Delusions- Have You Had Them?

[cdg]

I have experienced them lately. They have been extremely vivid and frightening. I know they are stupid but, what is the best way to handle them? If you feel comfortable.. Feel free to give an example. I've been dissociative for a while.

 

[Abstract]

Are they linked to your trauma?

 

[cdg]

Yes. They are intrusive and somewhat controlling.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Like psychosis? Seeing things that aren't there?

 

[Life_in_the_Mist]

Here are the steps I take. They were suggested by my therapist. The first step is recognizing that you are having a delusion, that as scary as it is, it's not real.

The next step is to distract your mind and body from the delusional world, give yourself something sensorially pleasant to focus on to make yourself want to come back to reality. I carry a small pillow of dried herbs to feel and smell, and a bag of dried beans (I know this is weird) to run my fingers through when I start getting anxious/dissociated/delusional, because I like that sensation.

It may not totally get rid of the delusion but it usually makes it more workable. Since the delusions are coming from anxiety/trauma, it's basically about grounding and reducing the anxiety.

My delusions were things like people were planning to abuse/kidnap me, people had guns and were about to shoot me, I could read people's thoughts. They came along with extreme anxiety and dissociation. My psychiatrist wanted to give me another antipsychotic, but my therapist felt it was trauma/anxiety related. I went with her view and worked with her and have not had delusions for several months.

 

[cdg]

Thought processes. I don't hear or see anything. They are based on religious beliefs that I once had. Obviously they are not true because as soon as I took an Ativan they were gone. Demonic based. I'm sure if those were real.. They couldn't be controlled by drugs. Yet were intense this morning. I don't take it everyday. This may be a little to much info but, just want to get opinions.

 

[anonymous]

I think it sounds a lot like a form of OCD called pure O. I've read this type of OCD can often involve religious thought. A common form of the pure O is that people think they are going to do things they would never do. For example a person can think they are going to kill someone but they are only having the thought because it is taboo. It's as if it picks on taboo thoughts and taunts you with it. I don't have a link or anything but you might want to google/look into it.

 

[Abstract]

So they are not visions, sounds, voices, physical sensations etc. It seems they are more like stuck thoughts that you realise are not real and are distortions.

Did your trauma involve religion or anything else linked to what the demonic messages etc are saying?

If not then I think it can be something such as OCD or something similar. And they can be set off by extreme stress. If linked then it could just be a play out of trauma in a different form.

Delusions on the psychotic end of things can also happen with PTSD apparently.

 

[Deleted member 20978]

I have had delusions. including religious ones. Whats weird is being aware that thoughts are delusional. Details are hazy, but its as if that awareness comes and goes.

Psychosis is an extension of anxiety, and under acute stress, disorders that include anxiety can escalate to psychosis. Psychosis sometimes includes delusions, which are most basically false beliefs. As opposed to hallucinations, which are perceptions (seeing/hearing things) of things that don't exist.

I believe delusional thinking is linked to imbalance of the left/right frontal cortex, as well as hyperactivation of limbic system. The right frontal cortex, which is linked to negative thought, is also responsible for critical thought (rejecting ideas), while the left, which is linked to positive thought, is more free-associating and imaginative. If the right becomes too inactive, thoughts can arise that are not being rejected as false, and this may often occur with the left brain being overactive, so euphoric/manic state may be part of it. Your imagination runs away with you, and like within a dream, you are unable to notice that this is what's happening and mistake your thoughts for sanity-checked reality.

 

[Jenfa]

Delusions are a common sign of bipolar. Bipolar mania can be triggered from trauma, deficiencies in diet, lack of sleep, change in meds, or even a visual trigger (from tv etc.) onto a particular topic. Bipolar is overdiagnosed in my opinion, but when someone got it, they got it. Have you ever had a neuropsychologist test you? You might have more than one thing going on.

 

[Abstract]

Just wanted to say too cdg, that if you think the thoughts are delusions then they are probably nor delusions unless it is someone else who has told you that they are.

http://www.minddisorders.com/Br-Del/Delusions.html

 

[Life_in_the_Mist]

That is true Abstract, delusion does imply lack of insight, but I think severe anxiety can produce a kind of pseudo-delusion....

 

[Abstract]

Life in the mist, I so agree that that high stress can mess with our reality checking. In the past I have also had bouts where I have seen things and tried to touch them that could not have been there. I look back and think it was purely from high stress and depression. It wasn't that nice I have to say. There is a poll on here about this stuff.

I started being interested about the delusion definition after reading this thread and went and looked it up a little as I have some stuff that is truly driving me quite crazy. I constantly think there is no reality checking and find that very disturbing.

It seems there are different levels of loss of touch with reality and that true delusions there is no insight or doubt. I haven't read very much though. Just the one I attached and couple of others and my brain isn't working very well so I am not absorbing everything. I felt a little relief in reading that. Can't remember now what they call things with slightly more insight. They give the example of being anorexic and believing one is fat when one is underweight. I have been there so can visualise what they are saying. I think they include OCD beliefs in the same category.

Very open to hearing information and opinions as I am not an expert on the subject.