Does anyone else have this?
I believe I’m seeing, hearing and smelling small details that aren’t there (e.g. I believe I made my bed but if I go back and focus and check I realise I didn’t, or I smell stuff like gasoline in a park when there’s no real source). It’s slightly freaky and reality is getting slightly blurred, does anyone know what this is?
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Hi I experience something kind of similar. I get voices when there's nothing there or I get emotional reactions to things that aren't happening, feelings of someone watching me, I guess that's a bit different. I get the smells tho too, sometimes it feels like it's someone else's environment or its coming from a different source I'm picking up on. Let me know if you relate 🙂
Hi @M3R1D1AN,
Welcome to the ReachOut Youth Community! Thank you for your courage in sharing your experiences. Hearing voices and picking up on smells from a source that is hard to pinpoint can bring about a sense of uncertainty and distress.
I'm wondering how long this has been going on for you? Have you contacted your GP or a health professional about this?
We have an article here on another person's who has shared a similar experience. If you're looking for direct one-on-one support, we have a PeerChat service where you can talk with a peer worker who may have had similar experiences. Beyond Blue can offer free 24/7 counselling support over the phone or online. SANE also has a range of comprehensive resources that you may find helpful.
We will also be sending you an email. Please keep an eye out for it!
Hi @Lolamations
Sometimes everyone has forgetful moments such as thinking we may have done something when we didn't. I'm unable to explain the smelling of gasoline, however, in the example you mentioned.
How often does this occur? If this is a very common thing, and especially something that causes distress, I would definitely look into consulting a GP about it to understand why this may be happening and get down to the root cause 💛
Hey @Lolamations !
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us, it takes a lot of courage to do this, and you should feel really proud! I can imagine that it would feel pretty disorienting and distressing to feel that you're having sensory experiences that don't match up with reality. I think that it would be really confusing and upsetting to not know why you're experiencing this. I'm really sorry if you've been feeling any of these things 💜.
I'm wondering whether you've had a chat about this with any friends or family members at all? I find it super valuable to be able to lean on my loved ones when i'm experiencing something that's confusing or upsetting. I think that @Matcha_Toad and @Bel_RO have made some really great suggestions here about potentially speaking to someone like your GP, a psychologist, counsellor, or even Kids Helpline! These types of people have lots of experience and would be able to give you some really great insight into what you've been experiencing, and advice for dealing with any distress that you've been experiencing as a result.
I love @Matcha_Toad 's suggestion about doing some self-care, it's so important to look after ourselves, especially when we're experiencing something challenging. Self-care can be big fun things that you like doing but also just small tasks that help care for you (eg cooking your favourite meal)!
I'm sending lots of care your way 💛.
Hi @Lolamations
Thank you for opening up on here about what you have been experiencing, it sounds like it has been quite distressing for you to see/hear/smell things that are not there and to feel that your reality is becoming blurred.
I am unable to provide you with an answer as to what is happening for you, but I highly suggest that you speak with a GP, counsellor or psychologist and explain what has been happening for you, how long it has been happening and its impact on the quality of your life.
Myself and everyone else here on ReachOut are here to support you through this. And as @Bel_RO mentioned, Kids Helpline is available 24/7 and can provide you with support.
I am so sorry that I can't provide you with an explanation as to what's causing you to experience what you have been experiencing, but I am here to provide you with support and comfort.
If you are able to this afternoon/evening, try to set aside some time to practice some self-care, doing something you enjoy/something that makes you feel good, whether that's playing a videogame or playing with a pet; self-care is so important, and it could help you get through this.
Take care,
- Matcha_Toad 🐸🍵💚
Hey @Lolamations,
Welcome to ReachOut! Thank you for sharing what you have been going through. I can hear that you’ve been seeing, hearing and smelling small details that aren’t there. This sounds really tough and overwhelming. I am curious to know how long you have been experiencing this for?
Often speaking to someone about what you are experiencing can be helpful, so I am wondering if you’ve spoken to friends and family about this? It is also really useful to speak to a professional who has experience with what you have described. Are you seeing a GP or mental health professional like a psychologist about what you are going through? If not, I encourage you to contact your GP and the school counsellor who will be able to support you.
If you start to feel quite upset and frightened about what you are experiencing, I encourage you to contact Kids Helpline who offer free 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
An email was also sent to you to check in on your wellbeing, so please keep an eye out for that!
