Derealization is a mental state where an individual feels detached from their surroundings, perceiving people and objects around them as unreal or distorted. It is characterized by persistent or recurrent feelings of detachment from the environment, often described as foggy, dreamlike, or visually distorted. Key points about derealization include:
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Symptoms: Individuals experiencing derealization may feel detached from their surroundings, as if the world around them is foggy, dreamlike, or visually distorted. They may also describe a feeling as though time is passing them by and they are not in the notion of the present. In some cases, individuals may be unable to accept their reflection as their own, or they may have out-of-body experiences.
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Causes: Derealization can be a symptom of a medical condition or can occur on its own, often in reaction to severe trauma or stress. Health conditions linked to derealization include seizures and dementia.
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Prevalence: While brief episodes of derealization can be common in the general population, the disorder is only diagnosed when these symptoms cause substantial distress or impair social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Lifetime experiences with it occur in about 1–2% of the general population, with the chronic form of the disorder having a reported prevalence of 0.8 to 1.9%.
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Treatment: The main treatment for depersonalization-derealization disorder, which is often a chronic and episodic condition, is psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy. Sometimes, medicines may also be used as part of the treatment plan.
Derealization is a mental state that can be distressing and disruptive to an individuals daily life, and seeking professional help is recommended for those experiencing persistent symptoms.
