Tachypsychia

During intense stress or arousal, time may appear to slow down or speed up. Similar altered time-perception experiences can also accompany medical or mental-health conditions, and persistent, severe or concerning symptoms require professional evaluation.

High arousal changes attention, memory encoding and awareness of rapidly occurring events. A person may process or remember more details than usual, creating the impression that time moved differently. In some cases, altered time perception may be associated with neurological or psychological conditions that warrant clinical assessment.

• A near accident appears to unfold in slow motion.
• Time seems to pass unusually quickly during an emergency.
• An athlete experiences events as slowed during an intense moment.
• A frightening event later feels much longer than its measured duration.

• Check a clock instead of relying only on perception.
• Slow your breathing.
• Name visible and audible details around you.
• Record the event after you feel safe.