I thought I’d provide an in-depth experience about how I have come to terms with my visual snow syndrome symptoms. I understand this isn’t going to relate to everyone, but if I can help someone similar to me - then job done!
Absolutely 100% the same conclusion I came to. Once I stopped trying to fix this and focused on calming down and not obsessing and trying to measure and check for it it faded to the background. This is a stress and ocd driven condition. It feeds off of stress. Thanks for your insight. Great job
That works for people who are not impacted with visual snow syndrome by a extreme amount but realize everyone is different some people can just not think about it and those people do not have seriously life changing impacts from it. My life had changed so much I wanted to end my life at one point, this mindset rely doesnt "fix" everybody.
Your story has helped me to get a push towards moving on , I'm only a little bit over a month in but I have worked every day driving for a bus transit organization I wear my sunglasses and block out the symptoms as much as possible, thank you sir you rock
I can't even express how thankful I am for this video. I suffer from health anxiety and OCD and have had vision issues recently from anxiety that's literally keeping me up at nights in sweats. I just noticed eye floaters and now I can't unsee them I even see them inside it's almost like I'm looking for them and then I freak out
You are a legend for sharing your experiences and thoughts on how to improve this condition. Thank you so much! You are spot on and and inspiration to change for the better!
Hey man thank you so much! I started having symptoms back in September 2021, and honestly, I think everything you're saying is true. This is a great and realistic outlook about the condition. I've found that the anxiety and obsession surrounding the issue is far more devastating than the actual visual symptoms themselves. There will be times when my anxiety will go down and then a week later I'll randomly do research or check for palinopsia, and those actions will once again plunge me into a downward spiral of anxiety and depression. I think it is also important to remember that many people born with this condition grow up not even knowing that the visuals are abnormal in the first place. It goes to show that one's perception dictates their reality and not the events happening around them. This video was honestly therapeutic for me. Thank you!
Mate, this video was the best thing I saw about vss. I began having this condition in march and it debilitated me for 3 months. Once I accepted that the condition will not go away, stopped searching for a cure and began to not search for the symptoms, my life got normal again. The symptoms are still there (like you say, if I am searching for them), but they don't bother me anymore. Can't thank you enough.
Wow, Im going through a very similar things at the moment and completely agree with what you are saying. I 100% believe that accepting symptoms and not focusing on them can make things better. I am still interested in getting OCD and anxiety treatment since I feel that these disorders have been affecting me for much longer and much more than I previously imagined. Thank you so much for this video (since there is not much positive information out there on this). It is so good to hear things have got better for you and I hope that it continues this way! :)
Hey man, I just wanted to say THANK YOU! you words have helped me so much, I'm really gonna start to simply accept that I have this condition and that this is totally ok. You're an awesome person, thanks dude! ✌️
Thank you for this video. You helped me reinforce the idea that I should have the mindset that what I'm experiencing is "normal" and constant worry and anxiety will get me nowhere. Every now and then I'll zone out for a minute and go into a full on panic attack so I'm still working on the whole rewiring my brain and tuning it out part :) I've had the floaters and afterimages for years but suddenly developed the static-like vision about a week ago and am still very much in the denial/shock faze. I've found that informing those around me instead of bottling my anxiety up and have them treat me like nothing is wrong and that I'll get through this helps. Facing pity and reminders just flares up my anxiety so just general socializing and being productive seems to be the way to go. So this video was basically a breath of fresh air in contrast to the other videos that paint us in a hopeless light. Thanks again!
I’m happy to read that I could somehow make your day a little better & help you reach some further clarity. If you take a step back and look at how you’re feeling, I bet it’s purely the anxiety and uncontrollable obsession that truly debilitates you the most on occasion. If you remove the anxiety from this condition it wouldn’t be so bad, because your brain wouldn’t keep it at the forefront of your mind and you’d feel content within yourself. Don’t worry about the static, the static can be experienced by many individuals with or without visual snow syndrome diagnosis. When you’re viewing the world, see through the static, don’t look at it and give it a second thought. Soon it will fade/you won’t consciously be aware of it. Those who don’t have a diagnosis or have never bothered to research if there vision is normal, are living normal lives because they don’t know that what they’re seeing isn’t normal (in a clinical sense) - they don’t don’t have to worry about the burdens of their symptoms - because it’s “normal” to them. You can live that way too, you just have to shrug it off. And the best part is; this condition is harmless and doesn’t progress with time. You have nothing to worry about. We all have a “thing” and no one is perfect.
@@sarahlabbett4626 No it doesn't. It comes up to a plateau and then it settles or gets better. You'll get to a peak or you might have flare ups but that's it. The more anxiety you put in it, the worse your symptoms get. It s a feedback loop, hard to get out, but that's all you have to do, break the cycle.
Great video bro! I’ve had it for 6 years now and never really cared about it. Until a month ago I also developed the 'flower' that you see in the dark. So I started researching it and since then I’m obsessed with my static and constantly stressed and focusing on it. It seems worse to me be ause I’m always focusing on it now but actually it's the same as before. The harder you try not to focus on it, the harder you focus on it.
Thank you for making this video. I needed to hear this. I had VSS since 2003. But back then, I though it had to do with my neck, after a fall. So I quickly learned to live with it, thinking, it would get better with time. So life went on, I had a few moments, when the snow got worse, but it always got better after a while. Then I stumbled upon a thing called Visual Snow, when going through forums, and realized, that's what I got. Reading about this thing not having a cure, made me incredibly depressed. Though, I already learned to live with it, for over a decade by then. So I calmed down, and it got better after a few weeks. Last year I kinda forgot that i had palinopsia, and actually had too look for it. It was pretty much gone. Then I went through a very stressfull and difficult time in my life, and one day the palinopsia got really bad. Everything flashed much worse than before in my life. I couldn't watch tv at all. I got medication, for my depression and anxiety, and after a couple of weeks, the palinopsia calmed down, and didn't make me sick, when watching tv. This was last September, and even though it's better now, it's not going back to base level. Now I can look out of the window, close my eyes, and I will se a bright copy of that, fading away, and coming back, for minutes. Before last year, I would just get a flash copy, which went away and didn't stay in my vision for as long as it does now. Too me the palonopsia, is the worst part of my VSS. It used to be the snow, but now I would gladly live with the snow, if only the palinopsia would get better or disappear. A lot of text there. But I'm taking your advise, and I will stop getting annoyed with it, and just accept the situation. And I will stop thinkig about a cure (that might never be created), and stop going to the VSS forums. Hopefully, I will also learn to forget about it again, and just go on with life. Like I did for all those years, before it got so much worse, last year. Cheers! 😊
Similar circumstances for me! You could be tiring your eyes from subconsciously looking for the symptoms, which in turn also creates further anxiety and stress that tires your brain & releases all sorts of stress response chemicals, which can affect VSS. Once you surrender control and roll with the symptoms, they will begin to go away to base level. Don’t worry about a “cure” - I personally wouldn’t even take it. I can live just fine with the symptoms in the background, it doesn’t affect my life and my vision seems completely normal to ME - worrying if you *see* like others is a waste of energy and cause for most of us being so depressed about the condition.
I’ve been losing my mind with VS for 7 months now. I’ve been highly myopic since I was 16 and always worried about my eyes. I then suffered a mild chemical splash to the eyes and its left with with what I believe is PTS triggering VS. I’ve had numerous examinations and been reassured there is nothing wrong with the structure of my eyes. Hearing you speak of ‘playing with symptoms’ rings true. Floaters are my worst symptom and I find myself swishing my eyes back and forth to see how bad they are. Attempting to retrain the brain sounds like solid advice. Good to get it from someone who suffers. Thanks.
Fuck I love you and this video. I am so obsessed with my symptoms, it’s the last thing I think about before I fall asleep and the first thing I see when I open my eyes. I have every VVS symptom, generalised and health anxiety, dpdr, panic attacks and migraines. My gosh you sound like my anxious mind arguing with its rational self. I’ve done so much research and treated my mental health issues with lifestyle changes after a nervous breakdown last year that left me suicidal, I pretty quickly healed my panic and vvs symptoms with this same method but have fallen back into old obsessive habits and it’s been painful to deal with. Slowly getting there, thanks for this vid.. I followed you on IG ❤️
This is so right. When I started initially noticing symptoms I turned to things like the visual snow Reddit, the issue with that place is that it’s full off people lamenting their situation, begging for cures and being very doom and gloom. I haven’t found the way to word it until now but this is the correct path to take. I appreciate you making this video!
@@Imjonwayne I got mine from LSD. I took LSD and when I sobered up I had every symptom of hppd. Have you ever taken psychedelics? If so you most likely have hppd.
Hi Jack! I've had VSS since I was a kid but never noticed it because I didn't know it wasn't normal. Flash forward to my late 20s and it seems this year the static has become constant especially when I go outside but I'm trying to condition myself to remember how my vision was before I dwelled on it and noticed/researched it. It's nice to know I'm not the only one dealing with this and that other people have overcome the symptoms that come from worrying about it. This video had helped ease my anxiety and I'm trying to go back to living normally. Your experience and advice has been so helpful. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and experience!
Thanks a lot in advance, man. I'm gonna try it from today and damn is it gonna be tough... But thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me hope 👍🏻. Yes, hope from a youtube video.
Thanks so much for posting your insight on this. I have been dealing with health anxiety since the pandemic due to weight gain and becoming hyper vigilante of bodily sensations. I noticed eye floaters one random afternoon and started obsessing and then just forgot about them. I began noticing them again and that’s when I researched and stumbled upon visual snow and then I started to look for the static and sure enough my brain became aware of it. It has not gone away and I can see it’s me obsessing with it that’s causing me to finally notice it. The only other symptom of the syndrome I have is tinnitus which also goes way when I get distracted away from it. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.😅
The people like you are life changing man to had it for life and I noticed it 2 years ago back then I went in serious depression but I came out of it because I was just not thinking about it now I notice and few weeks ago I found the vss chanel once again and I found that the symptoms were growing very much but it was just me who noticing them thanks a lot man in three months my life changing exam is going to happen and I was not able to prepare for it but now I think I can 👍🏼
Thanks for this video mate, it's incredibly helpful for people like myself who experience the exact same symptoms. Valuable contribution to those experiencing VSS. Your point about anxiety/OCD is very interesting as I am naturally, for as long as I can remember, a very anxious, stressed, and obsessive compulsive person. I had a very strong bought of constant, unrelenting stress that last under 3 years, so I wonder if that played a part in my symptoms.
Thanks man. It's like seeing myself thinking. I've been with this 8 months and same happened to me. It's a mind state we get drawn into and locked. Past months i started to not anticipate on the after images for a while and they diminished a lot. Some things cannot be avoided for me like light sensitivity but other stuff i probably can. I'm exercising, meditating, eating healthier, sleeping better and trying to move on. All my symptoms appeared after reading about VSS, at first i only noticed floaters, bfep and static at night, and then after reading about it anxiety kicked in, depression kicked in, etc. It's crazy how we wire our brain to be hyper aware of all this phenomena. It's time for me to stop also. Some stuff will be hard to ignore but who knows, they might decrease as well as you say as time goes by and i don't give a fuck anymore. Great video, really sums VSS up. This is the best advice i've seen, and i've been researching VSS & TCD, VSI, on reddit and reading papers and all. As i look back, it did not help.
hi! i wanted to come on here and comment because it feels like a safe space. i’m 16 and i’ve had diagnosed visual snow since i was 6. i never really noticed how hard it was getting for me to see until i got older and was reading on it more and i realized that i have basically every symptom/condition related to visual snow. tinnitus, the static, floaters, palinopsia, migraines, photophobia, and nyctalopia. it’s really refreshing to see videos of people sharing their stories cause it makes me not feel so alien and broken :)
You’re not broken :) we all have something going on with our health, whether that’s visual snow, being colour blind, near sited or far sited ect. You are more than capable of living a normal life - this condition is manageable :)
@@saadahmad7535 i don’t really notice them when i’m not thinking about it but in florescent lighting and looking at blank walls/the sky they’re really prominent. also when i close my eyes i can see them. and they’re always the same shapes
Thanks for this video. I’ve dealt with VS for a while and also noticed that after the initial flare up by stopping paying attention to it things improved by like 90%. Then i had a random flare up from stress which I handled ok and it sort of fluctuated. Then recently I’m having a new flare up and it just seems like symptoms are more intense every day and the thought of it constantly worsening it’s making me sick. Screens are the worst because I notice the trailing so much and like the screen is lagging. I read horror stories on fb groups and now I’m constantly worried that will be me. It makes it harder to ignore the symptoms when it feels like constantly worsening. But yeah ultimately I’ve always agreed with you and thought the same, I think it’s a very needed video. I hope I can get back on track too. I started to try to ignore my symptoms again but still notice them loads and feels like they’re getting more intense.
Amen! Ive definitely disciplined myself as well to stop being on the look out for the visuals. The visual phenomenon that I thought was going to drive me mad I hardly care about anymore. That being said.. I'm now struggling more than ever in my two year journey with this. Maybe its with the anxiety side we know accompanies this but my body has deteriorated. The physical symptoms are the worst.. I'm constantly vibrating inside. I feel so detached from reality. My breathing and heart rate is always in overdrive.. it really is exhausting. What started as mental is now very physical . Hopefully I can surpass this as well
Hi Dylan :) keep up the good work with training yourself to not react! If you perceive the symptoms as non threatening (which they are) then you will be able to live free of worry and noticing the symptoms. Just tell yourself you see like everyone else - and keep telling yourself there is no use worrying about something you cannot control. Sure, it would be a lot easier to just not have the symptoms to begin with, but life doesn’t work like that. We all have something “wrong” with us - no one is perfect. In my research and years of dealing with this, I can’t really say physical symptoms get to the point you’re describing (for me) and I think perhaps what you’re describing could potentially be related to perhaps general poor health. Are you eating healthier foods? Exercising? Working? Have hobbies? You could be severely run down and stressed in general. If you ever wanted to chat I have all the time in the world to talk to you over at Instagram: @jackcampbell10
I am here with OCD too. I see static-like stuff on darker parts of my vision (such as black clothes) but almost nothing else you mentioned. I only noticed it recently and my OCD of course jumped on it immidiately. I think the mild static I see if I pay high attention to darker surfaces is pretty normal, expect people with no OCD do not even notice it. Thank you for the tips, we should really stop checking and be aware about this meaningless phenomenon.
You are very right, when you say about playing with this palinopsia, it happens to me even with cars on light backgrounds, or seeing the silhouette of the people after talking for a few minutes with them, when I play more I feel that all I see becomes is an afterimage and it is really distressing to be like this ... the same thing happens with negative afterimage, or a blue stain remains from what I saw, whether it be the light of a car or the face of a person, I felt 100% identified with your video.
@@thatshillarious I have been doing this for just a year, I began to see shades in particular purple and yellow and it was just as you said that when I googled and investigated I began to notice more this phenomenon of palinopsia and afterimage, even the static for me is not problems I hardly perceive it, but than the 2 above mentioned and it has made me have depression right now, but I just found your video when I made the decision to turn this around, accept that it is normal and ignore, I am seeing how to train my brain and maybe why not ? go to a psychologist to help me cope with fears that have created these symptoms
@@ricardoaguilar8298 sorry to hear you have been experiencing depression 😔 But don’t worry - you will be okay, and this isn’t going to take over your life. There is no such thing as a perfectly healthy human - and this phenomenon is a lot more common than what you think. Keep on looking forward, and when you find yourself anxious or down about the symptoms - just tell yourself “I don’t care, I’m fine, healthy, and I choose to be happy”. After a while, you will go weeks without ever noticing the symptoms. Hang in there and feel free to message on Instagram @jackcampbell10
I really appreciate this, I’m 3 months in and it started happening after eating some mushrooms that sent me into a seizure I hit my head and it’s been persistent ever since. I’m learning to train my brain and move on. I really questioned if I can live a normal life anymore and I’m learning now that I can. Training the brain everyday
@@thatshillarious maybe that’s true, but I don’t think I have HPPD. At first that’s exactly what I thought it was, but as time went on I related more to the VSS because literally everything you mentioned to a “T” is what I’m experiencing day to day.
@@thatshillarious I see static on the walls, I see the little halos/ scwigly lines in the blue skys. Floaters all day. I see the after images you mentioned. I don’t really see colors when I close my eyes. Just sometimes a after burn of objects and lights. I deal with light sensitivity, when I look at lights sometimes I’ll see it right after I turn my head. Just feels more like VSS. I don’t see a lot of static outside just faint amount but I can’t look at the sky like you mentioned cuz it’s to much. But yeah. I just feel like I share all those same symptoms. But I do hope it goes away but I’m also learning to move on if it dosnt slowly
thanks Jack for this video, I've had this for 20 years nearly now, I'm 54 now, thanks for the info, I get that flower image too in the gloomy light, it's always mostly purple, also a few twingy headaches plus all the rest ✨, yes gotta keep smilin, good luck, Gyp 👣🌾🌻
@@aprilayealibangbang9209 hya, yes I see a bit of static ,but mainly floaters and after images tbh, and a few other symptoms too😀gotta keep smilin tho😀
Thank you for your video! I have this visual snow since I have memory (36), I consider it mild so far, I perceive it more in the darknes, at day time I can say it almost disappears, and I have the floaters since i was like 13, I also suffer from OCD and anxiety and whenever I go through an anxious period I also loose a bit of precision in my sight and that symptom goes away when my anxiety lowers. Three days ago I woke up like at 4 am to go to the bathroom and I saw the visual snow a bit more (maybe because I was waking up) and I immediately had a panick attack, I also have to say that I am going through a lot of stress in my job and know for sure it triggers it, I did some research and I saw that many people have it and I feel abnormal, I also found out I have pallinopsia, I asked my mom and brother if they have visuak snow too and said no, that they only have mild pallinopsia I guess. My fear with this is that I may go blind for having this or that it may increase but like I said I have had this almost all my life and it is still the same so hopefully it remains like that, I am happy to know I am not the only one experiencing these symptoms because back then when I was a teen the internet was not a big research tool and social networks didnt exist, I hope there is a cure for this or at least a therapy to get better, though I know the best way to cope with the symptoms is to reduce the anxiety because when I am not anxious I dont even notice it, thanks again for your video and hope that anyone who reads this comment feels a bit better knowing they are not the only ones suffering from this, I am still working on my anxiety to try not to obsess or panick with this, hugs and love.
Thank God I found your video xD I have been experiencing this for as long as I can remember but I onoy got oaranoid about it once I started googling about it xD goshh my OCD and anxiety are just making it worse...
For anyone here seeking reassurance, please listen to Jack. The cure is to just to accept and live! In 2017 I first noticed annoying floaters and visual snow. I was depressed due to it for a month. Eventually, I learned to ignore it. It was difficult at first, but eventually I completely forgot about it. I lived an amazing 5 years without having floaters and snow vision effect me at all. There would be few times I’d notice it, and I would quickly discard it. Whenever I did notice it, it seemed as if it drastically decreased as well. Fast forward to 2022, I recently got stuck with anxiety/anxiety disorder, and it makes it difficult to ignore the floaters and snow vision. Because of anxiety disorder, your brain is constantly scanning and looking for threats and something to worry about. So ignoring it isn’t enough, you have to address your anxiety issues. Once you address it, you can continue ignoring. And you’ll live an amazing life after that! I’m currently in the process of curing my anxiety disorder, and can’t wait to be free again! Remember, accept, ignore, and address anxiety or any anxiety disorder.
not gonna lie, I've had severe OCD for my whole life. I do agree with everything you are saying, however I feel that my static is very severe and impacts my vision more than what other people describe, plus the tinnitus + my sudden onset at 26(I'm now 31) that it's hard to believe it's caused by overthinking and obsessions. I do think it's made a whole lot worse by "checking", which I think we probably all do. I totally relate to the palinopsia check. I only googled it and found out about VSS after developing the symptoms. I haven't had any extensive testing yet but I am now in the process of this so we shall see! glad you are doing better though, it's the same with anything - the more you think about it the worst it is whether it is a real physical problem or not.
Hi Gaz :) thanks so much for commenting your thoughts. Those who suffer from OCD/Health Anxiety tend to believe that they suffer more than others. I’m not surprised to read that you feel your static is “worse” than how others describe, especially if you have OCD. I can assure you that you likely experience static very similarly to many others out there, and you’re not alone nor the one who experiences it the worst. Regardless of how you “see” the world, there isn’t much sense in worrying about it and comparing yourself to others, or even pondering “why me?” We all have something going on with us, whether it be VSS, heart conditions, immune system problems or whatever - VSS is just your thing, own it :) you’re going to be okay. Some people are blind, others are colour blind. We’re not perfect. I can guarantee with a positive mindset & reminding yourself to let go, that you you will be able to rewire your brain to accept the static, which your brain will eventually filter it out and not associate it as something scary or debilitating. You got this!!
@@thatshillarious I think I need to go through the testing process to really accept it is actually "just" VSS before I can take on the mindset that you have. I'm assuming you've had MRI's and other tests right? Did you find that this helped you to change your mindset? I appreciate your thoughts, you seem like a smart guy. Even if it is hyperawareness and OCD/Anxiety related it's still so hard!!! Thanks man.
@@Yorkie111 For what it's worth to you, I've been fully checked with multiple eye exams (Dilated Eyes, OCT, Slit Lamp, Vitreous Ecodopler, Automatic Visual Field Test), MRI, EEG, Heart Ecodoppler, Neck Ecodoppler, etc. Nothing found, nothing. Just Vitamin D deficiency and Vitamin A a little low. Nothing that could provoke this stuff. Anxiety and stress is fuel to the fire. It doesn't mean that something is a little off in the brain, but it doesn't mean either that you cannot get it back to normal functioning. It's ok if you wanna check yourself medically, just don't stress about it. I know that the doctor route, gave me more anxiety since i wanted something to be found so i could fix it, and when nothing was, it was like a backslash. Best Regards!
This is amazing! I have started doing it after three months I had and I felt so much better. Now i fell into the trap of researching more and it got worse in the past few weeks and I'm back to the start! This makes me understand how it is something that it can be controlled. It is all about mindset and perspective. I didn't know about the palinopsia (it is my main symptom as well) and how it can be trained by 'playing with it' and it is something that I constantly do!! It's good to have this information, I will definetily quit it :) I have a question though, how did you deal with the tinnitus or tingling in your arms (if you ever have these symptoms)?
Thanks for the comment! I don’t experience tinnitus however I know a few who do. They manage it by applying similar methodology that i discuss in this video :)
I used to obsess over fixing it because sometimes the afterimages would scare me shitless, because sometimes I would see the after image of something in the corner of my eye so when I look at something else it would look like a dark shadow looking at me in the corner of my eye. And whenever I look in the mirror I see the afterimage of my own face when I look away and that also catches me off guard.
I just got strong after images after having vs for 5 months only. It’s super distracting I noticed them a week now. And I decided to stop looking for them, the brain is so strong without noticing I’m doing the shifty eyes trying to look for them. I try to ignore it now but I can’t believe my eyes were doing that, it’s the anxiety I think. This video helped me realize I should stop it’s very hard but I’m gonna try my best. I’m gonna get counseling today because I really believe this is ocd behavior.
It takes time to stop training your eyes to purposely look for after images. It’s definitely OCD behaviour (like counting) but I got there and don’t ever do it anymore. Keep going! Takes time :)
I first noticed VS back in 2007 when I was 22. Had some tough years but now its the least of my worries and has no impact on my life...barely notice it now. Big thing was overcoming my anxiety issues. Have no issues whatsover with VS.
Thanks for the information. I have OCD and got the visual snow symptoms this summer. I also got tinnitus and hyperacusis.So if i am just stopping being aware of the symtpoms of visual snow it won’t bother me anymore? I don’t think it will be the same with tinnitus and hyperacusis as i it’s difficult to control, but i am getting a hearing aid which will help reducing those symtoms.
Thanks for the video. I’m at the point where I’m getting tired and I really want to get out of the obsessive loop. I know it’s gonna take work though. It’s just hard when the vs is distracting 😩 nonetheless you gave me a lot of hope!
Analisa, I’ll be straight up. Stop it, and move on! It’s not going to kill you and it’s only distracting you because your anxiety is making you feel panicked and associating it with danger. It’s not dangerous! It’s benign and doesn’t progress further. We all have our little thing, some people are colour blind and live normally ! Others have cancer and are actually dying. If you’re looking for a sign to let go, take this comment as that! You will be okay and you WILL stop obsessing over it when you change your perspective. Stay positive, because if I’ve learnt anything over the 11 years it’s that it’s a waste of time worrying about something you cannot control. Worrying makes it seem worse. Sooner or later, you won’t even consciously notice it and won’t even think something is wrong with your vision! Add me on Insta if you ever need to talk @jackcampbell10 I am so incredibly willing to talk whenever you need to.
@@gracie31233 yes, however I haven’t lived the 11 years of my life noticing it or having anxiety. I’ve lived completely normal and on occasion I’d notice the symptoms but they don’t bother me.
Practice sports. I started swimming and i don't see a single symptom while at it. It also relaxes my body and gets the anxiety way down. Go out even if it's a drag to deal with the symptoms, keep pushing and sooner or later our minds will CLICK. Takes time and patience. Acceptance like Jack said, it's the key. It's hard to do, of course we want our "old vision back". Get your old self back. VSS is nothing but a mind state. It's like obsessing with any another thing, you won't stop noticing it and you will bring it to the forefront of your consciousness.
i’ve had mine for a long time because i’ve always had SEVERE anxiety panic attacks over little topics control me and i’m always worrying i also have ADHD which doesn’t help and i feel like there’s no help if anyone know what i can do please help me the more i think about vs the more i see it
you have the same after images I do, I only had it for 8 months positive last a fraction of a second I don't play with it on purpose but more to make sure it's lasting the same amount of time and not getting worse! funny I also have mild OCD lol I seem to not notice my after images watching tv playing a video game or something like that it's weird! I've learned my best to ignore it but was very hard at fist but if it went away that would be half my battle over
Thanks for commenting mate! The after images suck, but checking to see if they are getting worse or better isn’t doing you any favours. Checking on the level of detail in the after images is actually your anxiety checking the level of danger, as you are convinced they are dangerous and causing you harm. You need to understand that the after images can sometimes appear worse, but they won’t actually get worse. They can vary from day to day - depending on how your brain feels 😂 The great news is that VSS isn’t a progressive syndrome, so you have nothing to worry about. The after images will not get worse. But they will get better. I’d recommend telling yourself that you don’t CARE about whether the after images are good or bad, just don’t give them a second thought when noticing them :)
@@thatshillarious I guess what drives my anxiety is I've seen some people get worse which drive my worry higher, I had no idea where it was going at first, I've learnt to ignore them best I can sometimes I don't even notice them depends what I'm doing lol, Had normal perfect vision until aged 34 so was hard to adjust. most my symptoms are mild part from positive after images, your VSS is very close to mine, it does have its ups and downs! Hope some good research comes out of Monash University
@@TheRatzor for those who have gotten worse, they could have had another condition involving the structure of the brain changing. VSS isn’t structural, it’s to do with the chemistry in your brain. If you have received a formal diagnosis and had MRI scans done ect, then my best advise as a completely unqualified internet stranger, is that you’ll be okay, and it won’t get worse.
@@thatshillarious Oh I've been officially diagnosed, My neuro-ophthalmologist found nothing wrong with my eyes or brain and didn't think an MRI was needed so went on from there. I have stayed away from dangerous medicines until something is officially stated by VSI but seen you have had it for that long as have similar symptoms kind of made me feel relaxed somewhat
@@thatshillarious mate i really hope you the best.you have a strong willpower. I am in living hell since august. With some days better than others. My vss developed with every symptom after a massive panic attack. I am still finding out my triggers. My depersonalization is sometimes unbearable. And being alone makes everything heavier.
Hey jack, I have had floaters since last 1 year(start of coronavirus lockdown) and have been seeing these afterimages and BFEP since the last 2-3 months ......I'm not sure if I see the static(very little fuzziness on plain walls ,not sure if that's the static).......caused a lot of anxiety initially, now a bit ok....should I be worried about anything (I know a guy who also these symptoms but not the snow/static)
Hi :) did you watch the video? I’m explaining that if you have had a formal diagnosis for VSS then your best option is to accept it and move on, as the anxiety and stress affects the severity of the symptoms. I also explain that you shouldn’t be worried. I don’t really experience much static either. My floaters also started during covid.
Hi! Floaters can be caused my just stress and anxiety, in order to be diagnosed with VSS you have to have at lest 3 symptoms at same time for more than three months :)
I think I have this. I went to the doctor constantly last year because this coincided with heart problems. My heart is better but I still feel like crap most days and it stresses me out. All my blood work is fine and they haven't diagnosed me with anything so I just stopped going to the doctor now and I am trying to deal with it. I am constantly thinking that I am dying but after hearing about visual snow last week I feel more relaxed as this describes my symptoms completely. I also experience strange feeling all over my body and my head sometimes. Can this be part of it?
Hi Jack hope u are okay. Do you have any advice for me as my visual snow keeps getting worse and worse and so is my anxiety. The eye floaters are extremly dark and I see them everywhere. Additionally snow and palinopsia are also getting on my nerves. Is it really possible to ignore it when the symptoms are 24/7 in your face. Any tips would be appreciated
You described me and my symptoms to a T and I deffo "play" with the stationary after image, I worry mine is getting worse and is defentity more noticeable when watching TV like the simpsons or futrama, the characters flash and when the shot changes the outline from the previous is there for like a second. I also think that my VSS got worse once I googled and discovered it was VS, i have it since a kid though the after images are new
It’s very common! My partner actually noticed palinopsia the other day. Just shrug it off and your brain will find it less entertaining and filter it out completely, resulting in never noticing it! Promise you
@@samtaylorfilmandvideo2127 they’re not getting worse, your anxiety is getting worse. Chill my dude, trust me I’ve been where you are and I am now fine!! :)!
@@majafilipovic1392 Hi, since posting this I have found literally the more you focus and worry about it the more it will be apparent and seem to be getting worse. For a good while I just got on with life and I never noticed (barely). Stressful situations and dad times definitely make it worse but more you destress it will improve!
This is fine and dandy as advice as for the majority of people the effects are minor and it's nothing to worry about indeed, but I do wish to say that the OCD and anxiety link is made with a bit too much force. I mean there are also people whose symptoms are so bad they are unable to read and it's debilitating. Just telling them to ignore it doesn't help, we still need to have this thing taken seriously and properly researched etc.
What choice do they have? The outcome remains the same for them whether they choose to ignore the symptoms and live with it, or hyper-fixate on something that has no cure or effective treatment. Ignoring the symptoms and choosing to accept it, is a much better way to live. There is no cure, there is NO CHOICE but to move on from it.
@@thatshillarious There will be a cure in the future most likely if enough energy is spent on developing one, so being vocal about how problematic this is for some will help spur research, will keep it on the agenda. So while your argument works for many, it does not fit every case and you left little to no space for that. I don't think it's worth discussing this as it is completely reasonable feedback I give. I do not disagree with your general point that it is not very helpful to those with minor complaints to make a big deal out of visual snow.
@@thatshillarious I would do one stating your still doing well and that the things you’ve done really do work. It seems people with vs are very skeptical maybe because they spent so much time looking for a cure with no luck. I’ve done basically the same as you and I’m 50% 60%better and expect to continue to get better!
Hey Jack! Is there a way I could contact you? I don’t know anyone else who experiences what i do. I have ocd and health anxiety and had a couple questions about your experience!
Hello. I suffer from extreme ocd. About a month ago I learned about VS. I never experienced it before at all. I started to obsess about it and now I see the things that people with VS see. I see minor static on things, when I look at something and then look away I can see it for a split second and I see ghosting on letters if I stare. Is it possible to develop this condition by obsessing about it if I never had it before? Or is my mind playing tricks on me because of my ocd? I’m struggling so much and am obessinf everyday. Is it possible I developed this from obsessing about it or is am I just obsessing about normal things?
Hi. Did you bubbles/"orbs" only on tje sky or else where too? I first saw them on the white snow, now I can see them inside/indoors too. Doctor couldn't say what I am seeing. I think what you told here is same kind of bubbles what I see. But why am I seeing them indoors too. Can IT Be dangerous?
Hey it was an amazing video also i would like to know if a woman suffering from this syndrome can have kids in the future?? Will it wprsen the conditions or damage the brains or nerves?? P.s I am 27 And i ve suffered from past 7 years with anti depressants on and off which actually created the condition for me in the 1st place.
Hey Jack. Mate I understand completely, but things will get better for you. How you feel now and your perception of the symptoms isn’t going to be forever, you will not feel this way in a year or two time, maybe even sooner. It sounds like you are in the stages of accepting - and grieving is one of those stages. Where are you from? Are you currently in lock down? When I was in lockdown (for almost 6 months) my visual symptoms were all I cared about because I was so depressed. If you’re not in lockdown, then mate today is the day you snap out of those thoughts and remind yourself how strong you really are. You will be okay, and after a lot of positive thinking and just getting on with it, your brain will soon filter these symptoms out to the point you won’t even know it’s there. You’ll have good and bad days, and that’s okay. Feel free to follow me on insta and message me anytime mate I’m happy to chat and talk about whatever you need to @jackcampbell10
@@thatshillarious thank you so much I appreciate your support you don’t find many people like you that are willing to help and comfort others and I’m from the Uk so we’ve been in full lockdown for months now which is defo not helping, my vision constantly shimmers and my eyes are so sensitive to the light it’s unbearable I was just getting used to it and about 4 weeks ago I had a really bad bout of vertigo which has seemed to have made my vs and all other symptoms bad again I just want them to stabilize so I can get on with my life what symptoms did you suffer with? Thanks again for the comment bro and I mean it
@@jackmulholland640 mate I know exactly what you’re going through and I know how scary things can seem, and how it feels that you’re life is over and that you won’t find happiness within yourself again. It simply isn’t the case though - so hang in there, and keep looking forward, because I know 100% things will get better for you. I go over my symptoms in this video but it’s a bit long so I understand if you didn’t watch it all. I experience detailed stationary palinopsia (positive after images) negative after images, floaters, mild static, sensitivity to light, BFEP, derealization and anxiety/depression. I am however, 80% of the time, not dealing with these symptoms anymore. These symptoms vary the more I focus on them and keep them at the forefront of my mind. I used to spend my entire day for months thinking about these symptoms, completely obsessed. As soon as I gave up caring they honestly went away over time m (by 80%) and now it’s at the point where I can go days without thinking about them, or even noticing them. The symptoms are most definitely there if I look for them (after a few days of not noticing them) but they are less intense and less frightening. I feel that the symptoms are driven by OCD/anxiety and training your brain to see the symptoms as danger - therefore your brain makes them worse, as a way to try and protect you from something that you feel is dangerous and life threatening. Whenever you find yourself worried, anxious and depressed about these symptoms, just remind yourself that you’re not perfect and never will be, and that’s okay. This is just your “thing” - everyone has a “thing” wrong with them - others may be blind, have cancer, have a missing leg, have serious mental illnesses, be color blind, have serious autoimmune issues ect. We all suffer from something, and thankfully this particular syndrome is something completely harmless, it’s just your anxiety and perception that causes you to this feel this way. Visual snow is so under researched, it’s hard to know exactly how common it is. It could be something that 1/20 people have, or 1/100 or 1/1000 but no one truly knows. I know for a fact that a lot of my mates experience some of the things that I do, but they simply don’t care or notice. Maybe where just very in tune with our bodies? If you have blue eyes (like me) then light reacts differently when hitting our retina. Blue eyes can change colour some days which means light can sometimes be very sensitive. Anyway, I’m rambling now! Hope you feel a bit better and as I said earlier, feel free to message me on insta and rant to me. I wish I had someone who understood me when I was going through this.
@@thatshillarious mate your a fucking legend honestly just reading this has made me feel better I was sitting here feeling anxious when your comment popped up on my phone I’ll try and take your advice thanks again brother I probably will message you and rang again in the future hopefully I’m in a better please big loveee man
Does anyone in this comment section want to make a gc about visual snow? We don’t have to talk about it necessarily but it would be nice to chat with people who have a similar predicament to me.
@@thatshillarious there is no emotional disconnect. at night, the light has starburst and halos. strange high-constrat glow effect. you can continue to engage and interact but those cannot be ignored.
@@thatshillarious i understand your video has well-intentioned but I just cannot see how it can fit into every situation. the light sensitivity lead to constant sleepiness at odd hours. how could the situation be tenable long-term?
Jack quick 2 questions I forgot to ask last time, First, I've been doing my best to ignore after images after you suggested it, sort of tuned out at the point I know we are all different but when you close your eyes does it take a split second for images to vanish as well? I can still see afterimages even in the dark it's crazy but again been doing my best to ignore it, I do slip up occasionally but have stopped the constant checking thanks for the advice
@@thatshillarious by any chance do you play video games or watch TV a lot use a computer a lot, do you find after images annoying you with that? or pretty unnoticeable?
Did you mKs yourself not look for symptoms, I just think I see static on blank walls and in the air maybe. Since I've goggled lots it's made me super aware. I don't know if I have it, just got in a state
@@sarahlabbett4626 you’re just hypersensitive and freaking out. Try and distract yourself and not worry about it. It’ll fade away into the background after a little while.
Try and avoid making sudden eye movements that jump from one area to the other and continuously remind yourself that palinopsia isn’t anything to be afraid of/is not an inconvenience to your life.
@Jack Campbell have you ever had trailing in your vision? I have it but to a very minimal degree. have your symptoms progressed or got worse and get better again?
Hi :) trailing is Palinopsia which is what I experienced a lot. My symptoms used to get bad when I had poor sleep, ate a lot of processed sugar and drank alcohol for more than 2 nights in a row. These days my symptoms are gone because I don’t entertain them - this (in my opinion) is heavily influenced by OCD and anxiety disorders.
@@thatshillarious that makes so much sense I have gotten over my symptoms but once in a while I'll have nothing else to do so I will spend my days worrying about these symptoms and then get over them again, it's a vicious cycle. I unfortunately have extreme hypochondria which fuels thoughts that I have schizophrenia, Alzheimer's(lol I'm 14) and brain tumours. This time it's the school holidays in Australia so I have so much time to myself that I'm thinking about these symptoms all the time.
@@_therewasmist2147 sorry to hear that you are having those feelings mate! I have had the same issues since a young age but it gets easier with support from friends, family and seeing a therapist to work through your anxieties. You’re okay and normal, you’re not alone. I’m also from Australia. Please feel free to have one of your parents reach out to me on Instagram I’d be happy to send over references for visual snow specialist ect.
thank you jack. can I just say that your video saved my life, I honestly would not be alive today if it wasn't for your video, my hypochondria fuels thoughts of fear and sadness in me. I thought to myself what If this slowly gets worse?, what if it stops me from doing the things I love? and how this will effect my life. eventually I decided that I couldn't handle those possibilities and wanted to die, until I found your video. I am much better off now even if I still worry about these symptoms.
I am worry that in 10 year my after images will be worse, I'm sort of on the paranoid train on that! do you not worry about things like that! I know they say its not progressive but i've seen stories of worsening and it makes me question that! and that does ramp up that anxious feelings!
I’m 17 my palinopisa is getting really really bad. I’m scared because they found a white matter lesion on my brain but told me it was nothing. Seems related
Could this condition be associated with other serious brain problems ? Because I once read that some patients with damaging and fatal diseases suffered from vs. Some of the diseases cause blindness. I'm extremely afraid I had this mysterious condition 2 years ago and I'm developing new symptoms.
Yes these symptoms can be a symptom of brain lesions, MS or other brain conditions such as tumours. When you get a VSS diagnosis they rule this out with an MRI. Have you had a mri?
@@thatshillarious Today I had an appointment with a neurologist and she had checked my ability to maintain my balance and my blood pressure etc... She then told me that everything seems ok and I understood that I don't have to have a MRI. I do not experience any problem with my body (no problems with memory, concentration, speeking ect...) and I don't have any kind of headaches at all except the visual static that is almost not visible during the day but seem slightly thick during the night, the palinopsia, the afterimages, and the flashes of light.
@@thatshillarious recently I had the MRI and the results were fine. Nothing's wrong with my brain but the VS is almost debilitating, it's just constantly there
Tip for derealisation is facing it head on, don’t run from it or try and ignore the symptoms. Acknowledge it, remind yourself that it’s your brains way of protecting itself and give yourself permission to chill out amongst the strangeness. It’s natural, it won’t kill you or last forever, the quicker you chill the quicker it’s over. On Saturday I was exhausted and hungover because I went out drinking after 10 days back to back of work (80 hours no day off) and woke up hungover and strung out. I had to wake up and drive down south sleep deprived and by the time I got to the first stop it looked like I’d taken a tab of acid. I looked at my best friend and he looked like an alien, I turned around and legged it out the store. I had to stop myself, take in a breathe and remind myself that it’s okay. ( I was also in physical pain, was panic stricken, overcome with nausea and my body was releasing all liquid out of every end TMI I know), but by facing my symptoms and giving myself a moment to rest I was pretty much back to normal after an hour. It was the most intense dpdr I’ve in about a year, yet it was the quickest turn around for me. Head up man, you’re not alone in this.
Thanks for the video. I got visual snow and this fuckin illusionary palinopsia going on. Like for a month i been so depressed about it and Scared it might be sth with the brain i mean You know something serious. Guess i got to chill. Do you think it can go away with time?
Palinopsia was my most severe symptom and the hardest one to overcome. From time to time I’ll notice it, but it’s at a very low level now where it’s in realm of what’s normal for most people. So yes, it goes away, but the trick is to not fear it or play with your vision seeing if it’s still occurring.
So I finist your video. Thanks my tinnitus or VS is not that bad. If buy not focusing it can get better whith lets say 65 % I am happy. Thanks for the positiv messege
You will be okay! Just stop worrying about it and let your brain find it “boring” - the more you see the symptoms in a negative way, the more your brain will keep it at the forefront of your mind.
ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wPjHOkSWvRM.html I have this symptom and it drives me crazy now I just stay at home to not see it on everything when I'm outside. Last 2 years didn't notice it at all but this year was like hell for me.... How can I stop getting panick attacks because of it ?
I get this and still do. Do you have light, blue eyes? I believe this is eye related rather than brain related and perhaps somewhat normal. You need to see a therapist to learn about panic attacks.
@@thatshillarious Well I don't think this is normal since I can see it exactly like the video everytime I'm outside in the daylight, I can see it in the sky, the road, the sidewalks just on everything ! It's terrible !! I have brown eyes and I got my eyes checked several times but didn't get any explanation .. neurologists also don't understand anything
I remember experiencing VSS symptoms as a child but it never caused anxiety because I knew no different. I only 'realized' i had the VSS symptoms about a year ago when I was walking down some steps with a striped pattern on them and they were vibrating/shaking. After that, the static and floaters became all the more noticeable and afterimage and flashes of light (I call them shooting stars). The more I focus on it, the worse it gets. So I try my best to ignore! Thanks for the post! Always reassuring to hear others experience it too
