I know very little about this topic of delusional disorders but....I did read that they can be something that comes with Bi-Polar disorder and at this time....I think this is what my wife is suffering from? It is the only way to explain it? I see the symptoms of depression and she does self medicate but that is not her main issue. Her main issue is that "she thinks"...she see's things, hears things, and knows things that are not there or she thinks I know things or am thinking things about her ( as well as others ) that there is no way for her to know either? An article that I just read in an effort to figure this out...said this....
Causes of delusion
There are two alternate causes for developing grandiose delusions:[9]
Delusion-as-defense: defense of the mind against lower self-esteem and depression.
Emotion-consistent: result of exaggerated emotions.
Symptoms
According to the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for delusional disorders, grandiose-type symptoms include grossly exaggerated beliefs of:
self-worth
power[5]
knowledge
identity
. A person with delusional disorder may be high functioning in daily life. Recent and comprehensive metaanalyses of scientific studies point to an association between a deterioration in aspects of IQ in psychotic patients, in particular perceptual reasoning.[5][6][7]
Types of Delusional Disorder
There are different types of delusional disorder based on the main theme of the delusions experienced. The types of delusional disorder include:
Erotomanic: Someone with this type of delusional disorder believes that another person, often someone important or famous, is in love with him or her. The person might attempt to contact the object of the delusion, and stalking behavior is not uncommon.
Grandiose: A person with this type of delusional disorder has an over-inflated sense of worth, power, knowledge, or identity. The person might believe he or she has a great talent or has made an important discovery.
Jealous: A person with this type of delusional disorder believes that his or her spouse or sexual partner is unfaithful.
Persecutory: People with this type of delusional disorder believe that they (or someone close to them) are being mistreated, or that someone is spying on them or planning to harm them. It is not uncommon for people with this type of delusional disorder to make repeated complaints to legal authorities.
Somatic: A person with this type of delusional disorder believes that he or she has a physical defect or medical problem.
Mixed: People with this type of delusional disorder have two or more of the types of delusions listed above.
My wife admits to having distortions? Distortions or delusions if they are exaggerated enough? She also admits ( and it shows ) low self esteem but nothing of the kind shows other than her feelings of persecution. She hears things all the time and things things are there that aren't. She exaggerates everything in respect to her emotions and makes mole hills into mountains. She thinks she can read peoples minds or has this ability? She gives herself credit for having abilities she doesn't have or thinks..she doesn't have abilities that she does have and doesn't know the difference? She believes things that border on the ridiculous and has paranoid thoughts about people and what they are thinking? ( including me ) Grandiose and persecution delusions appear to the most common types and or a mix including the ones listed? I cannot help but think this is what my wife suffers from since...she makes no sense what so ever so times. As it said....high functioning patients do not have bizarre or completely off the wall delusions....just exaggerated thoughts that extend onto others without a means for good insight ( into themselves or others ) and things appear...as they are not many times to a person who suffers from this disorder?
To me this makes sense? It doesn't appear to be Narcissism or Borderline ( confirmed by my T ) so then what is this then, I really want to know? It's more just aberrant thoughts or feelings and emotions which become distortions or hallucinations along with what looks like mood disorder of Bi-Polar which again...I know very little to nothing about? The key thing that happened just last night when this happened again...was she was in a elated mood from getting a good review from work? She was so ready to hear bad news or bad review...that she when she heard good news..she was all up and happy and in a more manic state you might say? That's when it happened and that is when she starts taking on these delusions of grandeur as it would appear? If this is Bi-Polar disorder...then that is what she has? She has no idea or ability to see this in herself and one thing the article said was this "cling to these distortions with tenacity"....and if taken from them or if tried to alter their perceptions with insights that suggest they are wrong in what the believe ( even in the delusion itself ) it can trigger extreme reactions and anger or suicidal thoughts as well as a complete disruption of their world...so to speak? House of cards thinking it's a Mansion...in how I would put it?
This is what I see as well? I don't think my wife has ADHD but actually a delusional disorder and possbily Bi-Polar but I think that is only because her mother was diagnosed Bi-Polar but she was delusional as Hell IMHO? But this is way out of my league and I have no way of knowing any of this other than to say...what I know of ADHD......these things are not present? If anyone has any thoughts or ideas....I would be glad ( very happy ) to hear them since I really have no idea? I just googled "delusions"...and this is what I came up with?
J
