Derealization

An artistic replication of what it feels like to experience watching the world through a screen.

Derealization or derealisation (sometimes abbreviated as DR) is an alteration in the perception or experience of the external world so that it seems unreal. Other symptoms include feeling as though one's environment is lacking in spontaneity, emotional coloring and depth. It is an effect which occurs as a result of dissociative usage, but is also a symptom of many conditions, such as psychiatric and neurological disorders, and not a standalone disorder.

People experiencing derealization have described feeling as if the world external to them were something in a TV show or movie, or as if they were viewing it through a TV screen. This, and other similar feelings attendant to derealization, can cause a sensation of alienation and distance between the person and others around them.

Whilst derealization is a subjective experience of unreality of the outside world, depersonalization is unreality in one's sense of self. Although most authors currently regard derealization (surroundings) and depersonalization (self) as independent constructs, many do not.

Psychoactive substances

Compounds within our psychoactive substance index which may cause this effect include:

See also

• Derealization (Wikipedia)
• Depersonalization
• Dissociative
• Subjective effects index