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Post by AussieMeg on Aug 27, 2014 9:51:58 GMT
.... and then wondered where you were or how you got there?
It has happened to me a few times. Last night I was driving home from work. I was deep in thought about something, and when I "came to" I had absolutely no idea where the bloody hell I was! Nothing looked familiar. I was in a rural looking area with bush on either side. I was wracking my brain trying to remember whether perhaps I went straight ahead after turning off the freeway instead of turning right? Or maybe I missed the turn where I have to go left and took the next one by mistake? It was getting dark and I thought I may as well keep driving for a few minutes until I came across a road sign that might give me a hint. Well, it turned out that I WAS on the right road after all, I think it looked unfamiliar because I freaked myself out when I first came to.
Another time I was driving from work to my hairdresser's salon. I was on autopilot and this time when I came to I was on the freeway. I was supposed to have gone straight ahead instead of turning onto the freeway. I thought to myself that I would get off at the next exit, but I had no idea how far along the freeway I had driven, and where I was exactly. Luckily I had only gone one exit along, but I was still a bit late for my appointment.
Now I'm wondering whether I have early onset Alzheimer's or I'm just a bit flakey when I'm deep in thought!!! |
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Post by lightetc on Aug 27, 2014 10:09:13 GMT
Lol, i do this. Usually I know where I am, but it's not where I'm supposed to be... And so I end up taking the long way around.
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Post by kandie on Aug 27, 2014 10:27:52 GMT
Yep I have done this and like you, when I snap out of it I have a hard to figuring out where I am only to realize it is the right road. I get freaked out when I zone and then can't remember the last couple of miles. This only happens to me when I am taking a route I take often
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brandy327
Drama Llama
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Post by brandy327 on Aug 27, 2014 10:28:25 GMT
I've done this a few times but it was due to being extremely tired, not zoning out. Thankfully, I don't drive anymore if I'm that tired.
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Post by phoenixcov on Aug 27, 2014 10:32:16 GMT
You are not alone with the autopilot thing Meg. I was driving us home one night in very thick fog. For some reason I suddenly couldn`t remember where I was and shouted to my OH "which way is it" "Left you daft sod we`re only 2 miles from home" said with manic laughter. I should point out that daft sod is a term of endearment from my Yorkshireman OH.  |
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Post by gar on Aug 27, 2014 11:06:50 GMT
That's scary Meg!! I have done it occasionally but more along the lines of ending up where I wanted to be but without remembering anything about the journey....I don't think I've ever ended up somewhere unexpected.
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
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Post by anniebygaslight on Aug 27, 2014 11:08:23 GMT
That's scary Meg!! I have done it occasionally but more along the lines of ending up where I wanted to be but without remembering anything about the journey....I don't think I've ever ended up somewhere unexpected. Same here.  |
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Deleted
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Jun 1, 2024 21:55:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2014 11:16:38 GMT
I actually find that very worrying  |
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back to *pea*ality
Pearl Clutcher
Not my circus, not my monkeys ~refugee pea #59
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Jun 25, 2014 19:51:11 GMT
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Post by back to *pea*ality on Aug 27, 2014 11:21:46 GMT
That's scary Meg!! I have done it occasionally but more along the lines of ending up where I wanted to be but without remembering anything about the journey....I don't think I've ever ended up somewhere unexpected.  However, for me it is the same drive to work following the same exact route. I think you don't remember it because it is so familiar unless something happens along the way that is out of the ordinary. If I ended up somewhere that was not my intended route, I might check to see if there is a medical reason and seriously consider if I should be behind the wheel. |
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BarbaraUK
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Post by BarbaraUK on Aug 27, 2014 11:23:14 GMT
That's scary Meg!! I have done it occasionally but more along the lines of ending up where I wanted to be but without remembering anything about the journey....I don't think I've ever ended up somewhere unexpected. Same here. Me three!!  |
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Post by Karenina on Aug 27, 2014 11:30:21 GMT
Same here. Me three!! Me four! |
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Post by kelbel827 on Aug 27, 2014 11:32:44 GMT
I used to do that..still do on occasion. Just get in the car and it's usually the passenger that says, Where are you going?  I know exactly what's going on around me, I just have no idea where I'm going and just go. Not anything that really concerns me, because I am deep in thought. Still driving normal, just not on my right path. |
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Deleted
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Jun 1, 2024 21:55:07 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2014 11:41:13 GMT
That's scary Meg!! I have done it occasionally but more along the lines of ending up where I wanted to be but without remembering anything about the journey....I don't think I've ever ended up somewhere unexpected. Ditto. I've done that many a time. DH says my car drives itself sometimes.  I have taken one of the children to their piano lesson and I should have been taking the other to Brownies. The annoying thing is that DD usually asks " Where are you going Mum" AFTER we arrive at the wrong destination. I've never had a total blank that I don't even know where I am though,thankfully. |
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lesley
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Post by lesley on Aug 27, 2014 11:41:23 GMT
When I get on autopilot in the car, I usually end up at the high school, or the pharmacy as they are the places I visit most! It's only when I park I realise that I meant to be somewhere totally different. |
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SuPeaNatural
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Post by SuPeaNatural on Aug 27, 2014 11:44:22 GMT
Meg, my son and I were talking about this just this morning.
This is what happens to me, I've never got lost or gone to the wrong place, but I 'lose' part of the trip. That's what my son meant too. I think it happens to most drivers sometimes. Don't worry, if you're going loopy then you're not alone. |
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blue tulip
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by blue tulip on Aug 27, 2014 12:22:29 GMT
yep. that's exactly how it's so easy to leave a child in the car if you're not used to them being there. without you even realizing it, your brain takes over and you just skip that trip to daycare or the sitter and go to work and never remember.
I always find myself headed to work when we're aiming to go somewhere else.. it's like once I'm on that road my brain takes over and says oh, we're going to work. |
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scrappert
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Post by scrappert on Aug 27, 2014 12:36:06 GMT
My auto pilot is, I do the same thing every day. If something changes, I may forget. My story was that I would take my son to school everyday. Then head off to work. I left like always, drove to the school to let him out. Only to realize: [HASH]1, he did not have school that day and [HASH]2, he wasn't even in the car with me OMG!!! (No I did not forget him, he was home with his Dad!!) LOL! I laugh to myself Every. Time. I think of that.  |
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Post by Pahina722 on Aug 27, 2014 12:51:52 GMT
That's scary Meg!! I have done it occasionally but more along the lines of ending up where I wanted to be but without remembering anything about the journey....I don't think I've ever ended up somewhere unexpected. This is my autopilot ^^^^^ It can be frustrating since I teach at two different campuses. If I'm not paying attention, autopilot kicks in and automatically sends me to my "home" campus when I need to be at the satellite one. Lately, autopilot engages in the driveway, forcing me to circle back to my house to be sure I closed the garage door. |
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Post by melanell on Aug 27, 2014 13:30:32 GMT
I just had an autopilot moment last week. I hate them. They really freak me out. I try to be so vigilant when driving, so realizing that I just drove however long on autopilot makes me nervous.
I live in a rural area with a lot of fields, meadows, and woods, so if I snap out of an autopilot moment near a field or woods it can take me a minute to figure out exactly where I am too, because there are no real landmarks, kwim?
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Post by melanell on Aug 27, 2014 13:31:53 GMT
My other auto-pilot issue is that during the school year I occasionally head towards the school when that's not even where I am going. (I drive by the school many times a day, so on autopilot, I turn onto the school road by mistake.)
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Post by eebud on Aug 27, 2014 13:43:29 GMT
The problem with autopilot is that it probably also means you have tunnel vision at the time and are not aware of what is around you. This will cause a lot of wrecks.
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sharlag
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Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
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Post by sharlag on Aug 27, 2014 13:51:52 GMT
The problem with autopilot is that it probably also means you have tunnel vision at the time and are not aware of what is around you. This will cause a lot of wrecks. That's what worries me. I snap out of it and think, "Well I guess I would have noticed if I had hit something..." |
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Post by jeremysgirl on Aug 27, 2014 13:57:22 GMT
I have done this very thing. Usually it is after work and I really need to go somewhere else on the way home, but I end up in my driveway instead.
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Post by jeremysgirl on Aug 27, 2014 13:57:35 GMT
I have done this very thing. Usually it is after work and I really need to go somewhere else on the way home, but I end up in my driveway instead.
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Post by bianca42 on Aug 27, 2014 14:02:21 GMT
This morning I left daycare and proceeded to drive home instead of to work. I caught myself before I got all the way home...but I still missed my on-ramp and had to turn around.
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Post by melanell on Aug 27, 2014 14:04:32 GMT
The problem with autopilot is that it probably also means you have tunnel vision at the time and are not aware of what is around you. This will cause a lot of wrecks. That's why it scares the crap out of me and I try to avoid it. |
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Post by dulcemama on Aug 27, 2014 14:08:31 GMT
I've done that and usually, it turns out that I missed a turn somewhere. I've also been driving on autopilot and ended up at a former residence that I haven't lived at in many many years.
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~Susan~
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Post by ~Susan~ on Aug 27, 2014 14:19:06 GMT
That's scary Meg!! I have done it occasionally but more along the lines of ending up where I wanted to be but without remembering anything about the journey....I don't think I've ever ended up somewhere unexpected. I once had a job where I had to be there before 6:00am and did this several times. It is scary. |
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Post by whipea on Aug 27, 2014 14:46:31 GMT
Yes. And it is like "wow, I'm here. How did that happen".
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julieb
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by julieb on Aug 27, 2014 15:08:08 GMT
Yes if done that, never ending in the wrong place however. I wouldn't get overly worried about it. If you were in deep thought, I could see it happening.
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I know exactly what's going on around me, I just have no idea where I'm going and just go. Not anything that really concerns me, because I am deep in thought. Still driving normal, just not on my right path.
I have taken one of the children to their piano lesson and I should have been taking the other to Brownies. The annoying thing is that DD usually asks " Where are you going Mum" AFTER we arrive at the wrong destination.
