My Top 10 Delusions

Delusions are fixed false beliefs that are not grounded in reality. Delusions can be one of the symptoms of schizophrenia, and they are one of my symptoms of schizoaffective disorder.

In this video, I share my top 10 delusions that I experience on a regular basis.

Time Stamps:
00:33 - Types of delusions
02:01 - What delusions feel like
03:29 - Delusion #1 Mirrors
04:57 - Delusion #2 I’m being followed
06:11 - Delusion #3 I’m in a coma
07:14 - Delusion #4 Thought broadcasting
08:03 - Delusion #5 People are attracted to me
09:21 - Delusion #6 Somatic delusions
11:02 - Delusion #7 I don’t have schizophrenia
11:35 - Delusion #8 Making connections
12:54 - Delusion #9 Infidelity
14:03 - Delusion #10 I’m in a simulation

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#schizophrenia #schizoaffective #schizoaffectivedisorder #mentalhealth #mentalillness #delusions

[LivingWellAfterSchizophrenia]

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[outoftheklosset]

I really connect with some of these as someone with OCD. It's really frustrating knowing that something is untrue but "feeling" like it's "definitely true."🙄

[mrmaidlemonade]

I'm so touched to see so many people with OCD here and validating each other. While it's not schizophrenia, a lot of schizophrenic symptoms overlap with severe OCD. To those with schizophrenia, thank you for sharing your stories and connecting with others struggling with their mental health.

[zoeygirl]

I had to giggle at the “everyone finds me attractive” delusion 🙂. I have a very common delusion that I’m about to get arrested and that I’m actually a criminal. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ It can actually give me tremendous anxiety. I’m bipolar.

[jakemullin]

As someone with OCD - I can relate to so many of these. I wish there was more research on the connection between OCD and schizophrenia/psychotic illnesses because the symptoms really can feel so similar. The simulation delusion & thought broadcasting are two huge ones with me. Thanks for this video Lauren!

[voldimmoral]

I am 110% persecutory delusions and even on meds and regular therapy I haven't been able to fully escape them. It's exhausting and feels incredibly lonely when you truly believe everyone around you, friends, family and coworkers combined, absolutely hate you are using information they know about you to ruin your chance at life. Those thoughts have costed me countless relationships with people, especially when you believe their only core motive is to hurt you and not help you. Imagine the lack of trust that comes along with those thoughts, how scared we feel, and how lonely we truly are in those moments 😓

[yellowsubmarine]

I had many similar delusions during a major manic episode I had years ago. I have deep respect for anyone who goes through delusions and/or psychosis. It’s intense

[peternolan]

Hello Lauren and Rob,

My delusion was that I was super special and that I was playing a key role in world affairs. I believed that I was connected globally through my TV. This happened to me in 1987, 1988 and 2007 but I haven't had anymore psychotic episodes since 2007 fingers crossed and so long as I continue to take the prescribed tablet Dolmatil(sulpiride) I should be fine but hoping I will not get Parkinson's as a side effect of this drug. I'm 68.
I therefore highly recommend Dolmatil(sulpiride) to anyone who has schizophrenia or bipolar. My next door neighbour with a doctorate in computer science aged in her 50's has now been free of psychotic episodes for several years since she began taking Dolmatil.

All the best and many thanks,

Peter Nolan. Ph.D.(physics). Dublin. Ireland.

[mortenrl]

The worst thing is having a delusion that turns out to be true. An irrational belief, not grounded in reality, which turns out to actually have merit. Makes it extremely difficult to dismiss that same emotion next time it happens. For me it's mostly just people talking about me. I end up isolating a lot, because the subjective experience of being the focus of everybody else is very unpleasant. It's a bit easier to bear when there's nobody else around. It definitely doesn't feel "delusional" when it happens, but when I look at myself in retrospect, I often have to concede that I wasn't being rational at the time. I also noticed that it's usually accompanied by strong emotion of some kind, that's how I can tell it's starting to happen. Usually I have flattened affect.

[WestOfEarth]

Your self awareness is nothing short of astounding. I experience a few of those delusions. Erotomania was the first one I realized (with help from my psychiatrist / therapist), and I have that under control. I also continue to have this delusion that I'm a young teenager. This is due in part to sexual abuse which can 'freeze' a victim's development at the age of abuse. No lie, my voice as a male continued to break into my 30's as if I were still 13 / 14.
Thanks for your courage in discussing this. It helps me re-examine my own experiences.

[ryanbrueckner]

I get the embarrassment that some delusions cause. The delusion that got me diagnosed was that I believed that fictional characters were watching me when I engaged in their media and fandom content so I would never say a characters name out loud or if I watched their show or looked at fanart I would hide under my blankets so they wouldn’t see. Completely irrational but I truly believed it. Thankfully I’m on meds now and I can actually watch stuff comfortably

[schybba]

Thank you for bringing awareness to schizophrenia and related illnesses. Greetings from 46 year old, diagnosed in 2000.

[MiMi-kxvy]

My brother was diagnosed with Schizoid-affective Disorder later in life. I will never forget the psychiatrist emphasizing to me that when he told us his crazy stories that he really, truly believed they were true. He finally got medication and his life improved dramatically. Unfortunately, he died of cancer about 6 years later. But he was such a brilliant, amazing person that could have accomplished so much if he had been properly diagnosed and medicated earlier. Lauren, your videos helping me understand my brother and I have a whole new compassion for what he went through. Hang tough!

[Name_Lessness]

Yes, I've experienced every one of these delusions too. Also:
People being replaced by clones.
I've died and am in an alternate reality.
Others personalitys are trying to merge with me.
I'm immortal
I've uploaded insanity and emotions in others.
Out of body experiences.
Time manipulation
Karma and energy stealing
Speaking with inanimate objects
Speaking to nature, animals and paranormal.
Character immersion
First person perspective from other perspectives.
Portals that are tied to any source of energy.
Omnicentricisim and omnipotence
Manifestations of all kinds.
Multiple personalities
I caused covid (sorry)
Etc. Etc. Etc.
(Help never helps) ^^ lol

[rachelschubert]

“Do I really have schizophrenia?” Is a huge one for me! Same with thinking I’m psychic and that I have parasites

[inquiringmind]

The thing is...when we share the things that embarrass us, we bring the darkness to the light. They no longer have control over us. Yes, the symptoms may persist, but something is freed inside us when it's no longer a secret. (We also tend to find out there are many others experiencing it as well. Therefore, we're not alone.) I love and appreciate your honesty, openness and vulnerability. You are breaking down barriers to mental health issues on this channel. Applause and Hugs❣️

[katwoods]

I would love to see a video on how to help people when they're in the middle of experience pyschosis. All the advice online is like "get them to a psychiatrist/hospital, make sure taking meds and getting sleep" etc. And I do all those things with my loved one. But I want more *acute* things to do to help. Like, for example, I have a family member who often gets really scared while she's in psychosis, and a thing that really helps, while we're waiting for the meds to kick in, which often takes weeks, is for her to listen to music with no lyrics written by people who are no longer alive. She can't listen to music with lyrics, because she feels like the lyrics are talking to her, and it can't be by living artists, because she's worried her thoughts will hurt them. But if they're not alive anymore, then it's safe, and she can just relax.

I'd love more tips like that. Like, how you mentioned you can touch the mirrors and if there's a gap, there's no camera. Or other direct, immediate things you can do to help somebody in the middle of an episode.

[vickiburns]

You are such an honest person and it makes me feel normal rather I have schizophrenia or not

[roberthumphries]

Our 14 yr old son has just been diagnosed with schizophrenia. It has been a nightmare for him and us. He sees faces, but doesn't hear voices, they attack him constantly and force thoughts into his mind that he says are lies. He says he has to defeat them or they will destroy his family. We are on the second medication because the first one did nothing, and so far the second isn't helping.

Your channel has been helpful to us in giving us insight as we research and try to get him help. Most info out there seems so depressing and hopeless, but your channel gives us hope.Thank you for making these videos.

[catalinaalvarez]

I been dating someone who has a esquizoafective disorder he had a relapse a couple of weeks ago and he was taken by the police to a facility so they can help him with his condition. I been watching videos about it and reading a lot because I want to be able to help him. I really want him to feel better and get back to normal. I pray for him everyday.