Hallucinations, by Oliver Sacks

Feb 01, 2013 15:34

A book on hallucinations which are not caused by schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. (It also doesn’t deal much with culturally normal hallucinations, which is too bad.) Hallucinations - sensory perceptions which occur during waking and are not based on consensus reality - are surprisingly common, and include many experiences which ( Read more... )

genre: psychology, author: sacks oliver

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naomikritzer February 2 2013, 02:36:57 UTC
I had never thought of migraine aura as a hallucination, but that would be one. I don't get migraines; I get aura without migraine. Which can still be very annoying. I guess despite knowing it's neurological I can't help but think of it as an eye problem rather than a brain problem.

My splashy, memorable, good-for-telling stories hallucinatory experience was when I was in labor with Kiera. I was in the hospital, because my water had broken but labor hadn't really started yet -- I was having intense but very wide-spaced contractions, mostly 15 minutes apart. I don't sleep well in hospitals (no one does) so they offered me Ambien and at around midnight, the contractions seemed to be tapering off, so I took it.

In between contractions, I would sleep. DURING contractions, however, I would wake up and hallucinate. It was like REM sleep that wouldn't quit even when my eyes were open. I remember a giant plant in the corner of the room with undulating multicolored tendrils. Also, when I was pushing (oh, also: I was really in labor, even though the contractions never got any closer than 10-15 minutes) I saw giant tubular noodles descending from the ceiling. I also reported puppies, teddy bears, and alligators, among other things.

After each contraction I would feel the need to pee, but had to have my husband lead me to the toilet because I was so completely disoriented. (Apparently with the first one I insisted that he ring for a nurse because I didn't think he was qualified to handle this. The floor felt like it was tilted and I was convinced I was going to fall.)

Anyway. Hallucinations are actually a rather common side effect with Ambien (especially if something prevents you from sleeping). On the advice of my midwife I now list it as a drug allergy, even though it's not really an ALLERGY but an adverse reaction.

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