Derealization disorder, the feeling of living in a dream

If you have ever felt like you were going crazy, like you were in a dream or in a bubble, you may have suffered an episode of derealization. The essential features of derealization disorder are persistent or recurrent episodes of derealization. Now later we will see what they consist of.

Episodes of depersonalization can also often occur.. In episodes of depersonalization, a feeling of unreality or strangeness appears, as well as a distancing from oneself in general or from some aspects of the self. The sensation is like being outside oneself, as if one were an external observer.

Episodes of derealization: the feeling of living in a dream

Episodes of derealization are characterized by a feeling of unreality or distance. There may also be a feeling of being unfamiliar with the world, whether individuals, inanimate objects, or the entire surroundings. The person may feel as if I was in a fog, a dream or a bubble. Or as if there were a veil or a glass wall between the individual and the world around him. The environment may be seen as artificial, colorless, or lifeless.

Derealization is usually accompanied by subjective visual distortions. These visual distortions may be: blurred vision, increased visual acuity, expanded or reduced visual field, two-dimensionality or flatness, exaggeration of three-dimensionality, alterations in the distance or size of objects (e.g., macropsia or micropsia).

They can also occur auditory distortions, silencing or accentuating voices or sounds. Let us not forget that to diagnose a derealization disorder, the presence of clinically significant discomfort is necessary. There may also be deterioration in social, work, or other important areas of functioning.

Am I going crazy?

People with derealization disorder They may have difficulty describing their symptoms. They may come to think that they are “crazy” or “going crazy.” Another common experience is the fear of irreversible brain damage.

A common associated symptom is a subjective alteration of the sense of time (e.g., you pass too slowly or too fast). Another common symptom is subjective difficulty in vividly recalling past memories and owning them, both personally and emotionally.

Mild bodily symptoms, such as headache, tingling, or feeling faint, are not uncommon either. People may suffer from obsessive worry and marked rumination.

This rumination refers to the fact that people they may obsess over whether they really exist or monitor their perceptions to determine whether they seem real. They are also characteristics frequently associated with different degrees of anxiety and depression.

It has been observed that people with this disorder tend to have a physiological hyporeactivity to emotional stimuli. Neural substrates of interest with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the inferior parietal lobe and the circuits of the prefrontal-limbic cortex.

How does derealization disorder develop and what is the course?

The average age of onset of symptoms of derealization disorder is 16 years.. However, the disorder can begin in early or mid-childhood. Only a minority do not remember having had symptoms.

Less than 20 percent of cases appear after the age of 20. Only 5 percent after age 25. Occurrence in the fourth decade of life or later is very rare. On the other hand, the onset of the disorder can be extremely sudden or gradual. The duration of episodes can vary widely, from brief (hours or days) to prolonged (weeks, months or years).

While for some people the intensity of symptoms may wax and wane considerably, others report a constant level of intensity. In extreme cases it can appear for years or decades.

The internal and external factors that affect the intensity of symptoms vary between people, although some typical patterns are documented. Exacerbations can be caused by stress, worsening mood or anxiety symptoms, new stimulating or overstimulating circumstances, and physical factors such as lack of sleep.

As we see, derealization disorder can be extremely unpleasant for those who suffer from it. The main feeling is that of going crazy or living in a dream, far from reality. This may prompt these people to seek medical help. Fortunately, despite being very unpleasant, it is not dangerous.

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