OBE

I really wasn't sure where to go with this question. I was hoping to find some sort of medical information on this, or even talk to my doctor, but I'm not sure they'd take me seriously. Fortunately, people here are generally more open-minded.

This may sound strange, but lately I've been having a kind of Out of Body Experience over the last several days. It usually is only in the morning, and is limited to my hands. For example, when I'm washing my hands I suddenly get the sensation that my "hands" are floating above my physical hands. They still function normally but they feel detached. That's the only way I can explain it. Honestly it kind of scares me. I don't know what could be causing it, because I haven't been doing anything different or out of the ordinary in the past week.

Does anyone know anything about this kind of experience?

Is it some kind of dissociative episode? If so, you really should see your doctor.

Or maybe stress? Stress can do weird things to your brain.

Is it triggered by anything you can identify? Does it go away on its own, or is there something you do to make it go away?

If it concerns you and you have the means, I would seriously get checked out by a doctor.

Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor It could be a nerve issue, it could be a balance issue, it could be vertigo, those are just the things that come to mind. They're all kind of scary. Kind of reminds me of the whole ghost limb thing when someone looses a limb but they still feel it from time to time.

I will add to my credentials that I practice shamanism so I'm familiar with OBE, but feeling disjointed like that, I'd go right to a doctor still.

As a side effect of certain medications I'm taking, I get neuropathy in my hands sometimes. It is probably not what you are experiencing, but it could be due to a similar mechanism in the body. The nerves in my hands, especially in my fingers, stop communicating with my brain and I get a general numbness or tingling sensation or no feeling at all sometimes. The numbness makes the sensation of touch seem like I am grabbing things with someone else's hands or that my fingers aren't actually attached to my hands at all. It is a bit disturbing sometimes, but at least I know why it is happening and what is causing it.

As Kit said, I would see a doctor. If there is anything I have learned from my own health journey, it is that you should never ignore your body. It is telling you something. Finding the cause now and treating it could prevent much worse issues down the road. At the very least, it will give you some peace of mind. I'll be sending good thoughts your way, and please let us know if you solve the mystery.

I feel a little silly making such a big deal about this, because I thought it was something serious but it seems it's just a result of VR.

I purchased a virtual reality set for my computer about a month ago. I've been playing it pretty steadily. I realized yesterday that the sensation while playing a game in VR and seeing my virtual hands was sort of the opposite of what I've been experiencing in real life. In a game I'm manipulating a pair of hands with my controls. In real life it feels like my hands are being manipulated by someone else's controls.

I'm sure that if I quit VR completely, the sensation would eventually go away. But it cost a lot of money and it's a lot of fun, so that's not likely to happen. It was a scary feeling, until I realized the cause. Now it just seems like an odd side effect that I can live with and is actually kind of funny.

It's interesting because I know some people get motion sick from VR, which I don't, but this strange experience I've never heard of.

You... might want to ditch that junk right away. Apparently there are people who think heroin is great fun too out there. I would not trust their feelings either on that matter or listen to any "oh but it cost so much I may as well use it" arguments.

There is a idea I share with few.

During my meditation and meditations I often sit so that I can't feel my hands and or my legs arms and such. A. Crowley says if you can master the son first don't go on lol . Alister Crowly had a very different way of thinking. Some of his stuff is in our very own library. Difrent people difrent ways.


Water often frees in ways we don't account for.
So medicly if there are consens see a doc. I think we all know we have to say that lol.
Pm box is always open for any additional questions friend.

It's funny we, I my self included mainly , I have a hard time believing what my eyes see. Instead of defining maybe we can bennifits as well... Along with, including ... Just explaining what just happen and simply log it as that.
Some times I like to look at the stars and NOT call them constellations, but stars.

ren wrote: You... might want to ditch that junk right away. Apparently there are people who think heroin is great fun too out there. I would not trust their feelings either on that matter or listen to any "oh but it cost so much I may as well use it" arguments.

Heroin is addictive and demonstrably damaging to the body in numerous ways. It is also unsafe to acquire and to use because it is illegal in most places and thus unregulated. Just because a radically new form of entertainment takes some getting used to does not make it in any sense equivalent or comparable to a dangerous neurotoxin that destroys peoples minds and bodies. If a superficial similarity like "it takes getting used to" is enough for the junk to be ditched by your logic, I do expect you to argue against using newly purchased shoes or cars, too.

Streen, if you feel like using the device causes you distress, consider, as others said before me, to consult with a physician on the matter. I have neither experience nor expertise in the field, but I would suspect that perhaps a better pace of use might be in order. VR devices are, after all, designed to immerse, and just like with a pair of new shoes, while they do get more comfortable as you wear them, there is no need to push your feet to blisters until then.

Like Carlos, I get that feeling when meditating, but I also get something like it quite often when just moving my head from side to side as a result of positional vertigo. Its worth checking out as it can also be a sign of something more serious, I have an aunt with a benign tumor that experienced a similar sensation.

So unfortunately, it could be anything, get it checked out.

I'm with Brenna and Carlos here - also get that a lot during meditation. Not really OBE, just the feeling that my hands completely disappear. It's not the same as the feeling when your foot falls asleep etc.

The experience of body parts losing their sensation (during meditation) is usually a precursur to the entire body "disappearing" and is often the point in many meditations. The reason for this is the breathing deeper and slower causes the blood within the body to alkaline, thus you begin to lose sensation throughout the body...

Zenchi wrote: The experience of body parts losing their sensation (during meditation) is usually a precursur to the entire body "disappearing" and is often the point in many meditations. The reason for this is the breathing deeper and slower cause the blood within the body to alkaline, thus you begin to lose sensation throughout the body...

it was scary initially but now I use it to measure how deep the meditation was - so I'm aiming for it

I've always been intrigued with the idea of meditation and astral traveling.

I'm surprised by the attention this got, but anyway...

Yeah I would never compare this issue to any addictive drug, and certainly not heroin. I know some people can get addicted to gaming, so I'm not doubting that, but I'm not addicted. It's just what I do in my spare time. I've been playing video games since my dad got a Commodore 64, which was over 30 years ago.

I digress. I still get that odd sensation now and then, but it doesn't scare me anymore, and I'm limiting my time playing certain games.

Thank you all for your advice and comments. I know a lot of you said I should see a doctor, but I already know what he'll say: "Stop playing VR". If the side effect I mentioned is the only one I get from playing, I'm willing to live with it.

Cyan Sarden wrote:

Zenchi wrote: The experience of body parts losing their sensation (during meditation) is usually a precursur to the entire body "disappearing" and is often the point in many meditations. The reason for this is the breathing deeper and slower cause the blood within the body to alkaline, thus you begin to lose sensation throughout the body...

it was scary initially but now I use it to measure how deep the meditation was - so I'm aiming for it

Uhh no... lol.

This is not due to blood alkalosis. In fact that is a state brought on by an imbalance between oxygen and Carbon dioxide in the blood, commonly through hyperventilation but also can be brought on by medical conditions like heart attack and it is not a good state to be in. If you have blood alkalosis you need to go to the hospital!

What is actually causing this feeling is a change in brain states. When you can calm your mind and move it from a Beta state to an Alpha state these sensations can occur, most likely due to brain glitches that can occur during these transitions. There are also such things as catatonic hypnosis (basically trance states) that can occur below the alpha state.

Now I don't mean to be a bitch here, just wanting to present some alternate information on this subject and please don't take my word for it. I'm not a doctor so do your own research by all means!!

I offer Alister Crowly for any one wanting to learn ... Difrent meditation types. It's in the library and when I first read his teachings I disliked him. Yet, here I am now years later promotion and encouraging others to try it . Dude pissed me off when he said if you can't sit right don't go on. Go on when you learned to sit . Lol way difrent guy way difrent results. There are many like him out there and many not like him.
Um this is a temple and I do encourage others to open their mind ! That being said hope you can see more than just ... Your right or your wrong . Hope you see the intention of encouragement from those who are friend. We are not alone in this place ! Be well and may what you find ... Lead you foward !never back...

Kyrin Wyldstar wrote:

Cyan Sarden wrote:

Zenchi wrote: The experience of body parts losing their sensation (during meditation) is usually a precursur to the entire body "disappearing" and is often the point in many meditations. The reason for this is the breathing deeper and slower cause the blood within the body to alkaline, thus you begin to lose sensation throughout the body...

Uhh no... lol.

This is not due to blood alkalosis. In fact that is a state brought on by an imbalance between oxygen and Carbon dioxide in the blood, commonly through hyperventilation but also can be brought on by medical conditions like heart attack and it is not a good state to be in. If you have blood alkalosis you need to go to the hospital!

What is actually causing this feeling is a change in brain states. When you can calm your mind and move it from a Beta state to an Alpha state these sensations can occur, most likely due to brain glitches that can occur during these transitions. There are also such things as catatonic hypnosis (basically trance states) that can occur below the alpha state.

Now I don't mean to be a bitch here, just wanting to present some alternate information on this subject and please don't take my word for it. I'm not a doctor so do your own research by all means!!

Brain glitches... Not quite...

Indeed, do your research, look Into how breathing changes the ph throughout the body, and how that as well Influences consciousness & brain states in general...

Zenchi wrote:
Brain glitches... Not quite...

Indeed, do your research, look Into how breathing changes the ph throughout the body, and how that as well Influences consciousness & brain states in general...

Yes, I agree, of course it varies but if your to the point that you are in a state of alkalosis, you are not in a meditative state, you are in a state of distress.

EDIT: also one more note, a "brain glitch" is not a bad thing. Its a normal thing we all can experience.

Kyrin Wyldstar wrote:

Zenchi wrote:
Brain glitches... Not quite...

Indeed, do your research, look Into how breathing changes the ph throughout the body, and how that as well Influences consciousness & brain states in general...

Yes, I agree, of course it varies but if your to the point that you are in a state of alkalosis, you are not in a meditative state, you are in a state of distress.

EDIT: also one more note, a "brain glitch" is not a bad thing. Its a normal thing we all can experience.

Not once did I state "alkalosis" and the blood beginning to alkaline is not the same thing, was simply referencing blood alkalinity and how its interconnected, so please stop being anal while derailing another perfectly good thread, geebus...

Zenchi wrote:
Not once did I state "alkalosis" and the blood beginning to alkaline is not the same thing, was simply referencing the balancing of the ph so please stop being anal while derailing another perfectly good thread, geebus...

Calm down, brother, I didn't mean anything by it. Just wanted to clarify the point that blood PH has a normal range. Meditation will maintain that range if done correctly and you are correct that oxygen is increased in the blood during this time - equating to more alkaline. But when you go outside that range you could begin to experience strange physical symptoms such as tingling or losing sensation in your body. This can be due to panic attacks, hyperventilation, or heart attacks etc. Ever hear of the symptom of tingling in your arm or fingers during a hear attack? This is as you describe in your post, thus implying that you are going into alkalosis, a state of distress, which is a non-normal PH state. So I did not say you stated the term alkalosis but I felt your post might have implied alkalosis.

For safety reasons I posted my reply stating that if you are using techniques such as hyperventilation to achieve perceived OOBs that can potentially be detrimental to your heath. (even though I know certain traditions actually practice such things) That was all I was trying to get at. I was not trying to derail a thread. In fact are we not still talking about causes of OOB and those associated effects in meditation? You seem to have this habit of claiming derailment whenever someone says something you don't agree with and that's not cool.