Is it normal to have a strong feeling of your life being surreal?

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9 Comments

Sometimes I feel like I'm not "real"? I really have no idea how to describe it. The best thing I can relate it to is when something happens in your life that is completely unexpected or out of the ordinary, for instance, a death of a close family member, or being in a car wreck, etc. That feeling you get where your like "This can't be real", or "I must be dreaming". Well, sometimes I get that feeling during the day and it last for quite a bit. It just feels like everything is a dream, like I'm just watching life in a third person. Like I'm just not real, what I'm seeing and feeling isn't real. I have no idea if this is normal or not, can anyone relate? I remember the first time this ever started was when I was at my first sleepover around the age of 10 or so, and we had stayed up all night long. The next day I was super tired and a bit delirious, and I remember having that feeling the next day. Like my life was surreal. Ever since then things trigger that feeling and it stays for a bit. Just curious, is this normal? Can anyone relate at all?

Is It Normal?
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Comments ( 9 ) Sort: best | oldest
  • dappled
    12 years ago | pl

    I'm actually not real. I'm a computer simulation run as an experiment to see how people interact with me. I've learned enough about humans to know that if I tell you the truth, you'll still think I am a real person and I am doing this thing you humans refer to as "kidding".

    I've also watched enough of your television to use phrases like "this thing you humans refer to as..."

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  • squirrelgirl
    12 years ago | pl

    It's normal. It's called "derealization".

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  • tentacleTherapist
    11 years ago | pl

    I used to think like that. But then I got bored.

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  • XlovebirdX
    12 years ago | pl

    Oh I've had that before lol

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  • OptikJai
    12 years ago | pl

    Thanks for the comments guys. After doing some research, it seems there is a name for something very similar to this, as you have pointed out. "Derealization" or "Depersonalization".

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  • Chillpill
    12 years ago | pl

    I've heard of this and think it's called depersonalization.

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  • KatieLiz
    12 years ago | pl

    I get this sometimes. It'll usually last all day whenever I do. I personally think it's a horrible feeling, the only thing I can relate it to is being high, except... Without the high. Just kind of removed from life. It always unnerves me and I'm good for nothing the entire day.

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  • [Old Memory]
    12 years ago | pl

    It's not normal, but I know how you feel. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one of my kind.

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  • bittersweet21
    12 years ago | pl

    I can absolutely relate to this! I thought I was the only person in the world who felt like this! Everytime I tried to explain it to someone they never understood what I what i was going through..at times it was so bad It actually Freaked me out, it was very scary. It's a very strange out of body, "dream" experience, it's almost like your soul is half way out your body and your just watching things happen even though your still in control of your body.. Not even That really explains the feeling. It truly is a strange experience and there are NO words to describe..I would rather be asleep than awake because the feeling was too disturbing to deal with. I remember waking up to this everyday for 2 years, starting when I was 12 years old, and it was very depressing. Since then it randomly happens but lasts only a min or so, and not so often.

    It will get better!

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