Delusions
There are several different delusional themes, including:
Capgras delusion: This is the belief that a loved one like a mother or sibling has been replaced by an imposter.
Cotard delusion: This occurs in Cotard’s syndrome, and is characterized by the belief that you are dead or your body or body parts have disintegrated or no longer exist.
Delusion of control: This refers to the belief that an external entity is controlling your thoughts, behaviors, and impulses. This entity may be an individual like a manager, a group, or some undefined force.
Delusion of grandiosity: This is an exaggerated or inflated self-belief regarding power, fame, knowledge, skill, talent, or strength. For example, a person may believe they are an Instagram influencer despite not having a following.
Delusion of guilt or sin: This refers to unwarranted and extreme feelings of remorse or a severe sinking feeling that you’ve done something horribly wrong.
Delusion of thought insertion or thought broadcasting: This refers to the belief that thoughts have been inserted into your mind or are being broadcasted to others.
Delusion of persecution: This refers to the belief that you or someone close to you is being unfairly mistreated, harmed, or watched. The conviction is so strong that the person may seek help from the authorities. This is the most common delusion people experience.3
Delusion of poverty: This is the belief that you are or are about to become destitute, are destined to fall into poverty, or are impoverished.
Delusion of reference: This refers to the belief that something like a poster, song, or advertisement has a direct reference to or a hidden meaning for you. A person with this delusion may see a sign that has nothing to do with them, but change their whole life plan as a result.
Delusional jealousy: This is the belief that your sexual partner is being unfaithful.
Erotomanic delusion: Also known as erotic or love delusion, this is the belief that someone, usually someone famous or otherwise out of reach, is in love with you. A person with this delusional disorder subtype may obsessively contact or try to connect with that person and make excuses for why they’re not together.
Nihilistic delusion: This is the belief that you or parts of you do not exist, or that some object in external reality is not actually real.
Religious delusion: This refers to any delusion involving a god, higher power, or spiritual theme (e.g., believing that you have special powers or are the embodiment of a prophet). This may be combined with other delusions such as the delusion of control or grandeur.
Somatic delusion: This refers to the belief that one or more of your bodily organs are functioning improperly, or are diseased, injured, or altered.
My big ones are religious delusions and thought insertion, but I also struggle with delusions of reference as well as thought broadcasting.
I always feel like I have everything possible wrong with me. It’s actually comforting to see all this in an easy to read list, and see that there’s several things that don’t apply to me.
Wow! This list is crazy, I had no idea there were this many categories of delusion. I have experienced about 11 of these 14. I think they should add technologic delusions, the belief that advanced, unreleased, or alien technology is being used on you.
Thanks for all your replies. This is interesting. I wonder how many people on here are presently experiencing any of these have read this list and what they make of it!
I have a question, how do you know that these things are not indeed real? Example…if you see faces or if you see ghosts…how do you know it is not the real deal vs. a hallucination? Or, how can one establish that it is not Project Bluebeam messing with you? I have been dealing with these things for a long time. I feel like it is the real deal. I am seeing something and it is not delusional from my own mind. Is this how others feel that have this sort of thing going on?
I didn’t realise how many of these I seem to have and still ongoing. I mainly just keep to myself about it and make excuses/use different reasons when people ask me about my decisions
delusions of persecution
delusions of reference (I’ve made so many life-altering decisions)
erotomaniac delusions (with at least 3 people already)
I have had the delusions of persecution. I was certain that the social services were out to take my son. Also I have been certain that they wanted to kill me or pressure me to suicide so that they didnt have to use money on my security checks and disability.
I have had religious delusions too. Then I thought I were an angel and that my mission were to heal sick people. I thought I could heal schizophrenia, so that those who were sick should not suffer anymore. I was very sad when I realized that I would never be able to heal schizophrenia.
Delusions of jealousy. Yes I have had that too. I thought my last boyfriend was so fantastic that the women would wait in line to sleep with him, when I was not around. And given that I am just an ordinary woman, I was sure that he would be with women much more attractive than me.
