What to do while feeling of detachment from the world around you
When derealization is strong, a person may feel as if they are losing their mind. Those who perceive certain experiences in their lives as unreal might believe that their world is falling apart.
Some individuals may feel that everything around them lacks reality and is not genuine. This experience, known as derealization, is one of the most alarming symptoms of anxiety.
Although derealization is purely psychological and subjective, it can be challenging for those who have not experienced it to comprehend.
Derealization is a perception disorder where a person views their environment as strange or unreal. Even individuals who seem to lead normal lives can experience derealization, leading them to feel detached from reality.
While they may view themselves as active participants in their lives, they could also think that parts of their bodies do not belong to them.
Instead of labeling derealization as a mental illness, it is more accurate to describe it as a set of symptoms. Often occurring alongside depersonalization, derealization can arise during periods of intense stress. This condition is seen as a last resort defense mechanism that shields individuals from significant emotional distress.
Derealization may also manifest as a symptom in various conditions, including anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, and certain organic mental disorders.
The causes of derealization can stem from multiple situations or events. The topic is complex, and it remains unclear what happens in the brain that detaches people from reality. However, it is believed that derealization acts as a natural defense mechanism.
For instance, when a person faces overwhelming anxiety, such as during a panic attack or a severe stress episode, the brain may temporarily disconnect from reality to cope with the stress.
Despite this suspension, the brain remains active, causing the individual to perceive their surroundings as unreal. This phenomenon is common during peak anxiety experiences.
To identify derealization, certain symptoms should be present. A key symptom is the feeling of being transported to an unfamiliar and incomprehensible place.
Other symptoms include feelings of alienation or strangeness in one’s surroundings, emotional disconnection from significant others, and perceiving the environment as blurry, distorted, or lacking color. Individuals may also feel that recent events seem distant, experience altered perceptions of time, have distorted sense of distance, and notice changes in how they perceive the size and shape of objects.