When you experience the sensation of feeling “high,” “spaced out,” or detached from reality without having consumed any substances, you are encountering a common, though confusing, symptom. These sensations can include lightheadedness, a feeling of unreality, and a profound sense of detachment. The experience is not a diagnosis in itself, but rather a sign that certain psychological or physiological processes in the body have become temporarily dysregulated. Understanding the various origins of this altered state can help demystify the experience.
When The Mind Changes Perception: Dissociation and Panic
The brain possesses powerful coping mechanisms, and when faced with overwhelming stress or anxiety, it can trigger a defensive shift in perception known as dissociation. This response is essentially a mental detachment from an experience that is too intense to process in the moment. The dissociative experience often manifests in two primary ways: depersonalization and derealization.
Depersonalization involves feeling detached from your own self, as if observing your life from outside your body. Derealization is the feeling that the world around you is unreal, foggy, or dreamlike, where surroundings may appear visually distorted or lifeless. Both are protective responses, not indicators of a serious mental break, and are frequently linked to high stress, chronic anxiety, or past trauma.
Another powerful psychological trigger is a panic attack, which rapidly induces an altered state through physical means. During panic, the body enters a state of fight-or-flight, often leading to hyperventilation. This excessive exhalation quickly drops the carbon dioxide levels in the bloodstream, a state known as hypocapnia. The resulting imbalance causes blood vessels leading to the brain to constrict. This reduction in cerebral blood flow leads to physical symptoms like lightheadedness, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating, which contribute to the feeling of unreality or being “out of it”.
Systemic Causes: Metabolism, Blood Flow, and Sleep
Physical processes that regulate the body’s energy supply and circulation can directly impact brain function, leading to temporary changes in consciousness. The brain relies almost entirely on glucose for fuel. When blood sugar drops too low, a condition called hypoglycemia occurs, starving the brain of the energy it needs. This causes neuroglycopenic symptoms that include confusion, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, and cognitive fog.
Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances affect the volume and pressure of blood circulating through the body, contributing to lightheadedness and disorientation. A sudden drop in blood pressure when standing, known as orthostatic hypotension, causes a fleeting sensation of dizziness and blurred vision. This happens because the body’s mechanisms for pumping blood back up to the brain are delayed, momentarily reducing blood flow.
Severe sleep deprivation or chronic fatigue significantly impairs cognitive function. The resulting mental sluggishness, slowed reaction time, and poor judgment can feel like an altered state of awareness. Dietary factors, such as abrupt caffeine withdrawal or the sharp drop in blood sugar following a high-sugar meal, can also contribute to these systemic dysregulations.
Specific Neurological and Inner Ear Triggers
The inner ear houses the vestibular system, the body’s primary control center for balance and spatial orientation. Dysfunction in this system, such as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), can lead to severe dizziness and vertigo. The sensory mismatch created when the inner ear sends faulty signals to the brain can trigger disorientation and imbalance.
Migraines, even without a painful headache, can cause profound neurological disturbances known as auras. A typical aura involves transient sensory changes, which may include visual phenomena like flashing lights or temporary blind spots. Less common forms can involve an altered perception of objects and surroundings, which contributes to a feeling of unreality or disconnect.
Certain medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, can affect the central nervous system and produce side effects that mimic an altered state. Drugs such as antidepressants, muscle relaxants, and certain blood pressure medications commonly list dizziness, drowsiness, or confusion as possible side effects. In rare cases, a focal aware seizure can cause an altered state of consciousness where the person remains alert but experiences unusual sensations, such as a sudden, intense feeling of fear or déjà vu.
Knowing When to Consult a Professional
If you experience these feelings of unreality or detachment, track the frequency, duration, and any associated triggers to share with a healthcare provider. A primary care physician can begin the process of ruling out physical causes, such as metabolic or circulatory issues, often through simple blood tests. Consult a professional if the symptoms are chronic, recurrent, or begin to interfere with daily functioning.
Immediate medical attention is required if the feeling of being “high” is sudden and severe. This is especially true if it is accompanied by concerning symptoms like chest pain, inability to speak, loss of consciousness, or the sudden onset of a severe headache. Addressing and resolving underlying physical causes is an important first step before focusing on potential psychological origins.