Derealization. That is a word I had never heard of until the other day. I am going to get a little technical and list the definition that I pulled from the Seattle Anxiety Specialist website. Derealization refers to a shift in an individual’s perception of the world, making it seem different from its usual appearance or feeling. If you read a little further on their website, they also list the following symptoms of derealization which includes but is not limited to:
- Familiar people and places that seem surreal.
- The environment appears distorted and lacks vibrancy.
- Three-dimensional objects and settings appear flat.
- Recent experiences feel as if they transpired in the distant past.
- An altered sense of distance, size, and shape for objects, creating an unrealistic perspective.
- Feels like the ground is shifting while walking.
So why am I talking abut Derealization? Because this happened to me the other day and I thought I was losing my mind. I had been out driving (like I have done many times before) when all of a sudden I felt lost. I did not know where I was, I was struggling trying to figure out my surroundings and for a brief moment I felt helpless. It felt like I was in a time warp. Nothing around me seemed real. I kept driving hoping that I would recognize where I was at, but it was like my mind drew a blank. This went on for about five minutes before my body and brain eventually snapped back to reality. A woman around the same age as me knew exactly what this phenomenon was as I was explaining this to my coworkers. She did not hesitate, she did not stutter, she told me what I experienced was Derealization and that it is common in women who are experiencing perimenopause and menopause.
Great, so does that mean I am going to lose my mind in the long run? This whole perimenopause thing is a mess, I mean a hot mess express! Right when I think I am getting my symptoms under control, a new one pops up. I cannot keep up with them all. If I did not know any better, I think perimenopause is trying to make a fool out of me. One can only hope to prove it wrong. Hopefully at the end of this transition period, I will still have my sanity intact. Only time will tell…
👀-Anita
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