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.
Derealization often occurs with depersonalization and represents the brain's attempt to cope with overwhelming stress by creating psychological distance from threatening environments. This ancient survival mechanism can be triggered by everything from sleep deprivation to severe anxiety, showing how our perception of reality is more fragile and constructed than we typically realize.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.