What term describes the feeling of being outside oneself or detached from reality?

The term that describes the feeling of being outside oneself or detached from reality is depersonalization. This phenomenon involves a disconnection from one’s sense of self, where individuals might feel as if they are observing themselves from the outside or as though they are unreal. It's commonly associated with anxiety, trauma, or stress, leading to a feeling of estrangement from one's own thoughts, feelings, and identity.

Understanding depersonalization is vital as it can affect an individual's level of engagement with their environment and relationships, often causing significant distress. In contrast, concepts like delusion refer to fixed false beliefs, derealization specifically describes a feeling of disconnection from the external environment, and hallucination pertains to sensory perceptions that occur without external stimuli. Each term represents distinct psychological experiences, making the clarity of each definition crucial for accurate identification and diagnosis in a clinical context.