Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsExperienceTestingEpisodesDuring an EpisodeIn-Between EpisodesFurther Support
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Experience
Testing
Episodes
During an Episode
In-Between Episodes
Further Support
AIWS episodes change how you perceive the size of things around you, the look and feel of your body, your sense of self, and the passage of time.AIWS takes its name from the character Alice, who experiences drastic changes in her body size in Lewis Carroll’s imaginative novel,Alice In Wonderland.
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How Common Is Alice In Wonderland Syndrome?Because Alice in Wonderland syndrome is under-researched, its exact prevalence is unknown. However, it affects about 15% of people with migraine. In a study of adolescents, 5.6% of males and 6.2% of females at birth experienced symptoms.
How Common Is Alice In Wonderland Syndrome?
Because Alice in Wonderland syndrome is under-researched, its exact prevalence is unknown. However, it affects about 15% of people with migraine. In a study of adolescents, 5.6% of males and 6.2% of females at birth experienced symptoms.
Experience of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome
Throughout the novelAlice in Wonderland, the main character, Alice, experiences distortions in her sense of reality and time. At one point, she shrinks to the size of a mouse before growing to the size of a house. The primary symptoms of AIWS episodes involve similar perceptual changes.
AIWS episodes typically are brief—lasting as little as a few minutes and rarely over a half hour. However, there have been reports of episodes lasting months or years.Broadly, effects can be categorized as affecting self-perception, vision, and other senses.
Self-Perception Symptoms
Changes in your sense of self and body are standard features of AIWS. These symptoms include:
Visual Symptoms
AIWS can also affect vision, distorting what you see. Among many, the following are the most common:
Other Symptoms
Some with AIWS report everything sounding louder and more disruptive. This condition can also cause coordination problems or loss of limb function.
Broader Effects of AIWSAIWS episodes are not harmful in and of themselves, but they can have a broader impact. For instance, they can cause emotional disturbances and impact the ability to remember and learn.Self-stigma—negative feelings or ideas about yourself—can also arise due to anxiety about episodes, impacting social interactions and relationships.
Broader Effects of AIWS
AIWS episodes are not harmful in and of themselves, but they can have a broader impact. For instance, they can cause emotional disturbances and impact the ability to remember and learn.Self-stigma—negative feelings or ideas about yourself—can also arise due to anxiety about episodes, impacting social interactions and relationships.
AIWS Testing: How to Know
It can be challenging for healthcare providers to diagnose AIWS. Episodes are brief, the condition is understudied, and no set criteria define it. To do so, healthcare providers—oftenneurologists(brain specialists)—use physical exams, health history, and neurological tests to assess how well you see and move.
Since a range of physical, neurological, and psychological conditions can cause symptoms like AIWS, providers may also need to perform additional tests and exams, such as:
If you suspect you or someone you care for is experiencing sensory disturbances, seek medical care. Caregivers of children with suspected AIWS should track the timing, duration, and intensity of episodes since answering questions about episodes is a crucial aspect of diagnosis.
Why AIWS Episodes Occur
Researchers are continuing to study AIWS to understand its cause. Many experts believe it arises due to problems with the structure and function of the perceptual system: the eye, optic nerve, and associated brain regions. Using imaging studies, researchers linked cases to disorders in the brain’s visual cortex.
A growing list of conditions can trigger AIWS episodes and raise risk. These include:
During an AIWS Episode: What Helps
There is no standard treatment for AIWS. While most episodes are temporary and resolved independently, management strategies focus on treating the underlying migraine, infection, disease, or psychological condition to stop them from coming back.
In-Between AIWS Episodes
Depending on the cause of AIWS, there may be little you can do to prevent episodes. Still, managing potential underlying causes, such as migraine with aura, and promoting good mental and physical health can help. Here’s what may help between AIWS episodes:
While AIWS episodes are temporary and harmless, these symptoms can be signs of more dangerous conditions. If you experience any stroke symptoms, seek emergency help. These include:
Additional Support and Further Reading
There’s no doubt that conditions like Alice In Wonderland syndrome can be a significant burden, especially when it’s associated with a chronic condition. If you or a loved one is struggling, seeking additional support and resources is important. Here’s what you can do:
Summary
Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) is a rare neurological condition that affects sensation and perception. Migraine with aura is the most common cause. Managing AIWS involves treating the underlying cause and resting while the episode passes. Most cases are harmless, though living with the condition can impact the quality of life. Prevention may involve lifestyle changes to prevent associated conditions, such as migraine.
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Blom JD.Alice in Wonderland syndrome: a systematic review.Neur Clin Pract. 2016;6(3):259-270. doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000251Mastria G, Mancini V, Viganò A, et al.Neuroimaging markers of Alice in Wonderland syndrome in patients with migraine with aura.Front Neurol. 2023;14:1210811. doi:10.3389/fneur.2023.1210811Naarden T, Ter Meulen BC, van der Weele SI, Blom JD.Alice in Wonderland syndrome as a presenting manifestation of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.Front Neurol. 2019;10:473. doi:10.3389/fneur.2019.00473Corrigan PW, Rao D.On the self-stigma of mental illness: stages, disclosure, and strategies for change.Can J Psychiatry. 2012;57(8):464-469. doi:10.1177/070674371205700804Mayans L, Walling A.Acute migraine headache: treatment strategies.Am Fam Physician.2018;97(4):243-251.MedlinePlus.Stroke.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Blom JD.Alice in Wonderland syndrome: a systematic review.Neur Clin Pract. 2016;6(3):259-270. doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000251Mastria G, Mancini V, Viganò A, et al.Neuroimaging markers of Alice in Wonderland syndrome in patients with migraine with aura.Front Neurol. 2023;14:1210811. doi:10.3389/fneur.2023.1210811Naarden T, Ter Meulen BC, van der Weele SI, Blom JD.Alice in Wonderland syndrome as a presenting manifestation of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.Front Neurol. 2019;10:473. doi:10.3389/fneur.2019.00473Corrigan PW, Rao D.On the self-stigma of mental illness: stages, disclosure, and strategies for change.Can J Psychiatry. 2012;57(8):464-469. doi:10.1177/070674371205700804Mayans L, Walling A.Acute migraine headache: treatment strategies.Am Fam Physician.2018;97(4):243-251.MedlinePlus.Stroke.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Blom JD.Alice in Wonderland syndrome: a systematic review.Neur Clin Pract. 2016;6(3):259-270. doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000251Mastria G, Mancini V, Viganò A, et al.Neuroimaging markers of Alice in Wonderland syndrome in patients with migraine with aura.Front Neurol. 2023;14:1210811. doi:10.3389/fneur.2023.1210811Naarden T, Ter Meulen BC, van der Weele SI, Blom JD.Alice in Wonderland syndrome as a presenting manifestation of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.Front Neurol. 2019;10:473. doi:10.3389/fneur.2019.00473Corrigan PW, Rao D.On the self-stigma of mental illness: stages, disclosure, and strategies for change.Can J Psychiatry. 2012;57(8):464-469. doi:10.1177/070674371205700804Mayans L, Walling A.Acute migraine headache: treatment strategies.Am Fam Physician.2018;97(4):243-251.MedlinePlus.Stroke.
Blom JD.Alice in Wonderland syndrome: a systematic review.Neur Clin Pract. 2016;6(3):259-270. doi:10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000251
Mastria G, Mancini V, Viganò A, et al.Neuroimaging markers of Alice in Wonderland syndrome in patients with migraine with aura.Front Neurol. 2023;14:1210811. doi:10.3389/fneur.2023.1210811
Naarden T, Ter Meulen BC, van der Weele SI, Blom JD.Alice in Wonderland syndrome as a presenting manifestation of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.Front Neurol. 2019;10:473. doi:10.3389/fneur.2019.00473
Corrigan PW, Rao D.On the self-stigma of mental illness: stages, disclosure, and strategies for change.Can J Psychiatry. 2012;57(8):464-469. doi:10.1177/070674371205700804
Mayans L, Walling A.Acute migraine headache: treatment strategies.Am Fam Physician.2018;97(4):243-251.
MedlinePlus.Stroke.
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