What Is Derealization?
5. What Causes Derealization?
Chronic derealization isn’t usually a problem that stands on its own. It is most often a symptom of some other health issue or affliction. Any disease or condition that alters the brain’s function can result in derealization. For example, patients with dementia frequently become hypersensitive to sensory input. This is why their treatment plans usually involve keeping them in a familiar, controlled environment where distortions of their perception are less likely to be severe.
Stress is a leading factor in most cases of derealization, particularly intense early childhood stress. Children who experience abuse or neglect often detach from their surroundings as a coping mechanism. Traumatic events such as war or the death of a loved one can also lead to derealization. Even something as common as the ending of a relationship or extra pressure at work can cause enough stress to trigger dissociative symptoms.
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