Have you heard of Alice in the Wonderland Syndrome? If not, well check this
Now I want you to pay close attention, because this medical Syndrome, once it hits you, it literally makes you feel as if you’ve stepped right into a fairytale or should I say a fantasy storybook. You know those fairy tale storybooks where thing look bigger or smaller than their actual size in reality? Yeah, those ones.
Image by Willgard Krause from Pixabay
I stumbled on this and its actually crazy, maybe you still don't get it, I am literally talking about a situation, a medical condition to be more accurate, where that adorable cat of your suddenly looks as big as a lion, and your room that feels spacious and accommodating start to shrink. Sounds like a joke right? well its no joke. This is a real life condition that’s kind of funny and a little confusing at the same time .
Now what exactly is this condition?
Well come along with me and lets find out, shall we ...
This particular condition is called Alice In the Wonderland Syndrome, or AIWS. Its basically a rare problem that tricks your brain and changes how you see the world. In basic term, it changes your perception of the world . Things might look huge one minute and tiny the next, if size fluctuations was a condition, here it is. That your phone might suddenly turn into the size of a pizza or your cutey little hamster that you adore and love so much start looking like an hippopotamus. And nope, it’s not magic, it’s just your brain playing tricks on you.
Who are the most likely victims of this condition?
I think the answer should be obvious, but lets state it categorically. This condition mostly happens to kids and teenagers, but grown-ups can have it too. It can show up for a short time or hang around longer, making the world feel like it’s straight out of a cartoon, fantasy novel or fairy tale. The syndrome is named after the famous story where Alice keeps changing size during her adventures. Some people even think Lewis Carroll had this syndrome himself and used it as an inspiration. Talk about turning lemons into lemonade, right? because like they say, if life gives you lemons, well go ahead and make some...
What does it feel like?
Image by gene1970 from Pixabay
Okay here is how it feels like, imagine sitting in your room alright, all is normal, then suddenly your chair seems to grow legs and walk away, thats a literal nightmare, or maybe your walls lean in like they’re trying to give you a big, weird hug. And your hands? They look like an oversized balloon . That’s what an episode of AIWS can be like.
Here is what people with AIWS might see apparently:
Objects might look much smaller than they really are. Suddenly, your TV that take the whole wall space looks like it can fit into that your small lunchbox .
Objects start to seem huge. That your regular spoon now looks like it’s made purposely for a giant’s breakfast.
Another thing is, things may appear way too close, or far too close
Yeah it not only about things looking far too close, things might also look so far away, you’d think you need binoculars just to find your own shoes.
But one thing you have to know is that, Its all happening in the brain. Its all in your head, nothing is real
So, what makes this happen?
The most common reason known is migraines. They can mess with blood flow in parts of the brain that help with seeing and understanding what you see. Some people get this syndrome because of infections like mono (the kissing disease), and sometimes it’s linked to epilepsy or even certain medicines.
And it’s not just about what you see. AIWS can also change how you feel time passing. A minute might feel like an hour, or a soft blanket might feel as strange as sandpaper. It’s like your senses are pulling pranks on you just because they can.
The good news?
Image by Willgard Krause from Pixabay
The good news is that AIWS doesn’t last forever. Episodes can last a few minutes or go on for a few hours, but they usually end on their own. The best way to handle it is to treat whatever is causing it. If it’s migraines, treat those. If it’s an infection, take care of that. Once the main problem is fixed, the odd episodes usually stop.
Yeah, until then, if you’re dealing with AIWS, just try to go with the flow. If your living room suddenly looks like a circus tent , just remind yourself that even Alice woke up from her strange dream, so you would eventually wake up... Or not ?
What do you think about this condition? Has it happen you or maybe someone you know ?Let me know in the comments
Thanks for reading
Further Readings
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24491-alice-in-wonderland-syndrome-aiws
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/alice-in-wonderland-syndrome
Credit
- All images used were gotten from Pixabay.com
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