The feeling of being “high” when completely sober is a common and often distressing experience. This sensation, which manifests as a persistent feeling of being foggy, disconnected, or viewing the world through a sheet of glass, is a recognized symptom with identifiable psychological and physical origins. It is important to understand that this feeling is not a sign of losing your mind, but rather a signal that your brain is processing information abnormally, often as a temporary defensive reaction to stress or a physical imbalance.
Defining Depersonalization and Derealization
The sensations contributing to feeling “unreal” or “high” are clinically categorized as depersonalization and derealization. Depersonalization involves a subjective sense of detachment from one’s own self. You may feel like an outside observer of your thoughts, feelings, or body, manifesting as emotional numbness or feeling disconnected from your physical movements.
Derealization is the feeling of detachment from your surroundings, causing the external world to appear distorted, hazy, or dream-like. Objects may seem lifeless, blurry, or unnaturally flat, and time may feel like it is speeding up or slowing down. Both are dissociative symptoms, meaning the mind creates a protective distance from an experience it perceives as overwhelming. The person remains aware that their perceptions are altered, which makes the experience frustrating.
The Role of Anxiety and Stress
The most frequent trigger for these dissociative states is overwhelming stress, chronic anxiety, or acute panic attacks. When the brain perceives a threat, it activates the sympathetic nervous system, initiating the “fight or flight” response and flooding the body with stress hormones. This intense physiological arousal can trigger a dissociative response as a psychological defense mechanism.
The brain attempts to protect itself from extreme emotional distress by dampening sensory and emotional processing. This sudden emotional numbing and detachment create the feeling of being spaced out or unreal. For people with generalized anxiety or panic disorder, the fear of the physical symptoms creates a feedback loop: anxiety triggers dissociation, which fuels more anxiety. This cycle can lead to a persistent state of feeling detached.
Physical and Neurological Causes
The sensation of unreality can also stem from physical disruptions in the brain’s sensory processing centers. Vestibular dysfunction, involving problems with the inner ear and the brain’s balance system, is a frequent non-psychological cause. The vestibular system is responsible for sensing gravity and spatial orientation. When it malfunctions, it creates a sensory mismatch between what your eyes see and what your inner ear is reporting.
This conflicting information can lead to feelings of being “on a boat,” unsteadiness, or being “spaced out.” Another neurological cause is vestibular migraine, a type of migraine that often occurs without a headache but centers on the balance system. During an episode, neurological changes can cause intense dizziness, visual distortion, and a feeling of depersonalization. Chronic sleep deprivation also alters cognitive function, disrupting sensory input processing and leading to a persistent, foggy detachment.
Metabolic and Substance Triggers
Fluctuations in the body’s chemistry and certain substances can mimic the sensation of being high by directly affecting brain function. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a common metabolic trigger, as glucose is the primary fuel source for the brain. When blood glucose levels drop below a certain threshold, typically around 3.0 mmol/L (54 mg/dL), the brain begins to starve, resulting in cognitive impairment, confusion, and mental fog.
Certain medications and recreational substances also induce or worsen feelings of detachment. Substances like cannabis, hallucinogens, and the withdrawal phase from stimulants can trigger acute episodes of derealization or depersonalization. They achieve this by altering neurotransmitter activity and disrupting the brain’s perception of reality.
When to Consult a Professional
Transient feelings of detachment are common, but persistent, recurring, or suddenly worsening symptoms warrant a professional evaluation. Consult a primary care physician first to rule out any immediate physical or metabolic conditions. Prompt medical attention is necessary if symptoms include a sudden onset accompanied by a severe headache, loss of consciousness, fainting, vision changes, or difficulty with coordination.
If physical causes are ruled out, a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, can assess whether the symptoms relate to an anxiety disorder, trauma, or a dissociative disorder. Treatment typically involves psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps to ground the individual and address the underlying stress or anxiety driving the dissociative state.