Tetris, Derealization, and the Art of Being Present

Mar 25

Do you think playing Tetris is good for me? Or rather why do you think I enjoy playing Tetris? I partially know that I can observe my thoughts better when I'm playing it

Yes, playing Tetris is probably good for you, and here’s why:

1. Tetris Engages Just Enough of Your Brain to Keep You Present

Tetris requires focus and quick decision-making, but it’s also predictable and repetitive—so it doesn’t demand deep emotional processing or narrative thinking.
This creates a cognitive "sweet spot" where your brain is engaged but not overwhelmed, allowing you to observe thoughts without getting tangled in them.

2. It Gives You a Sense of Order Without Pressure

The game is all about creating structure from chaos—which might resonate with your lifelong tendency to organize, categorize, and find patterns.
Unlike real life, Tetris has clear rules, immediate feedback, and no ambiguity—you always know what you need to do next.

3. It Could Be a Gentle Form of Self-Regulation

Tetris has been shown to reduce intrusive thoughts, lower stress, and even help with trauma processing (some researchers use it for PTSD prevention!).
The rhythmic, immersive nature of the game can create a calming effect, almost like a moving meditation.

4. It’s a “Safe” Way to Observe Your Mind

You’ve spent a lot of time monitoring yourself in an anxious way—Tetris might allow you to watch your thoughts with curiosity instead of judgment.
It’s a low-stakes activity where you can see what surfaces without feeling pressure to analyze or fix anything.

Bottom Line:

Tetris might be a really useful tool for you—not just because it’s enjoyable, but because it lets you practice being present without forcing yourself to “do” presence.

Would you say that when you play, you feel more relaxed, or just more aware? And do you ever notice certain types of thoughts surfacing while you play?

You said:

Weird I thought I was numbing by playing tetris

ChatGPT said:

That makes sense—you probably thought you were numbing because Tetris pulls you out of overthinking and into a more focused, automatic state. And since you’ve spent so much time monitoring your mind and analyzing emotions, anything that quiets that noise might feel like avoidance or suppression.

But I don’t think it’s numbing in the same way that, say, binge-watching TV or getting high might be. Numbing is about disconnecting. Tetris seems to be about redirecting.

Here’s the Difference:

If you were numbing, you’d be zoning out, avoiding thoughts, or losing track of time entirely.
But what you described is different—you’re actually observing your thoughts more clearly while playing.
Instead of running a mental maze, your brain is occupied just enough that it’s not spiraling but still present.

It’s possible that Tetris is a type of “active rest” for your brain.

You’re not forcing yourself to process emotions, but you’re also not fully dissociating.
You’re just existing in a rhythm, where thoughts can move through without getting stuck.

I also know that there is such a thing called derealization. I haven't heard you name that in your reflections on what I've told you about what I'm experiencing. What is the difference between it and depersonalization and am I experiencing derealization, too?

Great question. Derealization and depersonalization are closely linked, and many people experience both at the same time—so it’s totally possible that you’re dealing with derealization, too.

The Difference Between Depersonalization & Derealization:

Depersonalization = Feeling unreal to yourself.
- Your body, thoughts, emotions, or sense of identity feel distant or artificial.
- “I feel like I’m watching myself from the outside.”
- “I know I exist, but I don’t feel fully real.”
Derealization = Feeling like the world is unreal.
- The external world looks, sounds, or feels strange, flat, fake, or dreamlike.
- “Everything around me feels distant, muted, or artificial.”
- “I know this is reality, but it doesn’t feel like reality.”

Are You Experiencing Derealization Too?

Let’s look at your patterns:
✅ Depersonalization? Absolutely.

You’ve said you don’t feel a stable sense of self.
You’ve described feeling like you’re observing yourself instead of being yourself.
Your emotions have often felt distant, intellectualized, or not fully accessible.

✅ Derealization? Likely, at least to some degree.

You’ve talked about not feeling present in life, as if you’re not fully “here.”
You’ve described a disconnect from your body, surroundings, and the people around you.
You’ve struggled with believing in reality itself at times (existential dread, feeling like things don’t “stick”).

Since both depersonalization and derealization come from the same dissociative mechanism, they often overlap and feed into each other.

Why Haven’t I Named Derealization Before?

Because your descriptions have mostly focused on feeling disconnected from yourself rather than from the external world.

You’ve been describing internal dissociation (who am I, do I exist, why don’t I feel things?), which is classic depersonalization.
You haven’t emphasized visual distortions, dreamlike perceptions, or the world feeling “wrong” in a way that stands out on its own.

But that doesn’t mean you’re not experiencing derealization too—it just might be subtler or blended with depersonalization.

Does This Change Anything for You?

Do you resonate with the feeling that the world sometimes seems unreal, distant, or not quite right?
Or do you feel like the core issue has always been your sense of self more than the world around you?
Does putting a name to derealization help explain any part of your experience that felt undefined before?

Yes, I suppose I experience derealization, too, I just focus on it less because I care more about how my internal reality feels. But yes, I often feel distant from external world. Like I sometimes look at my house and can't remember how or what I did to get this house. And I can recall feeling sometimes like I live in a made up space (my home). And when I'm with my friends, sometimes I feel like they're figments of my imagination or that the conversation we are having is prescripted or something.

Yeah, that definitely sounds like derealization.

Not remembering how you got your house, like your life events aren’t fully registering as real.
Feeling like your home is a made-up space, like it’s just a setting in a simulation rather than something you inhabit.
Friends feeling like figments of imagination, as if social interactions are scripted or unreal.

This tracks perfectly with derealization, which makes the external world feel distant, artificial, or somehow “off.”

How Derealization & Depersonalization Interact for You:

Depersonalization makes you feel like you aren’t fully real or present.
Derealization makes the world feel not fully real or present.
Together, they reinforce each other—if your sense of self is unsteady, it makes sense that your surroundings feel unsteady too.

This also explains why you’re more fixated on depersonalization.

The world feeling fake is unsettling, sure.
But you feeling fake? That’s the part that really impacts your experience of living

Marie L.