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What Causes Déjà Vu Experiences In A Person With High Anxiety And Depression?

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Posted on Mon, 31 Jul 2017
Question: De Ja Vu. I have been having experiences that I cannot explain. To start back in December 2016 I was noticing what may be illusions, but I called these De Ja Vu. I was noticing repeats of events, for example seeing the same cars in front of me which sounds like a coincidence, but these events started happening routinely at different hours of the day. So often, I could predict which car was going to turn where, and was noticing the license plates. This is just one of many examples. I then came down with a severe digestive disease that lasted four months. The antibiotics I was given also killed the good cells, so I was put on Metronidazole since I developed C. Diff. Since then my experiences have increased probably 10-fold. Not just cars, but almost every waking moment I experience repeats nearly continuosly. My wife told me yesterday that a huge fire at the Hanford nuclear site. Although not yet in the news, I said to her this is the third day in a row that you've told me this. She said "No! This is just breaking news in the paper and on TV." My daughters form XXXXXXX will visit us unexpectedly and at different days and times, but I'm waiting at the door to open it when they arrive since I intensely feel they are about to arrive. .. In a café, the same people I've seen there before several times will repeat the exact same conversations with each other. In fact hearing different people repeating events and conversations is becoming very unnerving for me. I'm trying to just ignore these and consider them as coincidences but there to the point that whatever I do, wherever I go or whenever I go, if I've been there before, the De Ja Vu will almost certainly happen. By the way, I find this extremely difficult to describe so people can understand my strange experiences. I also am mystified by the format of this site. How do I get it to You?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Please provide me more details.

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from healthcaremagic.com

I can understand your concern. Before going to the details in discussion I'd like to know some details from you.

You have mentioned that you are having experiences of De Ja Vu since December. Do you consider that these experiences are real and true or its just in your head?

When others like for example when your wife told that the news of fire just broke up while you experienced this before too, do you believe them? Or you have feelings that you are right and others are wrong.

Please provide this in follow up so that we can proceed further in management.

De Ja Vu like experiences can be seen in a lot of individuals especially in situations of high stress or anxiety. Derealisation like feelings could also be there along with De Ja Vu.

Thanks and Take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
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Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (12 hours later)
These experiences may be due to the fact that I do have high anxiety and also depression. I am taking Effexor. Remeron and Valium. About half of this may be genetic from my mother's and her father's side.However, it seems unlikely that my experiences are just by chance,since they are so routine. For example, if I enter a restaurant and see people sitting together, I can predict what they will say to each other but only if I have seen or heard them one or more times before. Also, the times when these repeats happens is variable, e.g., the same six cars and trucks in the same line-up at the stoplight, at any time I can predict who is going to turn in a particular direction and at any time of the day. When I travel to Walla Walla,50 miles from here, the same beat-up white truck is always in front of me both going there and when I returne home... at different times of the day. There are so many of these different events, I would need sessions with a Psychiatrist to help explain these "coincidences"
doctor
Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Anxiety is most possible cause of your symptoms.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again

There is no clear cut explanation for De Ja Vu phenomenon. But yes we can relate these to anxiety.

As you've mentioned that these are real and you have strong belief that these are real. So this could be due to some psychotic pathology too. But you are yourself seeking an advise on this so the chances of these having due to psychosis are rare.

So times in anxiety one might develop feelings like De Ja Vu. This should be properly evaluated by a psychiatrist. With proper treatment you will see improvement in your symptoms.

Thanks
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 5192 Questions

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What Causes Déjà Vu Experiences In A Person With High Anxiety And Depression?

Brief Answer: Please provide me more details. Detailed Answer: Hello thanks for asking from healthcaremagic.com I can understand your concern. Before going to the details in discussion I'd like to know some details from you. You have mentioned that you are having experiences of De Ja Vu since December. Do you consider that these experiences are real and true or its just in your head? When others like for example when your wife told that the news of fire just broke up while you experienced this before too, do you believe them? Or you have feelings that you are right and others are wrong. Please provide this in follow up so that we can proceed further in management. De Ja Vu like experiences can be seen in a lot of individuals especially in situations of high stress or anxiety. Derealisation like feelings could also be there along with De Ja Vu. Thanks and Take care