[Nix]

I was talking with x123 in the bipolar forum and we got into a discussion that I thought was interesting. I wanted to post it here to see if anyone else had opinions or thoughts.

The topic is the idea that delusions are a result of feeling unimportant.

Self-esteem and delusion proneness. - PubMed - NCBI

I'm not good with logic at all, or evaluating a study, and I only saw the abstract here, but I wondered about what people think of this. It seems to me that if delusions are caused by low self esteem, improving someone's self esteem would make delusions go away. That confuses me because I was under the impression that delusions just happen and there's not really a lot that can be done about them during the time they happen.

Like I said, I'm not good at thinking about things like this so I just wondered if anyone else had heard of this idea before and whether you think it has merit, or what your thoughts are in general. I'm curious.

[PumpkinPieHead]

I have no scientific basis for my opionion, but i do have 2 siblings with tragically low self esteem who also have delusions.

I may have BP but I'm not delusional. Just my 2 cents.

A delusion is a falsehood that one believes in.

Wikipedia- "A delusion is a belief held with strong conviction despite superior evidence to the contrary. As a pathology, it is distinct from a belief based on false or incomplete information, confabulation, dogma, illusion, or other effects of perception."

Anything can spark a delusion to form as long as the individual has strong beliefs in it. I feel one doesn't need to be psychotic to think like so. I think the more intelligent one is, the more delusional that they can become over what they think is right, I.e.- scientists, theorists, religious fanatics, etc.

As far as self-esteem goes, if one thinks along the lines as they being the worlds worse and believes it, then they are delusional about them self and suffer from extremely bad self-esteem probably stemming from severe abuse as a child, C-PTSD, depression, or just plain bad luck.

This is what I would say if I was part of the convo.

[ChipperMonkey]

What kind of delusions?

[marmaduke]

Yes I think tragically low self esteem can cause delusions. The hurt mind will try to distract, wander and save itself.
But why, why is their self esteem so damaged?

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[BlueCrustacean]

If we're talking about delusions of grandeur, then I can see that. People with low self-esteem like to fantasize about being extremely important and amazing, because they feel worthless if it turns out they're just like everybody else.

[PumpkinPieHead]

Originally Posted by marmaduke

Yes I think tragically low self esteem can cause delusions. The hurt mind will try to distract, wander and save itself.
But why, why is their self esteem so damaged?

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Hard to explain, it's one of the nature/ nurture things. Throw in psychosis with low self esteem and you have some pitiful individuals. No MI is cut and dry.

[BlueCrustacean]

Originally Posted by PumpkinPieHead

Hard to explain, it's one of the nature/ nurture things. Throw in psychosis with low self esteem and you have some pitiful individuals. No MI is cut and dry.

I would think that all babies starting out feel just fine about themselves, until they're taught by others to have low self-esteem.

[Nix]

Originally Posted by ChipperMonkey

What kind of delusions?

I was thinking about psychotic delusions, though someone pointed out to me how certain non psychotic delusions could stem from low self esteem and that makes more sense to me.

[CastlesInTheAir]

People with major depression can end up with a psychotic break so what you're saying makes sense. I think it also happens when you are too inside your head and not present in the "now". Basically living inside your head.

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[marmaduke]

Blue. In my case that's what happened my self esteem would have been fine if it was not for my mother.
She never liked me (she'd wanted a boy) I was a disappointment from day one.

I have had stress induced psychosis years ago now caused by a NPD (now ex) husband.

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[CastlesInTheAir]

Hope you're doing better since you're out that situation marmaduke

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[x123]

Here are some more of my thoughts on delusions.

When I had a psychotic episode, it started as a sudden persecution delusion. I had experienced some strange coincidences over several days that I was pondering in the back of my mind, and then suddenly one more strange thing happened and I saw the "explanation". I went from normal to delusional in a split second. I thought I had accidentally offended a huge nationwide conspiracy of voodoo/Satanists with mind-controlling pink baseball caps, ... etc. After the initial week, I began to wonder why they were putting so much effort into persecuting me. Gradually a grandiose delusion developed to explain why this huge conspiracy was bothering to persecute me.

I have always had very low self esteem, and I am also a somewhat imaginative and creative person. I imagine lots of possibilities, and it is hard to choose one. I think that is why I have a problem with delusions.

The day before yesterday, I worried that somebody who had installed a towel rack in my bathroom may have tampered with my toothbrush. I had to get a new toothbrush. That's not exactly a delusion, but it leads to delusions IMO.

O.k. that's my thoughts for what they are worth - two cents maybe