Depersonalization

Depersonalization (or derealization) is the feeling that 'nothing is real'; there is no or little sense of reality. It can be desirable, such as in the use of recreational drugs, but it is usually referring to the severe form found in anxiety and in the most intense case, panic attacks. It is most often described as a symptom of emotions, such as panic or fear. A sufferer feels that he or she has changed and the world has become less real — it is vague, dreamlike, or lacking in significance. It can sometimes be a rather disturbing experience, since many feel that indeed, they are living in a "dream." The DSM-IV categorizes depersonalization disorder as a dissociative disorder, though depersonalization proper is more often characteristic of the traumatic origin of other conditions.

Derealization is a similar term to depersonalization, and the two are often used interchangeably. However, more specifically, derealization is the feeling that "nothing is real," while depersonalization is the feeling that one is literally "detached" from one's body or world. Though these feelings can happen to anyone, they are most prominent in panic disorders, clinical depression, bipolar disorder, and some types of epilepsy.

Some drugs, notably dissociatives and hallucinogens, can also cause the feeling as a side-effect. Sometimes an overdose of common stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine can induce this effect.citation needed] Alcoholic beverages can also produce this effect when consumed in excess. It is also a classic withdrawal symptom from many drugs.