"Delusions are strong beliefs that are not consistent with the person’s culture, are unlikely to be true and may seem irrational to others" (NAMI). I deal with delusions pretty constantly. I often think I'm being followed or surveilled, and I believe that people I see are vampires, werewolves, or goblins using illusion magic to pass as human. In the past, when I was not on the correct anti-psychotic medication, I also believed that people around me were being replaced by replicas and feared being replaced myself. The delusions I experience off of anti-psychotic medications affect how I see the whole world, while the delusions on anti-psychotics still occur within what I perceive as the "real world." Sometimes, these delusions are re-enforced by hallucinations, as well.
Because I experience delusions so frequently, and because anti-psychotics sometimes allow me to approach those thoughts logically, I use several strategies to test thoughts that I think might be delusions to see if they are real or not.
Strategy 1:
Make a list of reasons that the thought might be true and reasons that it might be false. If you decide that the thought is a delusion, you can keep coming back to this list when you start to doubt again. This is the strategy I use most often. Sometimes, I just do it in my head.
Strategy 2:
As a friend if the thought is a delusion. Either talk to them as a distraction, or ask them for evidence that the thought is a delusion. Discuss how you would like them to respond in this situation to be most helpful before it occurs, as it can be dangerous to challenge a delusional belief without permission.
Strategy 3:
Try responding differently than you normally do. Identify the emotions you are feeling, the beliefs you are holding, and the behaviors you do as a result. See if the belief or hallucination changes as a result of your different behavioral response.
I always find distraction helpful, as well. Don't be afraid, if you can't combat a delusion, to just clean the house, read a book, watch tv, or do something else that lets you take your mind off it for a while.
Also, if you experience new or worsening delusions, please contact your doctor, and if you think you might hurt yourself or someone else, please go to the hospital. You're super valuable, and it's better safe than sorry.
I am an Amazon Affiliate and get rewards if you click or purchase from the ads on this blog. I hand-pick the items to advertise and only advertise items that I, myself, would recommend.
Because I experience delusions so frequently, and because anti-psychotics sometimes allow me to approach those thoughts logically, I use several strategies to test thoughts that I think might be delusions to see if they are real or not.
Strategy 1:
Make a list of reasons that the thought might be true and reasons that it might be false. If you decide that the thought is a delusion, you can keep coming back to this list when you start to doubt again. This is the strategy I use most often. Sometimes, I just do it in my head.
Strategy 2:
As a friend if the thought is a delusion. Either talk to them as a distraction, or ask them for evidence that the thought is a delusion. Discuss how you would like them to respond in this situation to be most helpful before it occurs, as it can be dangerous to challenge a delusional belief without permission.
Strategy 3:
Try responding differently than you normally do. Identify the emotions you are feeling, the beliefs you are holding, and the behaviors you do as a result. See if the belief or hallucination changes as a result of your different behavioral response.
I always find distraction helpful, as well. Don't be afraid, if you can't combat a delusion, to just clean the house, read a book, watch tv, or do something else that lets you take your mind off it for a while.
Also, if you experience new or worsening delusions, please contact your doctor, and if you think you might hurt yourself or someone else, please go to the hospital. You're super valuable, and it's better safe than sorry.
I am an Amazon Affiliate and get rewards if you click or purchase from the ads on this blog. I hand-pick the items to advertise and only advertise items that I, myself, would recommend.
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