The Brain Charity

Alice in Wonderland Syndrome

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Name	Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS)
Related to/Also known as	Migraine Migraine aura
Symptoms of AIWS	"[Migraine aura may] be accompanied by apparent flashing lights, by geometric shapes, or by unusual forms. Some migraineurs may experience unusual perceptions or hallucinations and a very rare form of aura known as "Alice in Wonderland" syndrome. This syndrome is identified by the perceptions of the sufferer; their body or other peoples’ bodies look distorted, so that things appear larger or smaller than usual, or further or closer away (“macropsia / micropsia”)." Source: Migraine Action "[Things may appear] life-size or reduced or enlarged in size, and may be the same every time so they become familiar. The hallucinations may appear out of the blue and carry on for a few minutes or sometimes several hours. They can seem real – such as cows in a field – or unreal, such as pictures of dragons." Source: NHS Choices
Useful national contacts	The Migraine Trust (Migraine Action has merged with the Migraine Trust) Tel: 020 7631 6970 www.migrainetrust.org Rare Disease UK (RDUK) is the national alliance for people in the UK with rare diseases www.raredisease.org.uk
Online AIWS resources	What is migraine aura? (Migraine Action PDF, NHS website) https://tinyurl.com/ych6cvxd The Alice in Wonderland syndrome (PubMed) www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10767914 "I have Alice in Wonderland syndrome" (The Guardian newspaper, 2008) https://tinyurl.com/y9neb3fg
OurAIWS resources	The library at the Brain Charity has a range of resources on Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS) and on a wide range of disability related issues. Visit our library to read our copy of the Brain and Spine Foundation's booklet on Migraine, which includes information on Migraine Aura.

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