# Why do I feel weird when I see flashing lights?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-weird-when-i-see-flashing-lights/469108>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 22, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-weird-when-i-see-flashing-lights/469108 "2008-10-22T19:33:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mississippienne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mississippienne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mississippienne)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-weird-when-i-see-flashing-lights/469108/1 "2008-10-22T19:33:44Z")

</div>

Whenever I see flashing lights or strobe lights, I get this very strange feeling in my head that’s hard to put into words. It’s like part of my mind is frozen, and I have to force myself to blink. This happens when I see flickering lights on television or in dance clubs. Even if it’s a scene in a movie where someone is walking through a warehouse or something and there’s a single light bulb overheard that’s flickering on and off, I’ll feel it a little bit. Does anyone know what this is?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-weird-when-i-see-flashing-lights/469108/2 "2008-10-22T19:36:22Z")

</div>

Discuss it with your doctor.

Sometimes, both focal and generalized seizures are triggered by flashing lights.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-weird-when-i-see-flashing-lights/469108/3 "2008-10-22T19:51:25Z")

</div>

> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#):
>
> Discuss it with your doctor.
> 
> Sometimes, both focal and generalized seizures are triggered by flashing lights.

This I have read several times; such lights often trigger epileptic seizures, so I really second the motion see a doctor.

Good luck

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-i-feel-weird-when-i-see-flashing-lights/469108/4 "2008-10-22T23:09:21Z")

</div>

**Mississippienne** , our friend **Qadgop the Mercotan** is a doc.

He’s right.

Go to an MD.