Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) is a rare condition that disrupts your brain’s ability to process sensory input. The disruption affects how you perceive the size of things you see around you, the feel or look of your own body, or both. It can also distort your sense of reality.AIWS seems most common in children, with some research studies indicating that nearly two-thirds of cases happen in people under age 18. In addition to children, AIWS is more likely to happen in people with certain brain-related conditions.

Causes: 

• stress

• cough medicine

• use of hallucinogenic drugs

• epilepsy

• stroke

• brain tumor
  
  Symptoms: 

It’s not clear what causes AWS, but doctors are trying to better understand it. They do know that AWS isn’t a problem with your eyes, a hallucination, or a mental or neurological illness.Researchers believe unusual electrical activity in the brain causes abnormal blood flow to the parts of the brain that process your environment and experience visual perception. This unusual electrical activity may be the result of several causes.One study found that 33 percent of people who experienced AWS had infections. Both head trauma and migraines were tied to 6 percent of AWS episodes. But more than half of AWS cases had no known cause.Although more research is needed, migraine is considered the leading cause for AWS in adults. Infection is considered the primary cause for AWS in children.Other possible causes include:

Most experts organize the symptoms of AIWS into different types. While none of the types directly affect your body, one type can affect how your body feels or looks to you. That’s because AIWS seems to disrupt your brain’s ability to monitor your body for potential problems and changes. The three types of symptoms break down as follows:Disturbances in self-perception. People with this have trouble correctly perceiving the size and feel of their own body (either the whole body or just specific parts). It also changes your sense of reality, your ability to feel connected to your body and your emotions, and the passage of time. This form makes up about 9% of cases.Disturbances in visual processing. This affects how your brain processes what you see around you. This is the most common form, making up about 75% of cases.Combined symptoms. This is when you experience symptoms that affect both your self-perception and visual processing.

Treatment: 
There’s no treatment for AWS. If you or your child experiences symptoms, the best way to handle them is to rest and wait for them to pass. It’s also important to reassure yourself or your loved one that the symptoms aren’t harmful. Treating what you and your doctor suspect is the underlying cause for AWS episodes may help prevent an episode. For example, if you experience migraines, treating them may prevent future episodes. Likewise, treating an infection could help stop the symptoms. If you and your doctor suspect stress plays a role, you may find that meditation and relaxation can help reduce symptoms.