People with victimization delusion will always have a strong belief that someone is stalking, stalking, and wanting to kill them. According to experts, this is an extremely dangerous type of delusion that cannot go away on its own without proper treatment.
Patients with delusional disorder always think that someone is trying to harm them.
What is victim delusion?
Delusional disorder is a very common mental illness today. The disease manifests itself in various forms, such as delusions of jealousy, delusions of the body, delusions of self-esteem, delusions of being loved, and delusions of being harmed. In particular, the delusion of being harmed is rated as the most dangerous of all types of delusional disorders.
People suffering from this delusion often have a strong belief that there is a person or force that is conspiring to harm them. Patients always have a feeling of insecurity, always think that danger is near and they always live in a defensive state, suspicious of everyone around. There are even many suitors who constantly ask competent agencies and organizations to protect themselves even though the reality is not as they think it is.
It is also because of their own deviant thoughts that the victim paranoid patient always feels suspicious of people around and always defends his or her point of view, thinking that what he or she thinks is absolutely right. Many people even try to find information, evidence, details to prove that their thinking is correct.
Despite knowing that the patient’s beliefs are not true to reality, no one can explain and change them. They will spend a lot of time defending themselves. They will always be on guard and through the eyes of the paranoid victim, all the very normal actions of the people around are provocative and dangerous.
Manifestations of patients with delusional disorder
The most characteristic manifestation of a victim of delusional disorder is the state of being always defensive, suspicious and wary of those around them because they always think that someone will want to harm and attack them. Because of these thoughts, patients always feel stressed, very excitable and have a lot of influence on the quality of daily life.
Specifically, some common signs and symptoms of a victim of delusional disorder include:
1. Attacking others
As shared above, delusional patients often believe that someone is trying to harm, drive away or even kill them. Due to their delusions, the patient sometimes confuses one object with another, from the body to the enemy.
In fact, there have been many cases of paranoid patients being harmed using dangerous weapons to attack and threaten others because they think that person has bad intentions towards them. For that reason, patients often carry sharp iron objects or use lethal objects to fight and protect themselves.
There are many patients who also feel afraid of everyone around, including family members. Others are afraid of water, wind, and light, so they always want to find ways to hide and avoid external influences.
2. Emotional and behavioral disorders
People with persecutory delusions often present with behavioral and emotional disturbances. The patient himself will have many mixed emotions. Sometimes they will love the life around them, but sometimes they will hate it to the extreme, they even see the people next to them as enemies.
In some cases, they often show hostility towards family members, do not want to contact or talk to close friends, but are cheerful and friendly with people they have never met. Or some people have opposite expressions such as sad at weddings and happy at funerals. They often confuse events with each other, so they tend to show conflicting emotions.
3. A virtual sound appears
In some cases, patients with delusions of harm also appear to have hallucinations. They often hear sounds and voices ringing in their heads or ringing in their ears, sometimes coming from their stomachs. These sounds often carry negative content, which can be cursing, threatening, reproaching, mocking, commenting, chasing, scolding or ordering the patient to do this or that.
Patients often hear sounds, threatening words, insults echoing in their ears
In addition, the patient also constantly has the feeling that others are speaking ill of him, observing and trying to speak ill of him. Sometimes they may even misunderstand and speculate about the sounds and voices they hear from the people around them. They think that people are talking about them, planning to harm them.
4. Circadian rhythm disturbances
Sleep disturbance is one of the symptoms that most paranoid patients experience. They often lose sleep, do not sleep deeply, reverse circadian rhythms (sleep day, wake at night), or dream with nightmares, etc. Even in some cases, patients even force their family members to have to. living according to their own time, forcing everyone to stay up late with them.
If the state of insomnia continues for a long time and is not promptly intervened, the patient will gradually become exhausted, the body is tired, the person is lethargic, has no vitality, does not ensure the diet and has no appetite. the ability to participate in any activity. They often just sit in one place or sometimes appear to be highly focused on something without paying attention to the people around them.
5. Has a ghost-like expression
Because the wrong thoughts that are murdered keep occupying the patient’s mind, they will sometimes become “crazy”. In many cases, patients often cry, talk nonsense, scream, struggle, scream violently but the specific cause cannot be determined.
Patients with delusions of being harmed sometimes have manifestations like being possessed by a ghost.
There are people who appear to appear like “upper people”, they are constantly babbling about something or brainstorming signs like ancestors, who have passed away to judge and teach. According to folklore, this is often referred to as the phenomenon of being possessed by ghosts. However, in reality, scientists say this is a paranoid psychopathological phenomenon at a severe level.
6. Wandering
When the condition starts and is not well controlled, the person will have a tendency to want to wander. However, they move around without any purpose, walking vaguely, faltering and can wander everywhere. Many sick people just walk in silence, they don’t say anything, their eyes are dull and lifeless. However, there were also people shouting and cursing while walking, as if they were yelling at each other. Some people walk while babbling in their mouths, saying meaningless things.
7. Easily startled, scared
Most of the victims of delusional disorder have very weak psychology, they are often startled, always live in a state of fear and confusion. At the same time, they easily lose focus, worry, and think about most of the events and events happening around.
There are even many sick people who do not dare to step out of the house, do not dare to bathe, live, eat for fear that the enemy will poison and trap them. In situations where they must go out, they will try to cover their faces, wear discreet clothes, wear sunglasses to protect themselves, avoid being discovered by others and tend to carry weapons for defense. .
Thus, it can be seen that the symptoms of paranoid patients are easy to recognize. On the other hand, it is also very difficult to control this disease because no matter how you give any explanation or clear evidence about them being completely unfollowed, assassinated, they still don’t trust or even tend to be suspicious and avoid you. At the same time, patients also tend to wander, not fixed in position, so it is difficult to find and convince them to treat.
Causes of the delusion of being harmed
Until now, scientists have not been able to pinpoint the exact cause of delusional abuse. However, in some specialized studies, risk factors have also been found that may play an important role in the formation and development of this dangerous disease. As follows:
- Brain structure: Certain trauma to the brain or a decline in gray matter in the temporal and parietal lobes may also increase the risk of developing pernicious delusions.
- Genetic mutations: According to experts, some mutations in the DRD gene – the gene responsible for regulating receptors or TH – the gene that regulates Dopamine synthesis can also lead to delusions of harm. . Also by the change of these two genes can mess up Dopamine levels.
- Medical history: People who have experienced episodes of depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or acute psychosis are also more likely to develop this condition.
- Habit of alcoholism, long-term use of stimulants or poisoning.
- People who have had horrible childhood experiences, such as abuse, violence, abduction, abuse or sexual abuse.
Is the victim delusion dangerous?
According to experts, the delusion of being harmed is the most dangerous form of delusion. This disease is common in people with schizophrenia, alcoholism, substance abuse, etc. everyone around.
Accordingly, specialist doctors said that the delusion of being harmed is one of the most common types of delusions in cases of psychopaths. There are many cases of intentional murder, intentional injury, kidnapping, and brutal torture.
MSc. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Quang, Director of the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ho Chi Minh City, shared: “Patients can experience delusions of harm in people with schizophrenia, psychotic people due to alcohol abuse, stimulants, etc. presently alone. They are always in a defensive posture, often dressed discreetly, wearing glasses and masks as if they are afraid of being tracked; sly action; suspicious of people… More dangerously, they can “take action first”, leading to unfortunate cases”.
Patients are more likely to “go first” with those they suspect.
At the same time, the doctor also added, in some cases of victimized paranoid patients, there are also symptoms of hallucinations, also known as delusional hallucinogen syndrome. At this time, the patient will constantly hear voices, sounds ringing in the ears and often those are commands, urging them to perform dangerous actions and leave unfortunate consequences.
A typical case of Mr. L.T.D (45 years old) suspected that his neighbor wanted to harm him, he took action first by throwing acid on their whole family. After the investigation and assessment at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry in Ho Chi Minh City, it was found that Mr. D suffered from schizophrenia with manifestations of delusions of the victim.
It can be affirmed that the delusion of being harmed is potentially dangerous and causes a lot of negative effects on the patient and those around him. Therefore, if you see your loved one showing symptoms of the disease, take the initiative to seek medical attention and treatment as soon as possible.
How to treat delusions of being harmed effectively
With the above-mentioned serious effects, the victim of delusional disorder needs to be examined and treated as soon as possible to limit the unfortunate consequences. Depending on the condition and symptoms of each person, a specialist will advise on the most appropriate treatment method.
1. Drug treatment
Antipsychotic drugs will be commonly used for cases of paranoia, including delusions of being harmed. Patients will be prescribed different drugs with different doses. Usually patients will be instructed to take the drug for 1 to 6 months to see the most obvious results.
After the paranoid symptoms are well controlled, the patient will be transferred to the monitoring phase. Patients need to strictly follow the instructions of using the medicine of the specialist doctor, make sure to take the right medicine, at the right dose.
Antipsychotics are commonly used drugs for people with delusions of being harmed.
Also because if antipsychotic drugs are used in high doses for a long time, there is a high risk of unwanted side effects, affecting the patient’s health. Therefore, during the course of drug treatment, if you notice any abnormal symptoms in your body, the patient should immediately notify the treating doctor for instructions on how to overcome it.
2. Treatment of causes and underlying diseases
For cases of delusional disorder harmed as a result of primary diseases such as neurodegeneration, metabolic encephalopathy, alcohol-induced psychosis, and substance abuse, it is necessary to seek medical attention. conduct radical treatment. The process of treating the cause will always be a priority in the treatment intervention. Also, when the underlying disease is well controlled and relieved, the paranoid symptoms will also in turn be significantly reduced.
3. Cognitive and behavioral therapy
This therapy is commonly used in the process of supporting the treatment of delusional victims with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of the drug. Through cognitive and behavioral adjustment therapies, patients will also become more aware of their own deviant thoughts and actions and form more appropriate responses.
When they encounter situations that cause anxiety and fear, they also know how to control their emotions, limit performing negative behaviors, and harm themselves and those around them. Psychologists will also guide and equip patients with the necessary skills to face their fears, thereby helping them to better balance their lives.
Delusion of the victim is a dangerous delusional disorder, but if it can be detected and intervened at an early stage, it can be completely overcome. Hopefully, through this article, readers will understand more about paranoia and have the most appropriate treatment.
