Sunday, February 6, 2011

Google Search: I Can See My Nose

Today I woke up and felt like a log and didn't feel like moving. Nothing unusual there. But I didn't even feel like moving my head to look at the clock and so I simply moved my eyes all the way to left. Some stupid transparent blob was blocking my view! It was obviously my nose. Everyone can see their noses all the time but we naturally ignore the image.

Now, our brains are pretty good at making sure we don't go completely insane (most of us, anyway) by taking care of a lot of little issues. Thanks to the lenses in our eyes, the light that comes in gets flipped upside down before hitting our retinas, but our good ol' brains know just what to do, and makes sure we perceive everything as right-side up. Likewise, we can always see our noses but Mr. Brainy completely ignores it so we can go about our lives.

That's most of us, anyway. When I saw my nose this morning I found it kind of funny to suddenly become self conscious like that, so I headed over to Google to see what other people thought about this. It turns out this natural, everyday, and universal experience is not always sufficiently ignored by our brains.

"What did I do to deserve this!???"

This person, Guest1198, apparently just realized she could see her nose when she looks down or forward and wants to know what could cause such a dilemma! She was recently tanning and having sinus problems. Perhaps the tanning gave her super N-Ray vision powers! She also has been having sinus problems, so maybe her sinuses just swelled up so big that she can now see her nose? She says she also has night blindness, so it could be that this is the first time she's been in a well-lit room for a while and is just amazed by even the smallest of human experiences. We can't be sure, but six people responded with answers such as, "I've always been able to see mine, is that not good?" and, "Look allll the way down, you can even see your cheeks." Mind = blown.

There are more of these similar questions too, such as this one. The post itself is kind of funny: 

"Why do i always see my nose, on both sides of my vision? like if u hold ur finger between ur eyes, it goes double. i always c my nose like that. i always thought it was normal"

But what is REALLY funny is a statement by one distressed commenter: 

"Wow you have found someone else. I see two noses in my vision, just like you described, my nose is doubled and it is extremely annoying and bothersome. The real worry is that I haven't always had this problem. I went to Africa last year and took a medication to prevent Malaria, it was called Malarone, and ever since taking that medication my vision has been "off" and my nose it constantly in my vision. At all times I see my nose doubled in my vision. I would give a lot to have my old vision back."

He would GIVE ANYTHING to have his old vision back. I guess Malarone gave him N-Ray vision too! 

This post here is my favorite I've found so far, though. She has finally conceded to the fact that she always has and always will be able to see her nose and she's not happy about it. What's worse is that she is even afraid to go out and have fun, or read, or anything because she will be concentrating on the fact that her nose is in her peripheral vision the whole time. Now, most of the responses are people just saying, "Well yeah, everyone sees their nose...." but there is a surprising number of people who say things like, "Uh oh, I've always been able to see my nose! Is that bad, am I going to die!?" Maybe I over-dramatized it a bit.

Anyway, just for fun I decided to illustrate what I am seeing at this exact moment:

Recursion!

You can clearly see my nose and the outline of my glasses. My nose looks a little weird from this angle though, maybe that's what all these people are so concerned about. By the way, I made that image by getting up reeeeally close to the screen and outlining my vision, which is admittedly a little weird, but oh well. It's too late to undo it, it happened. 

30 comments:

  1. is that like a one of those mind benders that you have to look at it sideways to see it? cuz im not seein it.i see a torso with breasts pointed the opposite way that are possibly pierced!

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  2. I have just found out I have a whole in my sinus right above where I had an absessed tooth pulled and a bridge put on... It' s been bleeding and am waiting to see the orthodontist as the ENT said they can't help... so today was alarmed to see some big protuberance in my line of vision and realize it is my own nose! I could see both sides all the way up and down and then could see my cheeks and even my hairy eyebrows! Eee gads, are my eyes sinking?! I was so alarmed. Glad to see someone else has experienced this. What's up with it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. did this ever go away for you? I can see my nose, eyebrows, cheeks, everything everywhere I look and it's so annoying. It never goes away. Please tell me what you had to do to get it to go away!! Thanks so much!

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    2. Hi...same problem.... Please do contact me... sofia.bhagat786@gmail.com..
      Thanks

      Delete
  3. It's a serious problem you know please don't joke about our illness just because it doesn't have a name yet (?) you are just being ignorant.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes right... same problem...others laugh at us....good news is this problem got a name... please do contact me.. sofia.bhagat786@gmail.com
      Thanks

      Delete
    2. Hey Sofia, me too got this problem from 4 months or so. Lets connect and share our misery. Its not going easy.

      Delete
    3. Check your gmail. I am having such a hard time cant describe.

      Delete
  4. I also have the same problem and it drive me CRAZY! it gives me headaches from NOT trying to focus on my nose and actually thows my equillibrum off every now and again. This is EXTREMELY annoying and I too would give almost anything to have my old vision back.

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  5. I have the same problem it is so depressing

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  6. I also have the same.Its a manifestation of OCD or BDD as i think.

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  7. I recently had problems ignoring my nose. I was really worried about it. So I tried to keep my eyes as much far as I can from my nose to not look stupid and low IQ person , but also I was worried about if I couldn't look in the optic field in front of my nose. I was trying to hard to control myself and put my eyes back to my desirable position.

    P.S: I am a foreigner from a non-English speaking country. Don't expect much.

    ReplyDelete
  8. So your favourite comment is by a person with low self esteem whose everyday experiences are hindered because of thier self conscious nature that they cannot control? What kind of a horrible person are you? Moreover, if you didn't notice your nose until recently you must be full retard. Do as all a favour and kill yourself. That way I won't have to stumble over your stupid blog posts ever again.

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  9. the post about being able to see your cheeks, eyebrows, and nose- did this ever go away for you? Mine hasn't, and it feels like my eyes are sinking too! What did you do about it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mine didn't go.... sofia.bhagat786@gmail.com

      Delete
  10. If I turn around and try to look behind me or to my side, I especially see like all of it- ALL the time. It's so annoying and depressing

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    Replies
    1. Yep same here experience this since one week after making jokes with my son of 3 years old and my wife... we said...Can you see your nose?... and I said ...yes when I focus on it... and boom it never went away...tomorrow will be a week and it seems to get worse. I even had panickattacks about it .... I do not even want to open my eyes when I wake up.

      I think this is also an anxiety issues because you are scared it will never go away....so you keep focused on it. Just like tinnitus ...the more you hear it the louder it gets.

      Delete
  11. I too see my nose as two shadows.
    One goes away if I close my eye. Just 18. Myopic also going to have LASIK
    Will it effect LASIK ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Please contact ..have same problem... sofia.bhagat786@gmail.com
      Thanks

      Delete
    2. hello I’ve had this problem for 4 months, I’m depressed is this problem gone? thanks

      Delete
  12. Try not to focus on your noses as the time goes it will go away for sure. Believe me time heals. If it does not go away, go for ECT for one session, you will wake up after forgetting that you can see ur nose.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Did ECT solve this problem for you?

      Delete
    2. Hey Anoymous lets connect in gmail. my id er.reshav@gmail.com

      Delete
    3. hello is this problem since 4 months, I am depressed is this problem is gone? thank you

      Delete
  13. I can see my nose on the right side aswell, it makes me so depressed and has ruined my life. Does it go away? Ive had it for 4 months now

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Contact please... sofia.bhagat786@gmail.com

      Delete
  14. I've been having this problem recently as well it hasn't made me depressed but I'm sad that I can't fully enjoy doing this I like to do anymore like watching tv playing video games or skateboarding because I'm constantly distracted has anyone actually recovers from this wether it was mental or physical

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is mental.... contact me sofia.bhagat786@gmail.com

      Delete
    2. Same here can you please give me your number to contact you

      Delete
    3. hello is this problem since 4 months, I am depressed is this problem is gone? thank you

      Delete