Delusions

[DMF]

My daughter had a terrible spell with delusions. She's never had significant delusions before (she could certainly recognize that they were delusions) but this time she said she knew it wasn't logical but "she still believed them". Scared the living @%$$^ out of me. No amount of talking could change her mind (and that's what made me realize she was significantly delusional because before I could say "that sounds a bit like delusional thinking" and she would say, "your right") and I know that you shouldn't try to change their minds when they are delusional because it only upsets them. BUT, what in the @$#^ are you supposed to do? Say, "yeah, spirits are coming in the house through windows and trying to take possession of the dog's body"? It lasted a week or so and then it went away very quickly (thank god).

Seriously, we've had no serious experience with them - any advice for a caretaker would be appreciated. Surely you can't just agree with it all. Also, her doctor raised her anxiety meds (daughter is getting ready to have a shunt put in her brain to drain excessive cerebral spinal fluid) and that may have helped...........

As always, I appreciate your experience and replies!

[lachesis]

There is a trick that sometimes works. If someone is thinking delusions are real (that medication will not help) you can say that medication will help you to be less bothered by them. But for her maybe meds won't work at all if this is all related to brain trauma.

Yeah don't challenge a delusion. Try to say anything that you can both agree upon - like "this is really scary." Then she will think you understand. When my brother was delusional he got upset that office towers were having the lights go out. He had some delusional thoughts and I said the buildings turn the lights out at night so the birds don't fly into the windows. I'm not sure he accepted that but he could not disagree.

[blackbird]

My delusions are just like that now. before I always had common sense and could tell them to fuck off and ground myself in reality. Now my delusions are such, that you could stay up all night talking sense into me and I still wouldn't believe you. The delusions are that strong. And I have some pretty wild delusions involving psychiatric nurses using black magic to drive me mad. My mother cries herself to sleep every night because she thinks I've finally lost all grip on reality, but i KNOW I'm a powerful telepath.

[DMF]

Thank you....I don't know how you all cope but I really am in awe of your strength. If I haven't said, dd has now been diagnosed with a pseudotumor which causes either an increase in CSF or somehow inhibits the body's ability to absorb CSF. In either case, it creates a great deal of pressure in the brain. She is seeing a neurosurgeon at the end of the month and I am assuming they will perform surgery not long after that. I rather doubt that is the cause of this but she started having problems when they put her on the diaretics that are normally used to treat this. However, even after going off the meds the delusions still continued. Deep down, I'm hoping that you cure this and maybe we'll find out this was the cause of everything else....yea, unlikely, delusional on my part, but still have tiny bit of hope.

The delusions are generally gone or at least gone to the point that she now recognizes them better. There's also been some mania problems and tons of stress so that may be contributing, too.

Thanks again!!!! Blackbird, my granddaughter is here this weekend but I'll email you after she leaves!

=)

[FireBird]

I get delusions and I think mine are caused by anxiety. Everything of mine is caused by anxiety because I am an anxious person. I used to believe that aliens were controlling me and telling me what to do all the time. I also thought they were broadcasting my thoughts to the world or the universe. That means aliens on other planets know my thoughts but this is impossible so don't worry. I am perfectly sane. I thought there was a device in my non existent brain. Now I ask my self, how can there be a device in my brain if I don't have a brain to begin with? That is the big question of the day. A long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away I used to think the government was after me for killing 350,000 people with my psychic dreams but I don't believe this anymore. That is good news. I am happy about that. But I still believe the government is after everyone for no reason. I didn't do anything and my phone is bugged and they listen in on my conversations. That is almost as annoying as my brother. He is the most annoying person alive and he is proud of it!