It's like Magic-Eye pictures, but EVERYWHERE!
February 24, 2016 3:02 PM Subscribe
Why am I starting to see faces, among other things, in nearly any pattern I glance at?
In the past two months or so, I've noticed that, on some days, I have intense pattern-matching moments whenever I glance at anything with a marbled, spattered, or otherwise random decorative surfaces like wall-paper, floor tiles and wood grain.
Usually, I'm just staring into space, thinking about a how to fix something at work, and suddenly whatever I'm looking at is filled with faces. Sometimes human, sometimes more cartoonish, sometimes distinctly evil. -- note: not "evil" in a way that frightens me or anything like that, but your typical Halloween skulls, demonic imagery, hooded figures, etc. the standard stuff you'd go to for a boogieman.
One of the more interesting and weird parts of the effect is that I can see a face and as my eye pulls away from it, see another totally different face using different parts of the same pattern that made up the first. I think the record is four faces in a single patch of carpeting over about a minute or two.
It should be noted that I can take a picture of it and sketch out what I'm seeing using the pattern and have it all fit where it did when I first glanced at it, so I wouldn't call them hallucinations; the shapes are certainly there, and with a squinty eye can be distinguished as what I'm seeing, but for me the recognition is instant and evolving.
Some background: I'm on a number of medications, natch. Specifically Adderall for my just recently diagnosed ADHD, bupropion for my life-long chronic depression- this I've been taking for about 3 years. Trazadone for insomnia (also chronic), and clonazepam for the anxiety that often accompanies my depression. These I've been on for about two years.
Not an ideal combination to be sure, but I see my psychiatrist regularly to tune the medication and make an effort to not take them when the effects would overlap.
My question is: Why the hell did this just start? What medication combination might be causing it? Could it be something not medication related? And how do I get it under control?
I want to be clear though: I'm not bothered by the images, I'm sure it's faces because we are so very well hard-wired to see facial patterns, so I get that. And the cartoon/ spooky stuff is surely because that's the kind of thing that bounces around harmlessly in my imagination. What I'm trying to figure out is what caused the onset of it.
I've always had a knack for seeing patterns in things like data or words or words that are data, but this is getting ridiculous. It can be a bit distracting because I never know when I'm going to look at something and see a grinning skull or an alligator with a cane and a bowler hat.
I'm also curious if anyone else has had a similar experience and how long it lasted overall (said knowing that chatfilter is bad, but also hoping to glean some insight into others with similar experiences. I guess I'm hoping to see some sort of... pattern in the comments.)
The carpet next to me has provided about a dozen people-faces while I've typed this.
In the past two months or so, I've noticed that, on some days, I have intense pattern-matching moments whenever I glance at anything with a marbled, spattered, or otherwise random decorative surfaces like wall-paper, floor tiles and wood grain.
Usually, I'm just staring into space, thinking about a how to fix something at work, and suddenly whatever I'm looking at is filled with faces. Sometimes human, sometimes more cartoonish, sometimes distinctly evil. -- note: not "evil" in a way that frightens me or anything like that, but your typical Halloween skulls, demonic imagery, hooded figures, etc. the standard stuff you'd go to for a boogieman.
One of the more interesting and weird parts of the effect is that I can see a face and as my eye pulls away from it, see another totally different face using different parts of the same pattern that made up the first. I think the record is four faces in a single patch of carpeting over about a minute or two.
It should be noted that I can take a picture of it and sketch out what I'm seeing using the pattern and have it all fit where it did when I first glanced at it, so I wouldn't call them hallucinations; the shapes are certainly there, and with a squinty eye can be distinguished as what I'm seeing, but for me the recognition is instant and evolving.
Some background: I'm on a number of medications, natch. Specifically Adderall for my just recently diagnosed ADHD, bupropion for my life-long chronic depression- this I've been taking for about 3 years. Trazadone for insomnia (also chronic), and clonazepam for the anxiety that often accompanies my depression. These I've been on for about two years.
Not an ideal combination to be sure, but I see my psychiatrist regularly to tune the medication and make an effort to not take them when the effects would overlap.
My question is: Why the hell did this just start? What medication combination might be causing it? Could it be something not medication related? And how do I get it under control?
I want to be clear though: I'm not bothered by the images, I'm sure it's faces because we are so very well hard-wired to see facial patterns, so I get that. And the cartoon/ spooky stuff is surely because that's the kind of thing that bounces around harmlessly in my imagination. What I'm trying to figure out is what caused the onset of it.
I've always had a knack for seeing patterns in things like data or words or words that are data, but this is getting ridiculous. It can be a bit distracting because I never know when I'm going to look at something and see a grinning skull or an alligator with a cane and a bowler hat.
I'm also curious if anyone else has had a similar experience and how long it lasted overall (said knowing that chatfilter is bad, but also hoping to glean some insight into others with similar experiences. I guess I'm hoping to see some sort of... pattern in the comments.)
The carpet next to me has provided about a dozen people-faces while I've typed this.
I used to do this (have this happen to me?) all the time as a kid, when I spent a lot of time in bed just staring at the ceiling. Faces, dragons, castles, animals, etc. Just a few months ago I was wondering why it rarely happens anymore. Less idle time on my hands? Less stress? Fewer popcorn ceilings? Different hormones? It happened for years, never really got stronger or changed significantly, and now hardly ever happens.
posted by wintersweet at 3:18 PM on February 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by wintersweet at 3:18 PM on February 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
This is reportedly common in pregnant women and new moms, supposedly linked to protection/evolution in recognizing potential animal/people threats. Does this apply to you by any chance?
posted by shortyJBot at 3:18 PM on February 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by shortyJBot at 3:18 PM on February 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
There's some evidence that increased dopamine may increase your tendency towards apophenia (i.e. seeing patterns in random noise -- pareidolia, seeing faces, is a subset). I believe Adderall stimulates dopamine release, right? So it could be as simple as that.
posted by babelfish at 3:21 PM on February 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by babelfish at 3:21 PM on February 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
Could it be something not medication related? And how do I get it under control?
I can't "prove" this in that I don't have studies to link to, but I have a salt wasting condition and I spent some time living by the coast because that is known to help my condition. After being by the coast a while, I began experiencing visual inputs in a more intense way than I had previously. I talked it over with someone and possibly did a little research. I ultimately concluded that the reason there seems to be a correlation between coastal communities and vibrant building colors (a la the "Painted Ladies" of Victorian Architecture in places like San Francisco, et al) is because salt and minerals do something to the visual cortex of the brain.
So, that's real hand wavy hypothesizing, but I did go live by the ocean and I did get lots healthier and it did cause all kinds of weird and unexpected changes in me, some of them mental/brain related. Salt and minerals play important roles in brain function.
If it is mineral related, then you might be able to get it under control via consuming some healthy fats. Organic butter was my go-to for a long time. I also will eat bacon and eggs for the cholesterol when I am having neurological weirdness. It plays an important part in brain function and it has a good track record of countering some of my wonky neurological stuff.
The other thing that occurs to me is that perhaps you are being exposed to mold or fungus. That can have mild hallucinogenic effects and is believed to be the root cause of historical witch hunts. This is based on a study where they correlated historical witch hunts to a) areas that grew a particular kind of grain and b) particularly wet years. They concluded that the grain got contaminated with mold, it was used to bake bread which was a staple of the diet and it caused hallucinations. This then resulted in witch hunts.
posted by Michele in California at 3:35 PM on February 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
I can't "prove" this in that I don't have studies to link to, but I have a salt wasting condition and I spent some time living by the coast because that is known to help my condition. After being by the coast a while, I began experiencing visual inputs in a more intense way than I had previously. I talked it over with someone and possibly did a little research. I ultimately concluded that the reason there seems to be a correlation between coastal communities and vibrant building colors (a la the "Painted Ladies" of Victorian Architecture in places like San Francisco, et al) is because salt and minerals do something to the visual cortex of the brain.
So, that's real hand wavy hypothesizing, but I did go live by the ocean and I did get lots healthier and it did cause all kinds of weird and unexpected changes in me, some of them mental/brain related. Salt and minerals play important roles in brain function.
If it is mineral related, then you might be able to get it under control via consuming some healthy fats. Organic butter was my go-to for a long time. I also will eat bacon and eggs for the cholesterol when I am having neurological weirdness. It plays an important part in brain function and it has a good track record of countering some of my wonky neurological stuff.
The other thing that occurs to me is that perhaps you are being exposed to mold or fungus. That can have mild hallucinogenic effects and is believed to be the root cause of historical witch hunts. This is based on a study where they correlated historical witch hunts to a) areas that grew a particular kind of grain and b) particularly wet years. They concluded that the grain got contaminated with mold, it was used to bake bread which was a staple of the diet and it caused hallucinations. This then resulted in witch hunts.
posted by Michele in California at 3:35 PM on February 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
It's entirely possible that once you start looking for something, you start seeing it more often. For example, start looking for red cars next time you're out on your commute... suddenly they are everywhere!
posted by belau at 3:40 PM on February 24, 2016
posted by belau at 3:40 PM on February 24, 2016
Ok, the idea that this is mold or fungus exposure is a little wild, not really scientifically sound, and as someone with anxiety I would urge you not go down that path.
It's likely the adderall. Ask your doctor.
posted by sockermom at 3:40 PM on February 24, 2016 [10 favorites]
It's likely the adderall. Ask your doctor.
posted by sockermom at 3:40 PM on February 24, 2016 [10 favorites]
Witches, bread and LSD
Could It Be That Old Books Are Really, Uh, Mind-altering?
Seen a ghost? Then you may have inhaled toxic mould
posted by Michele in California at 4:14 PM on February 24, 2016
Could It Be That Old Books Are Really, Uh, Mind-altering?
Seen a ghost? Then you may have inhaled toxic mould
posted by Michele in California at 4:14 PM on February 24, 2016
Are you spending time with video games that have a lot of faces? When I was playing an hour of Minecraft a day (with my son!), I could only see the landscape in terms of Minecraft blocks. It faded when I stopped playing.
posted by xo at 4:24 PM on February 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by xo at 4:24 PM on February 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
There's some evidence that increased dopamine may increase your tendency towards apophenia (i.e. seeing patterns in random noise -- pareidolia, seeing faces, is a subset). I believe Adderall stimulates dopamine release, right?
I'm guessing this is it. I've gotten this "seeing faces" effect from marijuana, which also increases dopamine levels.
posted by Redstart at 4:38 PM on February 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
I'm guessing this is it. I've gotten this "seeing faces" effect from marijuana, which also increases dopamine levels.
posted by Redstart at 4:38 PM on February 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
Came in to ask if you might be pregnant. This was definitely me while pregnant. Once I was sure our woodpile out back was a monkey.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 4:47 PM on February 24, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 4:47 PM on February 24, 2016 [4 favorites]
This has happened to me during all three pregnancies. It stopped within days of being not pregnant. On occasion, if I'm having a very heavy, tortured menstrual cycle, I will see faces in the drywall again. Obviously, I suspect hormones.
posted by PorcineWithMe at 5:41 PM on February 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by PorcineWithMe at 5:41 PM on February 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I kind of suspect it might be the Adderall, which causes dopamine release, especially paired with buproprion, which is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor. I would talk to your pdoc at your earliest convenience; they may want to tweak your dosage.
posted by en forme de poire at 6:00 PM on February 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by en forme de poire at 6:00 PM on February 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
Ok, I take both Adderall and bupropion (and some other stuff rather similar to your personal cocktail), and I have a theory. Just an idea, really.
So human brains are amazing at pattern recognition. When your brain has been living with over-stimulation for many many years, before getting nice meds to help filter out all of the noise, it worked extra hard and got especially good at pattern recognition. With the meds in place, your brain has less work to do, but it just keeps going. So now you see patterns in randomness when you are not actively using your senses. That's what I think. It works for me.
Seeing faces would be weird as hell, though. I don't see things, I hear them. My brain makes music out of random sounds. Some days are worse than others, but it is preferable to the alternative so I just live with it. I also don't leave home without an mp3 player and noise-blocking earphones so that I can give my brain something to do if I need to.
posted by monopas at 6:47 PM on February 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
So human brains are amazing at pattern recognition. When your brain has been living with over-stimulation for many many years, before getting nice meds to help filter out all of the noise, it worked extra hard and got especially good at pattern recognition. With the meds in place, your brain has less work to do, but it just keeps going. So now you see patterns in randomness when you are not actively using your senses. That's what I think. It works for me.
Seeing faces would be weird as hell, though. I don't see things, I hear them. My brain makes music out of random sounds. Some days are worse than others, but it is preferable to the alternative so I just live with it. I also don't leave home without an mp3 player and noise-blocking earphones so that I can give my brain something to do if I need to.
posted by monopas at 6:47 PM on February 24, 2016 [3 favorites]
Oh yes, and I've been on all of the meds for years and while it was worse in the beginning, it has never gone away completely. I was recently off of the Adderall for a month because I was on heavy pain meds for a kidney stone and infection so there was no point in taking Adderall. Going back on it has not brought the excessive pattern recognition back to high levels.
posted by monopas at 7:02 PM on February 24, 2016
posted by monopas at 7:02 PM on February 24, 2016
The only time I have really had this was during a psychotic episode. The "evil" part of your description really stood out to me as possibly alarming. My stuff was pretty torment-y, so I hope yours doesn't get scary on you.
I would Nth definitely talk to your doctor.
posted by fellow eye at 8:28 PM on February 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
I would Nth definitely talk to your doctor.
posted by fellow eye at 8:28 PM on February 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
This might be an opportunity to make some great drawings. No really, because it's hard to come up with truly fresh and creative images from scratch. Even the best artists, say, Hollywood creature designers, they'll have their own regular bag of tricks, their own style that's almost impossible to escape. What you have here is a way to morph countenances in new directions, Literally. You don't just have a big-nose trick and a heavy-brow trick and some eye-thing you got from Bosch, you got a whole bunch of totally new ones every time you look at something. Maybe a lot of duds, Maybe a few really striking faces, too.
Take pictures, trace what you see. Reverse the images to find out if you see what you saw before in reverse, or see new things. Look at them later to see if you see the same things you saw before. Display the blanks and the tracings next to each other so other people can see them. These just off the top of my head.
Sorry if it bothers you. I used to see these when I was a kid, too. Kind of miss it.
posted by Rich Smorgasbord at 8:56 PM on February 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
Take pictures, trace what you see. Reverse the images to find out if you see what you saw before in reverse, or see new things. Look at them later to see if you see the same things you saw before. Display the blanks and the tracings next to each other so other people can see them. These just off the top of my head.
Sorry if it bothers you. I used to see these when I was a kid, too. Kind of miss it.
posted by Rich Smorgasbord at 8:56 PM on February 24, 2016 [2 favorites]
You did a really good job of describing this, and it reminded me vividly of the animals that pop up in this Google Deep Dream video. Just in case it's helpful to show those around you (and/or your doctors), if it does match up...
posted by you're a kitty! at 5:06 PM on February 25, 2016
posted by you're a kitty! at 5:06 PM on February 25, 2016
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posted by Nyx at 3:18 PM on February 24, 2016