Why Do I Feel High When I am Not? A comprehensive guide 2023

Have you ever felt high when you’re not? Maybe you’ve experienced a sudden rush of euphoria, laughter, or detachment from reality, without taking any drugs or substances. Or maybe you’ve felt dizzy, confused, anxious, or paranoid, without any apparent reason. If you have, you might have wondered what’s going on with your brain and body, and how to deal with this strange sensation.

Feeling high when you’re not can be a scary and unpleasant experience, especially if it happens frequently or interferes with your daily life. It can also be a sign of an underlying physical or mental health condition that needs attention. In this article, we’ll explore what it means to feel high when you’re not, what are some possible causes of this phenomenon, and how to cope with it.

What does it mean to feel high when you’re not?

Feeling high when you’re not is a subjective experience that can vary from person to person. It can involve feeling happy, relaxed, or euphoric, as well as having altered perceptions of time, space, or reality. It can also involve feeling anxious, paranoid, or delusional, as well as having impaired coordination, memory, or judgment.

Feeling high when you’re not is not necessarily a bad thing. Some people may enjoy this sensation and seek it out intentionally, such as by meditating, exercising, or listening to music. However, for others, feeling high when you’re not can be distressing and disruptive, especially if it happens unexpectedly or uncontrollably.

What are some possible causes of feeling high when you’re not?

There are many possible causes of feeling high when you’re not, ranging from benign to serious. Some of the most common ones are:

Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluids than it takes in. This can happen due to sweating, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, or simply not drinking enough water. Dehydration can affect your brain function and cause symptoms such as drowsiness, lightheadedness, confusion, headache, and mood changes. These symptoms can make you feel high when you’re not.

Sleep deprivation

Sleep deprivation occurs when you don’t get enough quality sleep on a regular basis. This can happen due to stress, insomnia, jet lag, shift work, or other factors. Sleep deprivation can impair your cognitive abilities and cause symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, hallucinations, memory loss, and poor concentration. These symptoms can make you feel high when you’re not.

Anxiety or panic attack

Anxiety is a normal emotion that helps us cope with stressful situations. However, sometimes anxiety can become excessive, irrational, or overwhelming. This can lead to an anxiety disorder, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), or panic disorder. An anxiety disorder can cause symptoms such as nervousness, fear, racing heart, trembling, sweating, chest pain, shortness of breath, and nausea.

A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes. It can occur in any situation, even when there is no real danger. A panic attack can cause symptoms such as palpitations, trembling, choking sensation, dizziness, derealization (feeling detached from reality), depersonalization (feeling detached from oneself), and fear of losing control or dying.

Both anxiety and panic attacks can make you feel high when you’re not.

Depersonalization or derealization disorder

Depersonalization is a feeling of being detached from oneself or one’s body. Derealization is a feeling of being detached from one’s surroundings or reality. Both are forms of dissociation, which is a disruption in the normal integration of consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, and behavior.

Depersonalization or derealization disorder is a condition where these feelings occur frequently and persistently, causing significant distress and impairment. It can be triggered by stress, trauma, substance use, or other factors. It can cause symptoms such as feeling unreal, numb, foggy, or robotic, as well as having distorted perceptions of time, space, or reality.

Depersonalization or derealization disorder can make you feel high when you’re not.

Medication side effects

Some medications can have side effects that affect your brain function and mood. These include antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, opioids, stimulants, and others. Some of these side effects can include euphoria, sedation, confusion, hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions.

Medication side effects can make you feel high when you’re not.

Brain injury or tumor

A brain injury or tumor can damage the brain tissue and affect its function. This can happen due to trauma, stroke, infection, inflammation, or cancer. A brain injury or tumor can cause symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, seizures, vision problems, speech problems, personality changes, and cognitive impairment.

A brain injury or tumor can make you feel high when you’re not.

Epilepsy or seizure disorder

Epilepsy is a condition where the brain produces abnormal electrical activity that causes seizures. A seizure is a sudden change in behavior, sensation, or consciousness due to abnormal brain activity. There are different types of seizures, such as focal (partial) seizures, generalized seizures, and absence seizures.

Some seizures can cause symptoms such as altered awareness, confusion, deja vu, jamais vu (feeling unfamiliar with familiar things), hallucinations, illusions (distorted perceptions of reality), and euphoria.

Epilepsy or seizure disorder can make you feel high when you’re not.

Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar

Hypoglycemia is a condition where the blood sugar level drops below the normal range. This can happen due to diabetes, medication, fasting, exercise, alcohol consumption, or other factors. Hypoglycemia can affect your brain function and cause symptoms such as hunger, shakiness, sweating, weakness, dizziness, confusion, anxiety, irritability, and mood swings.

Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar can make you feel high when you’re not.

How to cope with feeling high when you’re not?

Feeling high when you’re not can be a challenging and uncomfortable experience. However, there are some ways to cope with it and prevent it from happening again. Here are some tips:

Drink water and stay hydrated

Drinking water and staying hydrated can help prevent dehydration and its effects on your brain function and mood. Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water per day, or more if you sweat a lot or exercise. Avoid drinks that can dehydrate you further, such as alcohol, caffeine, or sugary drinks.

Get enough sleep and rest

Getting enough sleep and rest can help prevent sleep deprivation and its effects on your cognitive abilities and mood. Aim to get at least seven to nine hours of quality sleep per night, and avoid factors that can disrupt your sleep, such as stress, noise, light, or screen time before bed. If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, try some relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation.

Practice relaxation techniques and seek professional help if needed

Practicing relaxation techniques can help reduce anxiety and panic attacks and their effects on your brain function and mood. Some relaxation techniques include deep breathing, meditation, yoga, Tai chi, or massage therapy. You can also try some coping strategies, such as positive self-talk, distraction, or exposure therapy. If your anxiety or panic attacks are severe or interfere with your daily life, seek professional help from a therapist or a psychiatrist who can offer you counseling or medication.

Challenge your distorted thoughts and reconnect with reality

Challenging your distorted thoughts and reconnecting with reality can help reduce depersonalization or derealization disorder and its effects on your brain function and mood. Some ways to do this include keeping a journal of your thoughts and feelings, identifying and challenging any irrational or negative thoughts, focusing on the present moment and your senses, reminding yourself of who you are and what is real, and engaging in activities that make you feel alive and connected to others.
If your depersonalization or derealization disorder is severe or interferes with your daily life, seek professional help from a therapist or a psychiatrist who can offer you counseling or medication.

Check your medication and consult your doctor if necessary

Checking your medication and consulting your doctor if necessary can help reduce medication side effects and their effects on your brain function and mood. Some medications can have side effects that make you feel high when you’re not, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, opioids, stimulants, and others. If you are taking any of these medications, read the labels carefully and follow the instructions. Do not stop, start, or change your dosage without consulting your doctor. If you experience any side effects that make you feel high when you’re not, report them to your doctor and ask for alternatives or adjustments.

Seek medical attention if you have any signs of brain damage or seizure

Seeking medical attention if you have any signs of brain damage or seizure can help prevent further complications and treat the underlying cause of feeling high when you’re not. Some signs of brain damage or seizure include headache, nausea, vomiting, seizures, vision problems, speech problems, personality changes, and cognitive impairment.
If you have any of these signs, go to the nearest emergency room or call 911. A brain injury or tumor can damage the brain tissue and affect its function. Epilepsy or seizure disorder can produce abnormal electrical activity in the brain that causes seizures. Both can make you feel high when you’re not.

Monitor your blood sugar levels and eat healthy foods

Monitoring your blood sugar levels and eating healthy foods can help prevent hypoglycemia or low blood sugar and its effects on your brain function and mood. Hypoglycemia can occur due to diabetes, medication, fasting, exercise, alcohol consumption, or other factors. It can cause symptoms such as hunger, shakiness, sweating, weakness, dizziness, confusion, anxiety, irritability, and mood swings.
If you have diabetes or are at risk of developing it, check your blood sugar levels regularly and follow your doctor’s advice. If you experience hypoglycemia, eat or drink something that contains sugar, such as juice, candy, or glucose tablets. To prevent hypoglycemia, eat balanced meals and snacks that contain carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Avoid foods that are high in sugar, salt, or fat.

Conclusion

Navigating through the perplexing experience of feeling high without substance use involves a multifaceted approach. By understanding the potential causes, being proactive in managing our health, and seeking professional guidance when needed, we can effectively manage and comprehend these unexpected highs.

FAQs

1. Is it normal to feel high without substance use?
   While it can occur, frequent or disruptive experiences of feeling high without substance use warrant professional consultation.
2. Can certain activities induce a natural high?
   Yes, activities like meditation, exercise, or consuming certain foods can induce a natural high.
3. How does sleep impact the sensation of being high?
   Lack of sleep can impair cognitive functions and induce hallucinations, mimicking a high.
4. Can mental health conditions mimic the sensation of a high?
   Yes, conditions like anxiety or depersonalization/derealization disorder can alter perceptions and induce feelings similar to a high.
5. How can I manage unexpected highs effectively?
   Addressing underlying causes, ensuring adequate hydration and sleep, managing stress, and seeking professional guidance can help manage unexpected highs.

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