Sometimes I get this feeling that I'm not real, as if I live in a dream or illusion. Does anyone have this feeling sometimes?

I had that feeling once when I was very isolated.

We define ourselves usually in connection to other people, if we are lonely and isolated it can feel like we are not really existing.

[Artchic528]

You think, have conscious thought, and act on it. Therefor you are real. At least in the sense of theoretical physics. Basically put, you think, therefor, you exist.

[Melodysmooth]

Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, life is but a dream

I use to feel like this a lot too, especially after reading on things like Astral Projection, DMT and somewhere along reading something about "life is a dream within a dream". I had this thought that what if this is all a dream and I am going to just wake up one day, what if my daydreams are my real life, what if life after death is life... and then I just told myself to relax and just live.

[IrisBloom]

It's my theory that if reality wasn't real then pain wouldn't hurt so much. In effect, "I hurt, therefore I am"

[Kittycat2015]

Originally Posted by Wandering Soul

Sometimes I get this feeling that I'm not real, as if I live in a dream or illusion. Does anyone have this feeling sometimes?

I think everyone else are not real people, all robots just pretending to be real people. I hate it

Originally Posted by IrisBloom

It's my theory that if reality wasn't real then pain wouldn't hurt so much. In effect, "I hurt, therefore I am"

I mean, of course I'm hurt when being hurt, and of course I think when I think, but I still feel at times that I'm not real, mentally wise. Like at any moment the dream will be over and I'll wake up to another reality, if any.

@ wandering soul. Please do read the Tripura Rahasya or certain sections that deals with your question. Online versions as well as pdf is available on the internet. What you described are at times experienced by people that have dealt with intense trauma over a long period of time. This of course related to the ego's attempt to deal with extreme anxieties... Eastern spiritual paths such as hinduism, taoism, buddhism, etc experience such dissociative states in meditation practices. Its almost like a peeling back of everything that is related to the created-self e.g. everything that you might think you are, are really just circumstantial and is not really the essence of who you are. The essence of your real self is actually consciousness and this is something that you can experience. Anyhowz mate, if it pointed to perhaps a form of dissociative disorder, you would have said a lot more. So I'd say you're still good. Nothing to be worried about. You can even interpret it as spiritual, which in a way it is. Its a Transcendental experience, although brief. Ivano Gurdjieff even have a book called "Life is only real when i am" or something along that line. And a pupil of his P. Ouspensky have few books that touch and expand on what you mentioned. Anyhwz, I myself have experienced that kinda disillusioned state from time to time. But fascinating mate ...

I guess it's not harmful. I do disassociate from reality some times, but rarely it goes to the extreme, where I feel everything is a dream. I'm not worried about it, I just wondered if there are others experience the same thing.

[Fell Mor]

Originally Posted by Kittycat2015

I think everyone else are not real people, all robots just pretending to be real people. I hate it

Me too. But you probably don't believe me because you are a robot that thinks I am just a robot that thinks you are just a robot that thinks I am a robot that thinks you are a robot. Wait, if you... no, if I... okay, something is wrong if you confuse yourself. anyway, my point is that I feel the same way but you probably don't believe me.

Okay Wandering soul... There's also a book called, the great simulator, by david mccready, I read it couple of years back ... Might give u a sense as why some people have this type of disconnecting moments or experiences. I don't know much about dissociation in terms of mental illnesses, but few people have mentioned and described their experience. And it actually blows my mind. Am definitely looking into this area. But ya, most people that have these disillusioned moment, often become seekers of truth and spiritual wholeness.