No.

this is the EXACT gray area I was referring to yesterday in the psychosis thread. Looking forward to seeing the replies as I'm interested, also.

no, you're unable to comprehend that belief is irrational/insane ie/ I am Queen Elizabeth the 2nd. Just how it is.

As delusions are treated you can see in hindsight, sometimes, the folly & the terrible sickness of it..but some people never can attain any insight (& have protracted psychosis)

I always thought that being delusional was not being aware that what you believe isnt real? at least its like that in my case.

How is it a grey area, Linasmom? I don't follow?

people either are psychotic or they are not.

That's what I'm saying: if I believe I'm the Queen of UK...I cannot comprehend this could not be true. It is true, to my deluded mind.

Same thing, you see?

no. I'm not saying there IS a gray area. However, what stuck is asking, was what I was referring to as "gray area" in my thread yesterday - she is just more specific.

I'm not saying there is a gray area, at all.

See...I don't think stuck's example is a delusion...

ie/ someone with OCD might fear they'll catch aids from someone sneezing...they know rationally that's impossible...but they still fear it.
It's not a delusion..more like an anxiety.

agree with Lou... if you think its a delusion then its not

like if you are convinced you are posessed by demons and you actually believe they are going to take over your body type of thing. no rational person wold think that

The medical definition of delusion is complicated, partly because of cultural/ religious aspects.

Outline definition is "a belief that is firmly held but on inadequate grounds, is not affected by rational evidence or argument to the contrary, and it is not a conventional belief the person might have given their cultural background or education"

However that is really inadequate because there are things like body image that could perhaps be included. So additional criteria include

- they are false beliefs
- they are arrived at through abnormal thought processes
- they are usually odd or improbable beliefs

does that help?

agreed, twosides......someone on Acid might though :) x

yes, that helps Curious.

Yes that does help Curious. I've never really had a reason to ask questions about delusions before. I don't know if I've ever experienced them myself. When I called my therapist yesterday she agreed that my boyfriend is dealing with delusions right now. Since the delusions are in relation to me cheating, which is based solely on me having a few conversations with a neighbor, I am selfishly concerned about whether he will ever be able to recognize at a later date that his thoughts were not accurate. I'm also just plain curious to find out more about how they work.

if you are delusional or psychotic you will know. So rest assure, you are safe if you are asking these questions =p