Definition
Derealization is a disturbance of the psychic sphere, characterized by the loss of the sense of reality (which usually each of us has towards people, things and the outside world).
The derealised subject perceives the surrounding environment as unreal, unknown or unusual and manifests a subjective feeling of non-belonging to what he does or says.
Derealization can occur in the form of short and recurrent episodes or in continuous and long-lasting periods. This phenomenon can occur transiently during depressive episodes and in schizophrenia; a state of continuous derealization can instead develop as an expression of an obsessive disorder.
This experience can also occur in normal subjects, in the presence of a particular state of fatigue, high levels of anxiety and great emotional stress.
Derealization can also be seen during or after panic attacks and in the context of borderline personality disorder. Sometimes, this state is accompanied by depersonalization (a sense of being extraneous to one's own body), problems in the social field and dysfunctional behaviors (such as drug abuse).
Possible Causes * of Derealization
- Alcoholism
- Anxiety
- Panic attack
- Major depression
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Avoidant Personality Disorder
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Schizophrenia
