Why Everything Feels Off: Simulation Theories, Memory Glitches, and the Psychology of a Disconnected World By

June 19, 2025

Lately, more and more people have been saying the same thing in different ways:

“Something feels off.”

“Life doesn’t feel real.”

“I swear it used to be Berenstein Bears…”

In my work as a psychologist, I’ve noticed a sharp rise in these kinds of concerns, especially since 2020. People are describing disconnection, emotional flatness, or a nagging sense that life isn’t quite landing the way it used to. Online, these thoughts have taken shape in strange but compelling theories, like the Mandela Effect, where people misremember specific cultural facts, or simulation theory, the idea that we might be living inside a computer-generated world.

You don’t have to spend long on TikTok or Reddit to find videos about “glitches in the matrix,” parallel realities, or timelines that somehow feel off. At first glance, it might sound like internet speculation or sci-fi daydreaming. But for a growing number of people, these theories speak to something very real: a sense that something beneath the surface has shifted. That even when everything looks normal, it doesn’t quite feel normal.

So where is this coming from? Why is this feeling spreading? And what’s really going on underneath all of this?

How the Pandemic Cracked Our Sense of Reality

While people have always questioned existence, the COVID-19 pandemic threw us into a prolonged state of uncertainty. Daily routines vanished, relationships were tested, and the world itself felt less safe. Our nervous systems, which rely on rhythm and stability, were forced to adapt without any real anchor.

Many people began experiencing time differently, weekdays blending into weekends, months flying by in a blur. Others described a kind of emotional flatness, difficulty recalling recent events, or the feeling that they were watching their lives unfold from outside themselves. This wasn’t just burnout or pandemic fatigue. It was something deeper and more psychological.

Even as restrictions were lifted, that disconnection didn’t disappear. And as people turned to the internet to make sense of it all, they found that entire communities were echoing the exact same feelings.

Pop Culture, TikTok, and the Rise of “Reality Confusion”

In this environment, theories like simulation theory and the Mandela Effect offered something powerful: language to describe a confusing internal state. They provided a way to say, “I don’t feel right, and maybe the world around me isn’t either.”

Movies and TV shows like The Matrix, Inception, Black Mirror, and Everything Everywhere All at Once mirrored these themes, presenting the idea that life might be altered, manipulated, or even artificial. At the same time, social media platforms, especially TikTok, amplified these ideas. One short video about “feeling off” might get millions of views, with thousands of people commenting: “I thought I was the only one.”

That kind of engagement doesn’t just entertain, it validates. It reinforces the sense that something is happening, even if we don’t quite know what.

But what most people don’t realize is this: these feelings are more common than they think. And there’s a grounded, scientific explanation for what’s going on.

What’s Actually Going On: The Psychology Behind “Feeling Off”

Here’s the truth: You’re not imagining things. You’re not broken. And you’re definitely not alone.

What many people are experiencing are symptoms of dissociation, psychological defense mechanisms that help the brain protect itself under sustained stress, uncertainty, or emotional overload.

Let’s break down what that actually means:

Derealization is when the world around you feels strange or unreal, like you’re in a fog, dream, or simulation.

Depersonalization is when you feel unreal, like you're watching yourself from the outside or feel disconnected from your thoughts or body.

Time distortion happens when your sense of time becomes unreliable, days drag, months vanish, and you struggle to track when things happened.

Emotional numbing is when you go through life technically functioning but feel flat, disengaged, or emotionally shut down.

These are not signs of psychosis or delusion. They’re survival responses, adaptive tools your brain uses when your internal world becomes too chaotic or overstimulated.

Everyday Examples of What This Looks Like

You might:

Sit through a conversation and feel like you’re performing, not present.

Walk into your own kitchen and feel like something is off, even if you can’t say why.

Do something routine, like brushing your teeth or driving, but feel distant, like you’re on autopilot.

Catch yourself thinking, “Is this even real? Am I really here right now?”

These are all common signs of dissociation, and they’ve become far more frequent since 2020.

Why This Is So Common Now

We’ve collectively endured ongoing, layered stress, global health fears, economic strain, political tension, climate uncertainty, and more. Add increased screen time, digital isolation, and the pressure to constantly compare our lives online, and you’ve got a world where many people feel emotionally and neurologically depleted.

That kind of sustained stress can disconnect people not only from others, but from themselves.

When that disconnection becomes chronic, the mind naturally starts looking for answers. In a culture full of simulations, science fiction, and social media, it’s no surprise we reach for narratives like “the matrix is glitching” or “I’m not in the right timeline.” But the truth is simpler, and more hopeful.

So What Can We Actually Do?

Whether you’re reading this as a clinician, a parent, or someone quietly wondering “is this me?” there’s a path forward.

These feelings are valid, they are treatable, and they are reversible.

Here are five ways to begin coming back to yourself:

1. Reconnect with the physical world.

Grounding tools, like putting cold water on your hands, walking barefoot outside, or naming five things you can see or feel, can help bring you back into your body.

2. Reduce overstimulation.

Step away from constant scrolling, breaking news, or notifications. Even 20 minutes of quiet can help your nervous system reset.

3. Rebuild structure and rhythm.

The brain finds safety in routine. You don’t need a rigid schedule, but consistent meals, movement, and sleep patterns help re-establish internal stability.

4. Seek connection, not perfection.

You don’t always need deep conversations. Just being in the presence of others, without judgment or pressure, can restore a sense of belonging.

5. Get support.

Working with a therapist can help you explore the roots of your disconnection and gently process the stress, grief, or overwhelming feelings that've gotten stuck inside. You don’t have to figure this out alone.

Final Thoughts: You’re Still Here

You don’t have to believe you’re in a simulation to make sense of what you’re feeling.

You just need to understand that your mind is trying to protect you, and that it's possible to come back.

Feeling off doesn’t mean something is broken.

It means something important hasn’t had space to land, heal, or be heard.

If this resonates with you, or if you’ve been carrying these feelings quietly, reach out.

You’re not the only one trying to feel real again. And you don’t have to do it alone.

At Psychological Services of New York, we’re here to help you reconnect, with yourself, with others, and with what matters most.

Whether you’re looking to understand what’s going on, find steadier footing, or simply talk it through, we’ll meet you where you are.