The following can indicate a delusion:Prove it!
- The patient expresses an idea or belief with unusual persistence or force. Check
- That idea appears to exert an undue influence on his or her life, and the way of life is often altered to an inexplicable extent. Check
- Despite his/her profound conviction, there is often a quality of secretiveness or suspicion when the patient is questioned about it.
- The individual tends to be humorless and oversensitive, especially about the belief. Check
- There is a quality of centrality: no matter how unlikely it is that these strange things are happening to him, the patient accepts them relatively unquestioningly. Check
- An attempt to contradict the belief is likely to arouse an inappropriately strong emotional reaction, often with irritability and hostility. Checkaroo
- The belief is, at the least, unlikely, and out of keeping with the patient's social, cultural and religious background.
- The patient is emotionally over-invested in the idea and it overwhelms other elements of his or her psyche. Check here also
- The delusion, if acted out, often leads to behaviors which are abnormal and/or out of character, although perhaps understandable in the light of the delusional beliefs. (Matthew Ludgate)
- Individuals who know the patient will observe that his or her belief and behavior are uncharacteristic and alien.
6 of 10 markers you've demonstrated just in this one little thread. You might not be delusional but as the magic 8 ball says " signs point to yes "
