Delusions are often misunderstood. When people hear the word delusion, they may think of bizarre, dramatic beliefs completely disconnected from reality. But in truth, delusions are not always extreme. They can be subtle, deeply personal, and profoundly distressing to those who experience them.
For those who do not have delusions, it can be difficult to grasp what it feels like to believe something with absolute certainty while the world insists it is untrue. And for those who do experience delusions, the challenge is often figuring out what is real, how to trust themselves, and how to navigate a world that may not see what they see.
This post explores what delusions are, how they affect those who experience them, and how to approach distinguishing between delusion and reality with greater self-trust and awareness.
What Are Delusions?
A delusion is a fixed, false belief that does not change even when presented with clear evidence that contradicts it. Unlike ordinary beliefs that can evolve with new information, delusions remain firmly held despite logic or reason.
Delusions can occur in a variety of mental health conditions, including:
Schizophrenia spectrum disorders
Delusional disorder
Bipolar disorder (during manic or depressive episodes)
Severe depression with psychotic features
Neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., dementia, Parkinson’s disease)
However, delusions are not always a symptom of a larger mental health condition. Sometimes they develop due to extreme stress, isolation, trauma, or sensory impairments that cause misinterpretations of reality.
Types of Delusions
Delusions can take many forms, but some of the most common include:
Paranoid Delusions – Believing others are plotting against you, spying on you, or trying to harm you.
Grandiose Delusions – Believing you have exceptional abilities, power, or a unique purpose that others do not recognize.
Delusions of Reference – Believing that unrelated events, media, or people are sending you hidden messages or speaking directly about you.
Somatic Delusions – Believing there is something wrong with your body despite medical reassurance (e.g., having a parasite, being infested, or missing organs).
Erotomanic Delusions – Believing that someone, often a stranger or celebrity, is in love with you.
Nihilistic Delusions – Believing that you or the world does not exist or that an impending disaster is about to occur.
Delusions of Control – Believing that external forces are controlling your thoughts, movements, or actions.
How Delusions Affect Daily Life
The Experience of Certainty
To those who experience them, delusions do not feel like “beliefs” or opinions. They feel like absolute, undeniable facts. This certainty makes it incredibly difficult to question or let go of the delusion, even when faced with evidence to the contrary.
For example, someone with a paranoid delusion might feel the certainty of being watched as strongly as another person feels the certainty that the sky is blue. Telling them otherwise does not change their experience—it may only increase their distress.
Emotional and Social Impact
Delusions can be deeply isolating. When others do not believe or understand their experience, people with delusions may feel alone, frustrated, or even betrayed. In some cases, this leads to withdrawal from relationships or avoidance of situations that might challenge their beliefs.
Fear-based delusions (such as paranoia) can make it hard to trust people, leading to heightened anxiety, avoidance, or defensive behavior. Grandiose delusions, on the other hand, may create frustration when others do not recognize or validate one's perceived special status or abilities.
Disruptions in Daily Functioning
Delusions can interfere with work, relationships, and basic self-care. Someone who believes their food is being poisoned may stop eating. A person convinced they are being monitored might avoid using technology, leaving them disconnected from the world. Delusions of grandeur may lead to reckless spending or unrealistic career pursuits.
These disruptions are not the result of stubbornness or irrationality—they stem from deeply held beliefs that feel as real as anything else.
For Those Experiencing Delusions: How to Distinguish Reality from Delusion
If you experience delusions, it can be disorienting to navigate what is real and what is not. While no approach is perfect, the following strategies may help you build trust in yourself and reality:
Consider Alternative Explanations
Ask yourself: Are there any other possible explanations for what I am experiencing? For example, if you feel someone is watching you, consider whether there could be a logical reason for their behavior.
Seek External Perspective
Talking to a trusted friend, therapist, or mental health professional can help provide an outside perspective. If multiple people express concern or offer a different interpretation, consider the possibility that your experience may be influenced by a delusion.
Look for Evidence—Both For and Against
If you believe something is true, try gathering both supporting and contradicting evidence. Many people with delusions focus only on what confirms their belief while dismissing anything that challenges it. Consciously looking at both sides can create more balance.
Notice Emotional Reactions to Doubt
Sometimes, questioning a delusion creates strong emotional distress. If considering the possibility of being wrong feels threatening or intolerable, this may be a sign that the belief is delusional rather than reality-based.
Track Patterns Over Time
If you have experienced delusions before, try keeping a record of past beliefs that later turned out to be untrue. This can help you recognize patterns and build insight into how delusions manifest for you.
Prioritize Stability and Self-Care
Delusions often worsen during times of stress, lack of sleep, or emotional overwhelm. Taking care of your mental and physical health can help reduce their intensity.
For Those Who Do Not Experience Delusions: How to Support Someone Who Does
If someone you care about experiences delusions, it can be challenging to know how to respond. Here are some ways to support them without reinforcing their beliefs or invalidating their reality:
Avoid arguing or trying to prove them wrong. Instead of saying, “That’s not true,” try, “I see that this feels very real to you.”
Express care rather than confrontation. Focus on how they feel rather than the content of the delusion. Ask, “How is this affecting you?” instead of “Why do you believe that?”
Encourage professional support. If they are open to it, suggest seeing a therapist or psychiatrist who can provide guidance tailored to their experience.
Set boundaries while maintaining connection. If their delusion causes harm or distress to others, set clear but compassionate boundaries while reassuring them of your care.
Delusions are not simply “false beliefs.” They are deeply felt experiences that shape how a person interacts with the world. For those who have never experienced them, understanding delusions requires empathy; acknowledging that what seems irrational to you may feel absolutely real to someone else.
For those who do experience delusions, the challenge is not just distinguishing reality from falsehood, but learning how to trust themselves in the process. Reality-checking, seeking supportive perspectives, and prioritizing stability can all help create clarity.
No matter where you stand in this conversation, one truth remains: people who experience delusions deserve understanding, support, and dignity. With the right tools and compassion, both self-trust and connection are possible.
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