Alienation

Alienation: when reality becomes distant

There are moments when the world seems to lose its substance: sounds become muffled, people turn into distant figures, and even we feel like observers of a life that doesn’t fully belong to us. It is in this suspended space that alienation arises, a condition in which our usual connectionConnection: the human need that precedes all technology Conn... More with reality weakens. This is not mere distraction or fatigueFatigue is a common experience that can manifest in many for... More, but a genuine perceptual and emotional alteration that can affect the body, mind, and relationships.

NeuroscienceThe human brain is one of the most complex and fascinating s... More describes it as a misalignment between the brain networks responsible for consciousness and perception, while psychology interprets it as a defense mechanism against excessive stimuli or pain.

Alienation is also a deeply cultural theme: the sensation of living “outside the world” permeates literature, art, and contemporary society, signaling the fragility of our bond with our surroundings. Understanding it means exploring not just a psychological condition but one of the ways the human mind reacts to the complexity of existence.

What happens in the brain when we feel alienated?

From a neuroscientific perspective, alienation results from a temporary disconnection between brain areas that regulate self-perception and body awareness. Various studies have identified the neurobiological bases of this condition:

• Hyperactivity of the amygdala"The amygdala is a gray matter structure named after its cha... More: the amygdala, the center for emotional responses, can enter a state of hyperalertness, amplifying the perception of threat. This leads the brain to partially “detach” from reality for protection, generating a feeling of distance or unreality.
• Reduced integration in the prefrontal cortexThe prefrontal cortex plays a fundamental role in numerous p... More: the prefrontal area, responsible for cognitive control and self-awarenessIl termine autoconsapevolezza si riferisce primariamente all... More, shows decreased activity during moments of alienation. This explains why those experiencing it feel “outside themselves,” unable to recognize emotions or decisions as their own.
• Alterations in the vestibular and somatosensory systems: the brain processes sensory information abnormally, creating a sensation of a “light” or “unreal” body. This is the same mechanism observed in depersonalization disorders.
• Involvement of the stressWhat is stress? From a clinical perspective, stress is a phy... More axis (HPA): excessive cortisolThe adrenal glands, small pyramid-shaped glands above the ki... More production during chronic stress reduces the brain’s ability to process emotional stimuli correctly, promoting detachment as a defense mechanism.

These processes show that alienation is not merely a subjective feeling, but a genuine neurophysiological response to overload or trauma.

In which psychological forms does alienation manifest?

Clinically, alienation can appear in various forms, some transient and others more structured. Key forms include:

• Depersonalization: the person perceives themselves as an outside observer, watching their own actions from a distance. Common in high-stress or panic situations.
• Derealization: the surrounding world appears strange, artificial, or lifeless. Objects may seem distant or altered in shape and color, as in a dream.
• Social alienation: a gradual detachment from human relationships, often linked to existential discomfort, social isolation, or excessive technology use.
• Emotional alienation: cognitive faculties remain intact, but the ability to feel emotions is diminished—a recurring symptom in depressive or post-traumatic disorders.
• Artistic or intellectual alienation: in some cases, alienation is sought as a mode of critical reflection or aesthetic creation, as in Bertolt Brecht’s “estrangement effect.”

Alienation, therefore, is not a single phenomenon but a spectrum of experiences ranging from psychological discomfortThroughout life, each of us goes through complex phases, in ... More to a conscious distancing from reality.

Why does contemporary society favor alienation?

Modern social and technological conditions significantly contribute to the emergence or amplification of alienation. Key factors include:

• Digitization of relationships: interactions mediated by screens reduce the quality of human contact and can generate a sense of emotional distance. We communicate more but feel less.
• Information overload: excessive and often contradictory cognitive stimuli push the brain to deactivate emotional engagement as a defense mechanism.
• Alienating work and precariousness: loss of meaning in work, combined with economic instability, creates a rift between the individual and their professional identity.
• Culture of image and appearance: the pressure to build a “performing” self on social media increases the gap between what is shown and what is real.
• Ecological disconnection: distancing from nature and natural biological rhythms fosters disorientation and a loss of roots.

All these factors converge to create a collective sense of estrangement, in which individuals oscillate between hyperconnection and isolation.

Strategies to reconnect with oneself and the world

Counteracting alienation requires gradual reconnection involving mind, body, and relationships. Effective strategies include:

• Grounding practices: techniques such as mindful breathing or contact with physical objects bring attention back to the body and the present moment.
• Cognitive-behavioral or integrative psychotherapy: helps recognize and restructure thoughts of detachment, rebuilding a sense of self-continuity.
• Body and creative activities: movement, art, and music reactivate emotions and unify body perception.
• Authentic social connection: relationships based on mutual listening and physical presence are a natural antidote to digital alienation.
• Immersion in nature: direct contact with natural environments restores a sense of belonging and neurophysiological calm, reducing cortisol levels.

Consistently practicing these techniques helps reintegrate fragmented aspects of experience, restoring coherence to personal life.

What does alienation teach us about the human condition?

Although painful, alienation also serves as a revealing lens. It shows how fragile our perception of self and world is, built on a dynamic balance between presence and distance. When we feel suddenly detached from reality, the illusion of stable continuity cracks, revealing the unstable nature of consciousness. Philosophers like Heidegger and Sartre interpreted this experience as intrinsic to existence: humans, “thrown into the world,” experience intermittent estrangement, oscillating between belonging and disorientation.

Contemporary science offers another perspective. Alienation can be a useful defense mechanism, a temporary suspension that allows the mind to reorganize experience after trauma or emotional overload. It is not just a loss of contact but also a way to restore inner balance and continuity. In this sense, the mind does not flee reality: it distances itself to return with greater stability.

In this ambivalence lies the phenomenon’s deepest meaning. Humans, even when feeling distant from the world, always seek a sense of belonging: to others, to places, to their own body. Alienation, then, reflects our species’ innermost tension—between the need for self-protection and the desire to feel fully alive. Understanding it means accepting that human identity is a continuous movement between immersion and distance, between loss and return to the world.