Sleep Disorders Forum - I See Skittles

...Or at least that's how a friend of mine describes it. I have had visual anomalies during dark environments for as long as I can remember and I am trying to find out exactly what it is. From my research thus far, I found out that people experience “cortical gray” when their eyes are closed during dark environments. A person doesn’t see total blackness at night when they close their eyes but a dull gray color. The most common visual anomaly, I suppose, is during a migraine headache when a person experiences auroras and scintillations. My problem goes much further. In a lighted room, I can close my eyes and see what appears to be millions and millions of small points of light flowing fluidly in my field of view. The points of light vary in color. I will also see what appears to be clouds or nebulae that vary in color and will melt away only to have another to take its place. In a dark room with eyes open or closed, the anomalies are more pronounced and many times, very annoying. The worst of these is when a white blob flies past my head (as if coming from behind me), hovers in my field of view and melts away only to be replaced by another. This happens over and over; the points of light are always present. This is guaranteed every night. Needless to say, my wife falls asleep in about 10 minutes and I fall asleep in 3 hours. You can understand why I wish to find out what causes this. I always thought this was normal until I asked my wife. Then I started asking many other people. None of them experience this. I talked to my mother and to my surprise, she also experiences this but not as intense. Hereditary? I am 37 years old and can remember experiencing this all my life. When I visited the local sleep disorder center and talked to a neurologist, he offered nothing and referred me to a psychiatrist for cognitive therapy. I was given a list of rules to follow (which I already do) and relaxation techniques (i really don't have problems relaxing). If a person shines a flashlight in your eyes while you're trying to sleep, can cognitive therapy help you to ingnore the light? An electroencephalogram revealed nothing. An optometrist laughed at me. It's really hard for any doctor to take me seriously because the only symptom doctors can see is that I can't fall asleep. Once I do fall asleep, I have no problems. Does anyone out there experience this? Any help would be appreciated!

Replies(8)

stefanie

replied on February 28th, 2006

New User

I have but only with a headache useually after the headache calmes down i'll have that when i'm trying to fall asleep.

Oh man I hear you about doctors not listening, but the only advice I can tell you is that it isn't normal so incase it's something more sevier I would press until you find a good gp doc and a good eye doc who can take care of it,

i hope it all works for you, but in the mean time there are some sleep aids either by percription or over the counter that may help you in falling asleep better

take care

Naixius

replied on April 8th, 2006

New User

Do you sleep other than at night?
Remember, dont sleep in the afternoon. If you sleep in afternoon, then you may not be able to easily get sleep at night.

skittleseer

replied on April 8th, 2006

New User

Sleep Habits

It is rare for me to take a nap during the day. I follow all of the typical guidelines for sleeping, such as no naps, bed is used only for sleep or sex, if I can't sleep, get up and do something, etc. I don't think that sleep habits are the problem. I can be really drowsy and when I try to sleep, here comes the visual stuff and then i'm awake.

afobismome

replied on June 6th, 2006

New User

Created an account just for this... I too have the same symptoms that you are having. Well, at least in the past. Usually, I can't see those colorful dots (i remember seeing it more frequently as a child). Also see those swirvey white blobs, but sometimes during the day.

I have no idea where it comes from and what it means.. Just wanted to share that you're not alone. I bet there are many other people like this, but they just dont care enough to think about it.

usbbar

replied on June 10th, 2006

New User

Try not to pay attention to it.
Wen I close my eyes, I see pitch black... But when I concentrate on that pitch black color, I start seeing dots, colours and blobs. I think what you have is normal, you should empty your mind berfore goign to sleep.

Another good technique is self-hypnosis, it not as good as getting a proper hypnosist to do it, but it works quite well on many people.

What you should do is close you eyes and repeat the same sentence in your head over and over again, the sentrence will need to be along the lines of "i am going to sleep, I feel nicely calm and relaxed," also, at the same time, immagine a relaxed environment (the rainforest, lake, in front of a mountain, a deserted beach... Whatever makes you feel calm and content)

this should keep your attention away from the dots.
I think your problem is that you have an active mind, so when you're not using it, it's still working... But in a different way.

You need to concentrate on otgher things to keep your mind busy in non-distractive, repetitive ways.

Gl!
Gl

skittleseer

replied on July 20th, 2006

New User

Reply to Usbbar

It's very difficult trying not to pay attention to it especially when it's the brilliant, bright white blobs that seem to fly past me, hover for a few seconds and dissapate only to have the cycle continously repeat itself. Think of it as yourself trying to sleep while someone takes a bright flashlight and sweeps the beam across your eyes at equal intervals. I don't have to concentrate for it to happen. As soon as I close my eyes, it's always there. Lighting levels don't matter either. I can be outside on a sunny day, close my eyes, and it's there. If a room is dark enough, I don't even need to close my eyes to see the anomaly.

skittleseer

replied on August 14th, 2006

New User

Reply to Racer

Thanks for the input, racer. I checked out the website and sent them an email describing my problem. They said that if the visual anomaly thing is causing insomnia, then the cd wouldn't help. It still seems like that it requires no concentration at all to experience this. I can get quite relaxed and mind clear of thoughts. I do agree with you and usbbar about concentrating on the anomalies - it probably does intensify when I think about it. I still have the initial problem, though. All of the doctors i've spoken to all agree - it is not a normal condition. I've recently had an eeg and mri done to rule out seizures and both were normal. I will be going on a follow-up visit with a neurologist to discuss the results and options soon.

badwolf

replied on August 23rd, 2006

New User

Re: Reply to Racer

skittleseer wrote:

thanks for the input, racer. I checked out the website and sent them an email describing my problem. They said that if the visual anomaly thing is causing insomnia, then the cd wouldn't help. It still seems like that it requires no concentration at all to experience this. I can get quite relaxed and mind clear of thoughts. I do agree with you and usbbar about concentrating on the anomalies - it probably does intensify when I think about it. I still have the initial problem, though. All of the doctors i've spoken to all agree - it is not a normal condition. I've recently had an eeg and mri done to rule out seizures and both were normal. I will be going on a follow-up visit with a neurologist to discuss the results and options soon.

this may be of no help, but I firmly believe that the levels of dopamine and seratonin in the brain can cause this effect.

I was prescribed zoloft a few years ago and I had this effect to the point I was able to visualize vivid geometric pattern in the dark. I could almost imagine geometric "jellyfish" that would morph and sway into each other and dissapear only to have it reappear - almost fractal like.

I dont know if this is the same as you see, you mention 'nebula' type formations, but I do know I was experiencing something I could see if I closed my eyes or was in the dark, and it was very vivid.

And I say this has to do with seratonin/dopamine as zoloft - seratonin reuptake inhinibiting drug - causes an increase in seratonin in the brain, quite similar to what the drugs ecstasy and lsd do, which people often report seeing cev - closed eye visuals - which are generally geometric, non-tangible patterns that thay can vividly see.

I also know that when I was in hospital once for a major cut, I was given a painkiller that was in fact a ssri.

I would check any/all medication you are on to see if they do cause any similar effects.

Best of luck.

:)

oh and edit - also, have you had your gp check your eyes at all, it can also be caused by slight pressure of the eyeball. But im sure you would also have strain problems also.

Cheers

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