Human Development
Anomalies in experience of the reality of one's self and the environment
Description:
Very few people question the reality of themselves or of their environment; but a sense of unreality may arise, typically in experiences of severe discomfort or pain. There may be a feeling that it is not really one's self who is experiencing the discomfort at all, depersonalization. It is a common feature of psychiatric cases, particularly obsessional disorders and in depressive states. The experience may be described as being cut off from the grace of God and, in combination with dissociation of affect, with loss of capacity to love their families, isolation and unworthiness. All feelings of depersonalization are not necessarily negative. There may be a feeling of altered identity and unreality when falling in love or coming into large sums of money. The term might also be extended to cover the transcending of reality which occurs in religious rites, mystic rituals and the taking of drugs.Derealization is the anomalous experience of the environment, when one's surroundings seem to lose reality although one may be convinced of the reality of one's self. Depersonalization and derealization often occur together.
Broader:
Anomalies in awareness of one's self Narrower:
DerealizationDepersonalization Related:
Breakdown of automatization