Blank Out or Stare Into Space for a Few Seconds
Free Symptom Checker
with Physician-supervised AI
Reviewed By:
Bret Mobley, MD, MS (Neuropathology)
Dr. Mobley graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, completing a masters degree in neuroscience between his second and third years of medical school. He trained as a resident in pathology at Stanford University Hospital before joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Tennessee in 2010. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and to Neuropathology Division Director in 2020.
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
Content updated on Jan 29, 2025
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Nauseous and my body suddenly stopped moving
Body froze up with eyes open and looking to the left / right
Body froze up and vision became blur or warped
Suddenly lost control of my body and there was crawling sensations on my body
Smelling things that aren't there when my movement halted
Experiencing auditory hallucinations when my physical activity stopped
Couldn't move and there was a strong taste in my mouth
Flushing of the face and lost control of my body movements
Movements paused but eyes were open and staring
My motions paused and I felt cramping pains in my stomach
Strong smell when my movements paused
Experiencing false sensations of touch on my skin when I stopped moving
How Ubie Can Help You
With a free 3-min quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
Your symptoms
Our AI
Your report
Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- During the pause in actions or movements, I was hearing things like sounds / voices / music
- During the pause in actions or movements, I felt abnormal sensations like being touched
- During the pause in actions or movements, I was staring fixedly in one direction
- Movements paused and I started seeing strange things or flashing lights
- During the pause in actions or movements, there was a taste in my mouth
- During the pause in actions or movements, I smelled something strange
- Face turned red or pale and body suddenly stopped what it was doing
- Feeling uncomfortable in the stomach and body couldn't move
- Hallucinating that I was hearing things and my body stopped moving
- Movements suddenly came to a stop and face turned pale or flushed
- Seeing strange things when my body movements suddenly paused
- Actions came to a stop with eyes gazing fixedly at one point
- Hallucinating and seeing things when my body stopped moving
- Seeing hallucinations during a seizure when I couldn't move
- Movement suddenly stopped and I smelled strange things
See full list
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Developed by doctors.
Try Free Symptom QuizWhen to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Fainting with loss of consciousness
- Seizure attack
- Impossible to walk normally
- Fine tremor of the fingers
- Involuntary movements
Possible Causes
Generally, Blank out or stare into space for a few seconds can be related to:
- Parkinson's Disease
A progressive nervous system disorder affecting movement. It occurs due to nerve cell damage in the brain. The exact cause for PD is unknown. Risk factors include genetics, male gender, old age, and exposure to certain toxins and environmental factors.
- Breath Holding Spells
A condition sometimes seen in young children. Spells most commonly occur around one year of age with a range of six months to four years. Up to 15 percent of cases may have an initial episode below the age of six months. The child may stop breathing for up to 1 minute, causing them to lose consciousness and tone. Although alarming to parents, this condition is common and can happen in healthy children, who will grow out of it as they age. Triggers for spells include frustration, pain, or fear.
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Blank out or stare into space for a few seconds may be related to these serious diseases:
- Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder where brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures of varying durations and severities. It can affect people of any age and may be caused by genetic disorders or brain injuries, such as stroke.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Have you experienced sudden full-body immobility?
- Did your hearing become abnormal when you stopped moving?
- Did you see strange things or have blurred vision when you stopped moving?
- Did you notice any unusual smells when you stopped moving?
- Did you feel sick or have stomach discomfort when you stopped moving?
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Try Free Symptom QuizFind Similar Symptoms
Similar symptoms or complaints
Symptoms from similar body parts
Symptoms treated by the same specialty
Reviewed By:
Bret Mobley, MD, MS (Neuropathology)
Dr. Mobley graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, completing a masters degree in neuroscience between his second and third years of medical school. He trained as a resident in pathology at Stanford University Hospital before joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Tennessee in 2010. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and to Neuropathology Division Director in 2020.
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1