What is déjà vu? We asked a psychic... and a psychologist.

What is déjà vu?

It's a question so many of us want to know the answer to, the phenomenon often leaving us with a lot of intrigue and confusion.  

From a basic understanding, when you experience déjà vu, it feels like a powerful sense of familiarity. In French the phrase translates to "already seen", referring to the idea that it's a transitory sensation of having already lived a totally identical situation in the past.

With this in mind, it's fair to say it often leaves us feeling a bit weirded out or disorientated. 

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Some neuroscientists believe it's a result of some sort of 'mix-up' between sensory input and memory-recalling output, in healthy people. 

When the experience of déjà vu is happening often, that's when most experts feel it's a symptom of something health-related that needs to be examined. 

Historically, scientists have struggled to recreate déjà vu in the laboratory because it's difficult to identify stimuli that can evoke the feeling.

So the science behind it remains not yet fully known. 

To unpack this phenomenon a bit more, Mamamia spoke with two experts in their chosen fields – a psychic-medium and a psychologist – for their take.

A psychic's perspective.

Cael O' Donnell is considered Australia's only Indigenous queer medium. He was also named Australia's number one psychic medium by Penguin Random House AU, given he has more than one million followers on TikTok.

For more than four years now, he has been working professionally in this field.

"Professionally, I've done 500 readings, but in terms of the readings I've done over the course of my life outside of professional paid readings, it would be in the thousands," Cael tells Mamamia. "I just love that I can change people's lives and help them feel like they're on the right track and that there's hope."

From his perspective, déjà vu is definitely a phenomenon in the psychic realm.

"When you're experiencing déjà vu, oftentimes it's a momentary glimpse of events whereby you are shifting a timeline for a moment. So in a déjà vu you're being reminded that your life is planned in a beautiful way, it's a moment of psychic resonance," Cael says.

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As for who experiences this phenomenon, Cael notes that anyone can have a déjà vu moment.

But commonly, those who experience it often are people who are sensitive or who have "a bit of a thinner veil to the spirit world".

Another group who feel it often are those enduring a fair bit of stress, Cael says, adding that it's often the universe giving you a tap on the shoulder reminder that some self-care is needed.

And for anyone feeling a bit weirded out by it all – don't fear.

"Everything about déjà vu is all positive. Although it might feel a little bit disconcerting, it's just a sign that your higher self is leading you on the right path and it's just playing out the way that it needs to. It's just your soul kind of tripping over itself in a moment there."

A psychologist's perspective.

Carly Dober is a psychologist and the Director at the Australian Association of Psychologists Incorporated. For more than 12 years she's been working in the mental health space, and for almost five years she has been a psychologist.

"I love the brain, and educating the public about mental health," Carly tells Mamamia. 

From her perspective, déjà vu is a sense of familiarity that, while very strong, is false. 

"Your brain is creating a sensation that feels like it is a memory, and the lingering confusion or recall that goes on after the moment is your brain trying to scan for a memory that it cannot recall," she says.

According to Carly, the research says déjà vu is typically seen in the scientific community as a miscommunication between two parts of your brain. 

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"You have two temporal lobes, one on each side of your head, above your temples. They help you to understand language, interpret other people's emotions, remember people and places you've seen and been to, and how to recall words. In each of your temporal lobes is a hippocampus, which also plays a part in these functions and it also contributes to your short-term memories," Carly notes.

"Basically, when you experience déjà vu, there is a disruption in your memory systems when your hippocampus and surrounding brain tissue is activated."

Although Carly acknowledges that it isn't uncommon to experience déjà vu, she says there isn't much cause for concern unless it's happening more and more frequently.

"It may be a sign of underlying health concerns. Stress and exhaustion can contribute to déjà vu, so take note of how often it is occurring for you.

"I totally understand how it can feel a little strange! If you do feel it is persisting, you can always chat to your GP about any concerns you may have, or go to a neuropsychologist."

Ultimately, déjà vu is something many of us experience from time to time.

And perhaps like lots of phenomenons of the mind, it's something that will always intrigue and leave us wanting to uncover more. 

For more from Cael O' Donnell, you can visit his website here, and his Instagram. For Carly Dober, her website is here and her Instagram is here.

Feature Image: Canva/Mamamia.