Delusions vs Hallucinations: Understanding False Realities | Baton Rouge Behavioral 04/05/2023 22:04

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AUG Delusions vs
Hallucinations:
Understanding
False Realities
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 DELUSION VS HALLUCINATION, DELUSIONAL DISORDER,

HALLUCINATION, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT

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Delusions and hallucinations are both symptoms

of mental health disorders that alter a person’s
perception of reality. However, while similar, they First
are not the same. Understanding the di!erences Na
between delusions vs hallucinations can be
me *
helpful in diagnosis and treatment as well as in
the management of mental health conditions that
cause these symptoms.

The mind is an incredibly powerful tool. The brain

Last
dictates moods, thoughts, and behaviors, and
creates individuals’ realities. When a mental Na
health condition develops, a malfunction in the
me *
brain can occur. When this happens, the
alterations in the brain can cause
misunderstandings between what is real and
what is imagined in our everyday lives.
Em
Both delusions and hallucinations distort reality in
ways that are incredibly di"cult for a person to ail *
understand. While delusions can be a mental
illness on their own (Delusional Disorder),
delusions and hallucinations are often a part of a
bigger problem. Knowing the di!erence between
Pho
these two conditions can help you determine the
best course of action. ne *

Contents

What Are Delusions?

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What Are Delusions?

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son
For
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tact
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Delusions are false beliefs. Therefore, a person I have a general comment/quest
experiencing a delusion will steadfastly believe in Please
something that isn’t true. Usually, these beliefs Select
One
persist even when there is evidence that they are
not real. Delusions are referred to as non-bizarre
or bizarre in nature. Examples of delusions that Ho
are non-bizarre include something that could w
actually happen in real life, like a cheating spouse.
Can
On the other hand, examples of delusions that are
bizarre include things that could never happen in We
real life, such as the ability to become invisible. Hel
p
Types of Delusions
You
There are many di!erent types of delusions but
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delusional thinking generally follows patterns.
Therefore, types of delusions are categorized by
theme. Delusional themes include:

Grandiose Delusions:
Symptoms of grandiose delusional disorder

center around beliefs of superiority. In other

words, the person believes they are better

than others. Pleas
Jealous Delusions: e
note:
Jealous delusions often revolve around
For
beliefs of being the victim of an a!air.
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beliefs of being the victim of an a!air.

medi
Erotomanic Delusions:
cal
A person with erotomanic delusions believes emer
that an important person (for example, a genci

celebrity) is in love with them. This could be es,

pleas
harmless or lead to behaviors such as
e call
stalking.
911.
Somatic Delusions: For
People with somatic delusions believe they other

are su!ering from a medical condition or urge

nt
parasitic infection that they do not have.
matt
Persecutory Delusions:
ers,
This is thought to be the most common type pleas
of delusion. Persecutory delusions are e call

paranoid in nature and include beliefs like our

admi
being spied on. Alternatively, a person could
ssion
believe others are out to harm them.
s line
Schizophrenic delusions are most often of a 1-
persecutory nature. 225-
258-
Delusional psychosis can be a condition of its own 2195.
or could be a symptom of another disorder. Other Sub
conditions that may cause delusions include: missi
ons
Alzheimer’s Disease after-
Dementia hours

Brain Injury ,
week
Parkinson’s Disease
ends,
Delusional Disorders
or
Schizophrenia holid
Mood Disorders ays

Substance Abuse may

Drug-Induced Psychosis
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Drug-Induced Psychosis exper

ience
Depending on the person’s beliefs, delusional
a
thoughts may not cause distress. For example, a
longe
person with Alzheimer’s disease may experience
r
delusions that do not necessarily disrupt their life,
respo
such as their being able to communicate with a
nse
deceased family member. Alternatively, someone
time.
diagnosed with schizophrenia may believe that
they are being spied upon through the
appliances, which could become a major source
of stress in their life.

Hallucinations are similar to delusions in the

SUBMIT FORM
sense that they cause a person to feel that they’re
experience something that didn’t actually happen.
However, hallucinations are not based on beliefs.

What Are Hallucinations?

Hallucinations are like delusions, but instead of

centering on misbeliefs, they involve sensory
misperceptions. That is, a person will feel, see,
taste, hear, or smell something that isn’t there.
Like delusions, hallucinations are often a
symptom of a broader disorder, but can also be
caused by situational circumstances, such as
substance abuse.

Types of Hallucinations
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Types of Hallucinations
Hallucinations a!ect your senses and are
categorized by such. Therefore, types of
hallucinations include:

Auditory (hearing)

Visual (seeing)

Olfactory (smelling)
Tactile (feeling)

Gustatory (tasting)

Hallucinations are created in the brain and are

very real to the person experiencing them. Given
this, they can be quite distressing. Causes of
hallucination are similar to those of delusions. For
example, the mental illness schizophrenia is a
common cause of hallucinations. In addition,
Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s, dementia,
epilepsy, and brain injuries are also common
causes. Further, it is not unusual for a person who
is going through drug or alcohol detox to hear,
see, or feel things that aren’t real, which is one of
the reasons detoxing under medical supervision is
so heavily recommended.

Delusions vs
Hallucinations Treatment
The treatment of either delusions or
hallucinations will greatly depend on the
condition that is causing these breaks with reality.
If psychosis is not evident, cognitive behavioral
therapy (CBT) is a common approach to the
treatment of delusions. CBT o!ers the opportunity
for the person to address their delusions and to
discuss alternate possibilities about their
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discuss alternate possibilities about their

misbeliefs. This type of therapy will be paired with
medication if necessary.

Hallucinations are also treated with a combination

of therapies. However, medication may be more
of a first approach if the hallucination is tied to a
mental illness or physical condition. The type of
medication used will depend on the condition
causing the hallucination.

If substance abuse is causing delusions and

hallucinations, an evaluation by a medical
professional versed in both mental health and
addiction treatment is often the first step.

Mental Health Help in

Louisiana
Delusions and hallucinations can be upsetting to
those experiencing them as well as to those
around them. At Baton Rouge Behavioral Hospital,
our treatment team is well versed in stabilizing
patients who are experiencing hallucinations and
delusions regardless of the severity.

At our Louisiana mental health hospital, we o!er

adult psychiatric programs in both inpatient
and outpatient formats. In addition, we o!er a dual
diagnosis program to address any accompanying
addiction and can assist in crisis stabilization. At
Baton Rouge Hospital we understand that no two
patients are the same, and we provide
individualized options to cater to your recovery
needs.

To learn more about our mental health treatment

options contact us at 225-258-2195 or by using
our confidential online form, many times we can
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