I know you have gone through déjà vu at least a few times in your life and wondered, what has just happened to me? Déjà vu is a French word that means “already seen” and happens when we feel like an individual, place, or thing looks familiar to us without experiencing it before.
70 % of the population experience this strange phenomenon; however, most people between ages 15 to 25 years old encounter it more often than any other age group.
Now, what does déjà vu mean? If we can understand this better when it happens to you next time, you’ll have a deeper understanding of it.
Here’s the meaning of déjà vu if you’ve never experienced it
Different people define déjà vu differently, but its meaning remains universal. Scientists have started researching déjà vu since many people go through it; therefore, they desire to know more about what causes it.
WHAT THE STUDY SAYS ABOUT YOUR MEMORY
A study says that people who encounter déjà vu are likely to forget points of important events and that déjà vu is a part of a healthy memory checking system.
This gives insight into why many young people experience déjà vu because memory reduces as we grow. But on the other hand, individuals who encounter déjà vu may have a better memory in the first place. This is because déjà vu can’t be triggered if people do not forget things.
Researchers aren’t sure whether déjà vu impacts the brain in any way. Déjà vu might be making people cautious because they might find it hard to trust their memory. No one can confirm the fact that déjà vu’s meaning relates to past life experiences, although some individuals believe so. Nevertheless, this is an interesting idea that, when proven to be true, could make it easier for us to learn about ourselves on a much deeper level.
Even though déjà vu has not yet been proven at the scientific level, some researchers believe there is a connection between memory and the occurrence of déjà vu. That said, in rare cases déjà vu is actually a form of a seizure, so if it happens often, err of the side of caution and get checked out. Keep in mind that déjà vu can feel different to different people. For most it is like walking into a new place and feeling like you have been there before, even though you have not. It can feel highly familiar though overwhelming. The feeling tends to pass quickly, but can be unsettling due to the illogical nature of the feeling. Still, this brain “glitch” is highly misunderstood and deserves more research and study over time.
The only information known so far is that a healthy brain can experience déjà vu, but is more likely for those who travel often and hold advanced degrees. This tends to fade as we age, but the commonality for those who experience déjà vu is a mixture of being tired, busy, and stressed out. If déjà vu is a common occurrence for you, perhaps a bit of rest and relaxation should be mixed into your schedule. Now you know that déjà vu is normal, but may be telling you something important.