A dissociative symptom involving the perception that the external world is unreal, dreamlike, or distorted. People experiencing derealization may feel that their surroundings are foggy, lifeless, or like they're in a movie or behind glass.
From Latin 'de-' (away from) and 'realis' (real), meaning 'away from reality'. This term emerged alongside depersonalization in early 20th-century psychiatry to distinguish between feeling disconnected from oneself versus feeling disconnected from the external world.
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