The sensation of feeling “high,” characterized by lightheadedness, dizziness, euphoria, or a sense of disconnection, is a common experience that occurs without the influence of substances. This feeling of altered perception is often attributed to the body’s natural responses to internal imbalances, stress, or underlying physical conditions. These sensations are the direct result of temporary shifts in brain chemistry, metabolic function, or sensory processing. Understanding the root causes requires examining the various physiological and psychological mechanisms at play.
The Role of Stress and Anxiety
The body’s reaction to psychological strain is a frequent non-drug cause of feeling detached or altered. When the nervous system perceives a threat, it initiates a fight-or-flight response. This defensive state affects perception and cognition, leading to the sensation of unreality.
Acute anxiety or panic attacks often involve hyperventilation, a pattern of breathing that is deeper and more rapid than necessary. This causes the body to exhale too much carbon dioxide (CO2), leading to respiratory alkalosis. The drop in CO2 constricts blood vessels supplying the brain, reducing cerebral blood flow. This results in symptoms like tingling, lightheadedness, and mental confusion, closely mimicking intoxication.
This feeling of being detached from oneself is described as depersonalization, involving estrangement from one’s own body, thoughts, or feelings. The feeling that the surrounding world is unreal or dreamlike is called derealization. Derealization is an altered perception of the environment, where objects or people seem distorted or strange. These dissociative states are hallmark symptoms of anxiety and panic disorders.
Physiological and Metabolic Explanations
Disruptions to the body’s energy and fluid balance can affect mental clarity and stability. The brain requires a steady supply of fuel and oxygen, so any sudden drop in these resources can trigger noticeable symptoms.
Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a direct threat because the brain relies almost exclusively on glucose for energy. When glucose levels drop significantly, the brain is deprived of fuel, leading to neuroglycopenic symptoms. These symptoms include dizziness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and impaired judgment, which can feel like disorientation.
Dehydration influences mental state by reducing overall blood volume. This reduced cerebral perfusion can trigger lightheadedness and confusion as the brain attempts to compensate for the lack of circulating fluid. Even mild dehydration can impair cognitive function and lead to feelings of fatigue or disconnectedness.
Orthostatic hypotension is a sudden drop in blood pressure when moving from sitting or lying down to standing. Gravity causes blood to pool in the lower extremities. If cardiovascular reflexes do not compensate fast enough, cerebral blood flow temporarily dips, resulting in dizziness, lightheadedness, blurred vision, or confusion.
Sensory and Neurological Phenomena
The feeling of unreality can originate from the sensory and neurological systems that govern balance, perception, and consciousness. These causes involve direct, temporary changes in brain activity or the input signals the brain receives.
Vestibular issues, involving the inner ear system responsible for balance, can lead to severe dizziness or vertigo. When the input from the vestibular system is disrupted, the resulting sensory mismatch causes spatial disorientation. This makes a person feel profoundly unsteady or disconnected from their physical surroundings.
Certain neurological events, such as a migraine aura, can produce perceptual changes that mimic an altered state. Auras are temporary symptoms resulting from a wave of altered electrical activity spreading across the brain’s cortex. This can involve visual disturbances, or transient episodes of depersonalization, derealization, or confusion, even without pain.
Severe sleep deprivation profoundly alters cognitive function and perception. Going without adequate sleep impairs judgment, memory, and attention, leading to a general “fuzziness” in processing sensory input. In severe cases, extreme sleep loss can lead to visual distortions, time-perception changes, or temporary psychotic symptoms.
Next Steps and Seeking Professional Guidance
If these feelings are recurrent, persistent, or interfere with daily life, consulting a healthcare professional is the necessary next step. Self-diagnosis based on overlapping symptoms can be misleading and may delay the identification of an underlying condition.
It is helpful to track symptoms, noting when they occur, how long they last, and any potential triggers like lack of sleep, missed meals, or stressful events. A primary care physician can perform initial blood work and physical assessments to rule out common metabolic causes. Seek immediate medical attention if the sensation is sudden, severe, or accompanied by red-flag symptoms such as chest pain, loss of consciousness, persistent vomiting, or a sudden, severe headache.