6/9/08 #7 - Difference between Alice in Wonderland Syndrome and an intense aura?

Full Question:

The symptoms of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, that of distortions in body perception, distortions in visual perception and distortions in the perception of time, seem to be symptoms that can be experienced to a lesser degree during the Aura stage of a migraine. I was wondering if there is any specific difference between them, or if that type of Aura no matter the intensity is considered AIWS. Myth.
 

Answer:

Dear Myth;

If you haven't already done so, take a look at:

• Alice In Wonderland Syndrome - The Basics
• Anatomy of a Migraine
• Migraine With Aura - The Basics

The most distinctive symptom of AIWS is metamorphosia, a distortion of body image and perspective. When experiencing metamorphosia, your perception of your body size in perspective to your surroundings is distorted, making you feel as if your body has grown larger or smaller.

Metamorphosia is far different from the potential visual symptoms of a "regular" Migraine aura including wavy lines, spots in the field of vision, partial loss of vision, blurry vision, phosphenes (brief flashes of light that streak across the visual field).

Good luck,
John Claude Krusz and Teri Robert

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Last updated June 9, 2008.

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