Leading Rehab Unveils Expert Strategies for Supporting Loved Ones With Delusions

Columbus, OH – SUN Behavioral Health Columbus recently published a blog post illuminating the key tactics for supporting someone experiencing delusions. Delusions are false beliefs that a person has that greatly impact their cognitive functioning. Someone with a delusion will believe it to be 100% true even if there is evidence that it is not. This belief is not associated with a person’s religious, cultural, or intellectual background. They are also not associated with overvalued ideas that might include some doubt. The exact content of a person’s delusions varies from person to person and can have infinite possibilities.

“Delusions can occur as a result of several disorders that include psychological, physical, and neurological. Common conditions that delusions may be a symptom of include bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, delirium, psychotic disorders, and dementia,” the blog post states.

There are 7 main types of delusions recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5). These include persecutory, grandiose, referential, erotomanic, somatic, nihilistic, and bizarre. The DSM-5 also recognizes unspecified for ones that do not fit in these categories. It can sometimes be difficult to know if someone is having delusions or if their belief system is simply different from one’s own. This is especially true for beliefs associated with cultural, spiritual, and religious backgrounds. With that said, there are a few signs of delusions that are not related to other beliefs. These symptoms include agitation, aggression, depression, confusion, fear, an unshakable belief despite reasoning, a belief not shared by peers with a similar background, memory issues, and hallucinations

If someone is experiencing delusions, it can be difficult to watch seemingly helplessly in helping they see the truth. The delusions they are experiencing are very real, and no amount of evidence will be able to change the person’s mind. This is why it is important not to argue with, laugh at, shame, or even pretend to agree with their delusions. These actions might make things worse. However, some things can be done that will help. These include establishing trust, avoiding challenging delusions, offering support without judgment, and encouraging them to seek help. If the person’s delusions lead to them being a danger to themselves or another person, they must be taken to a 24/7 crisis care center for appropriate stabilizing care and treatment from a compassionate and trained professional team.

“Getting your loved one to attend treatment may be difficult, especially if they resist the idea. First, if they don’t trust you, find someone they do trust to help you. Do not appear to be challenging, threatening, or hostile to them, and speak at a moderate pace. If your loved one asks questions, answer calmly and comply with safe and reasonable requests. Stay calm and allow your loved one to move around freely if they want to. If the situation becomes dangerous, you should make sure that you have an exit to remove yourself and call a mental health service for assistance,” the blog post continues.

SUN Behavioral Health Columbus solves the unmet needs of adolescents and adults in the area. Their crisis care center is open 24/7 and does not require someone to call ahead of time. This ensures that people who require mental health crisis stabilization can receive it as soon as possible. They also offer no-cost care assessments that allow them to determine the best treatment plan for potential patients based on their doctor’s recommendations and the individual’s unique needs.

For additional details, contact SUN Behavioral Health Columbus at 614-706-2786 or visit their website.

SUN solves unmet needs.