What Is Derealization?

Derealization is one form of dissociation. It is a feeling of being disconnected from your surroundings, as though the world around you is somehow unreal, distant, dreamlike, foggy, artificial, or unfamiliar.

Derealization and depersonalization (another form of dissociation) can occur on their own as a diagnosed mental health condition and are also commonly experienced by people with DID and OSDD.

Examples of experiences of derealization include:

• feeling as though the world around you is unreal
• feeling as though you are living in a dream
• feeling as though there is a barrier between you and your surroundings
• feeling disconnected from familiar places
• feeling as though other people are distant or unreal
• feeling as though the world looks flat, foggy, artificial, or lifeless
• feeling as though your surroundings are somehow “off” even when you know they have not changed
• recognizing people and places but not feeling emotionally connected to them

It is important to understand that people experiencing derealization generally remain aware that the experience is occurring and have not lost touch with reality. In other words, derealization is not the same thing as psychosis.

While derealization can feel strange, uncomfortable, or frightening, it is a common dissociative experience and does not necessarily prevent a person from functioning in daily life.

This page is part of the What Is Dissociation? section of the CommuniDID site, which explains how dissociation works and why it develops.

Explore related topics:

• Questions about dissociation
• What Is Depersonalization?
• Could This Be Dissociation?
• How to Recognize When You’re Dissociating
• What Does Dissociation Feel Like?
• How Do Depersonalization and Derealization Relate to Dissociative Systems?

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