The 6 Most Common Types Of Delusions: What Does It Mean To Have Delusional Ideas?
Do you think you have delusional ideas? What is a delusion and how can we detect it? Discover the different types of most common delusions and what it can mean to have these thoughts.
The delusions They can come in many forms, but they all have one thing in common: those who are affected by them are completely convinced of these beliefs. In fact, a delusion is different from person to person and affects different parts of your life.
Normally, delusions are usually a symptom of a psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia, or on the other hand it can be a mental health problem of its own, called delusional disorder. Therefore, a delusional idea is usually a sign that a psychological disorder exists. But what are they and why delusions happen?
Delusions are defined as fixed, false beliefs that conflict with reality. The people that have delusional ideas They cannot put aside these types of beliefs and thoughts even though there is evidence contrary to them.
a delirium It is often reinforced by misinterpretation of events and situations. In fact, many delusions often involve some levels of paranoia. An example of someone who may be delusional is believing that a person is controlling our movements through cell phones even though there is no evidence of this.
In most cases, the delusions They are usually a sign that indicates that we are facing a psychotic disorder. So much so that they usually occur along with hallucinations, where a person begins to perceive objects, sounds or sensations that do not really exist.
Signs of delusional ideas
A delusional idea It is mainly characterized by an unwavering belief in things that are not really true. Often these thoughts involve some events that could happen, while others are based on strange, fantastic or impossible situations.
There are different types of delusions that people can experience. Among the most common delusional ideas, we find the following:
Erotomanic delirium: In these types of delusions It is believed that another person, usually of a higher social position, is in love with them. An example of these delusional ideas would be having the conviction that a famous actor or actress loves them and is communicating with them through secret hand gestures during a television interview.
Delusions of greatness: People often believe they have extraordinary talent, fame, wealth, or power despite a lack of evidence. An example of this is a person who believes that God has given him/her the power to save the universe and that he/she is the one chosen to do it.
Persecutory delirium: Another of the most common types of delusions They are the persecutors. In them, people believe they are being spied on, followed, drugged, or deceived in some way. An example of this delusion could be believing that your boss is somehow drugging you.
Jealousy delusion: These types of delusions make those who suffer from it believe that their partners are unfaithful to them. For example, a person with jealous delusion You may believe that your partner is meeting your lover every time you use the bathroom in public places.
somatic delirium: People who have a somatic delirium They believe that they are experiencing physical sensations or bodily dysfunctions under the skin, or that they are suffering from a disease or medical defect. For example, these delusions may involve thoughts such as having parasites living inside your body.
Mixed delirium: When the delusions They do not fall into a single category and are not dominated by a single theme, they are considered ‘mixed’.
Currently, investigations have not definitively found the cause behind the different types of delusions In fact, a wide variety of genetic, biological, psychological and environmental factors appear to be at play. Among the most common causes we can find the following:
Inheritance: The psychotic disorders can be hereditary, therefore, researchers suspect that the delusions They have a genetic component. For example, a child born to a parent with schizophrenia may have a higher risk of developing delusions.
Imbalance in neurotransmitters: Abnormalities in the brain can also influence developing delusional ideas In fact, an imbalance in neurotransmitters increases a person’s likelihood of developing delusions.
Trauma and stress: Trauma and excess stress can also contribute to developing delusions In fact, people who tend to be more isolated also seem to be more vulnerable to developing delusional disorder.
In some cases, people can share delusional ideas These types of events may be more common in those people who live together and have little contact with the outside world.
What does delusion mean?
The delusions They can be one of the symptoms of other mental health disorders. Among the most common conditions, we can highlight the following:
Brief psychotic disorder: People who suffer from this disorder may suffer from disorganized speech, delusions and hallucinations This disorder can be caused due to a stressful event.
delusional disorder: People with delusional disorders They experience delusions that are not ‘strange’, that is, they could really happen. Therefore, they can act normally and these delusional ideas do not interfere with their daily functioning. This disorder is considered relatively rare.
Dementia: Approximately one third of people with dementia may experience delusions These types of delusions in people with dementia often involve paranoia, such as thinking that family members or a caregiver are stealing from them.
Mood disorders: People who suffer from a disorder such as depression or bipolar may experience delusions as one of its symptoms.
Postpartum psychosis: Hormonal changes after childbirth can trigger postpartum psychosis in some women. This condition can involve both paranoid ideas and delusions
Schizoaffective disorder: This disorder includes symptoms of schizophrenia and a mood problem, such as depression or mania. It can also have the presence of different types of delusions
Schizophrenia: Schizophrenia has positive symptoms that can be delusions and hallucinations On the other hand, it also implies negative symptoms such as a flattening of thoughts and behavior, reduction of speech, among others.
Schizophreniform disorder: These types of disorders involve symptoms similar to schizophrenia but for less than six months.
If you think you are experiencing delusions, it is important that you seek help from a mental health professional. However, this can be very difficult for people who suffer from it to detect since they do not believe that their delusions are false. Consequently, it is usually the relatives of those affected who warn of this type of disorder. In the treatment of different types of delusions, medications and therapy are usually used.
