Derealization

Derealization, a symptom of panic and anxiety disorders, is a feeling of detachment from one’s surroundings and/or environment. It is typically described as a foggy mental state that feels like a dream or feeling like you are trapped under a dome. Surroundings seem unreal and the environment and people around you do not seem like they come from reality. People suffering from derealization describe feeling “cut off” from the world around them and that their surroundings seem to be lacking in color and depth. In some cases hearing or smell can be disrupted. Derealization is most commonly experienced during panic attacks or periods of high anxiety. It can also occur in some cases when antidepressants are no longer being taken by a patient.


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