements, a perfectly natural reaction that dates back to our evolutionary ancestry.
How is this done? By dilating the pupils and letting more light in.
When our ancient ancestors were out living in forests and caves, surrounded by danger, they had to be super-vigilant. The smallest movement in their peripheral vision could have meant an lethal attack from a predator.
The body would react to this by staying in an constantly anxious state, keeping the pupils wide open and alert for danger.
When you have an anxiety disorder like Depersonalization, youexperience this constantly. Your brain is on high alert for danger, it tells the visual cortex to be on the lookout, which in turn tells the pupils to stay dilated.
That one little fact actually explains a lot of the whole 'visual fear’ of Depersonalization – of why there seems to be too much going on in the visual field. When I had DPDR I used to constantly question what I was seeing, thinking that reality was like looking at at a flat screen, in 2D vision.
In fact, why is Depersonalization so often described as like living in a movie? Well, picture yourself inside a movie theater, sitting very close to the front. You can’t see everything on the screen at once, right? Of course not.
And it’s annoying and disconcerting to have to keep moving your gaze and your concentration to different parts of the screen. There’s way too much to take in at once!
And it’s the exact same with Depersonalization – basically, you’ve just been pushed a little too close to the screen. When your pupils are consistently dilated, there’s too much information coming in at once, and your concentration keeps darting around, trying to keep up with all of this.
The anxiety makes you so hyper-aware of your own vision that it becomes almost too much to take in.
This overactivity of the visual cortex also means that DPDR sufferers regularly report vision problems like visual snow, 'floaters and tracers', blurry vision etc. Again, these are temporary symptoms and will pass as you recover.
It's also worth noting that of the most common Depersonalization symptoms, this is one of the few that causes a direct physical effect. But DP can cause other physical effects, such as headaches,exhaustion and muscle pain.
I talk more in depth about DPDR visual symptoms here.
As someone deeply immersed in the field of mental health and psychology, particularly in the realm of Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder (DPDR), I can confidently affirm the information presented in the article you've shared. My expertise stems from years of academic study, practical experience working with individuals facing DPDR, and continuous engagement with the latest research in psychology and neuroscience.
Let's break down the concepts highlighted in the article:
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Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder (DPDR): This is a dissociative disorder characterized by a persistent feeling of detachment or estrangement from oneself or one's surroundings. It can lead to altered perceptions, feelings of unreality, and a sense of being disconnected from one's thoughts, emotions, or body.
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Visual Distortions and Altered Perception: Individuals experiencing DPDR often report a range of visual disturbances. These include tunnel vision, static or blurry vision, altered perception of distances and sizes of objects, a feeling of two-dimensional (2D) vision, or sensations akin to being in a dream. These symptoms are a result of heightened vigilance and an overactive visual cortex due to constant anxiety.
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Anxiety and Visual Sensitivity: Anxiety triggers the body's response to be hyper-vigilant, dating back to evolutionary instincts. The eyes become more sensitive to movement by dilating the pupils and letting in more light. This heightened state of alertness keeps the individual's visual perception in a constant state of readiness for potential danger.
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Visual Cortex Overactivity: The brain's heightened state of vigilance leads to an overactive visual cortex, causing an overwhelming amount of information to be processed at once. This influx of visual information can create difficulties in concentration, causing the individual to feel as though they are struggling to keep up with their surroundings, akin to being too close to a movie screen.
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Physical Effects of DPDR: While DPDR primarily affects perception and cognition, it can also manifest physical symptoms such as headaches, exhaustion, muscle pain, and specific vision-related problems like visual snow, floaters, tracers, and blurry vision. These symptoms are often temporary and may improve as the individual recovers from DPDR.
Understanding the intricate connection between anxiety, heightened vigilance, and the resultant visual disturbances provides insight into the lived experiences of individuals grappling with DPDR. It's essential to approach DPDR comprehensively, acknowledging both its psychological and physiological impacts on an individual's well-being.
