Delusions

Today must have been the annual delusional day. Almost every client had a delusional disorder. People believing they were a different person, another believing the family was plotting against them, another was so paranoid it was important to just keep talking, remembering names and dates so I couldn't get in a single word. Now I am probably the worlds most patient guy but after a while even I was getting irritated.

On one session a coworker was brought in to translate. I was giving him side comments because he was a mental health trainee. "This is a text book example of delusions of persectution". "See how her story is her organizing principle". In this case I became more of a teacher than a clinician - but what can I do? This is strictly a medication management issue and from this point on it was my duty to convince somebody who believed the medication was another ploy the family was using to control them.

As I tried to get the client out of their story for the fifth time, they suddenly stopped in mid sentence and looked at me with a smile saying - "I trust you." Wow!!! Where did that come from I exclaimed to my coworker.

Mental illness at this extreme is facinating. When extreme I marvel at what an individual must endure day in and day out. It would be a hellish existence to constantly feel the Government was spying on you or the T.V. was giving you secret messages. But this is their normal. Without the voices they would be out of their element.

I remember watching a show last year about a married couple, up in their years, that were both deaf. A new procedure was developed that promised both of them hearing. At first they were excited, but the family was sceptical. They would be experiencing something for the very first time that they may not be prepared for was the consensus. Well in the long run the family was right. Having hearing was a difficult transition - more for the wife than the husband who seemed to struggle at first, and then go with it. The wife was overwhelmed with this new sense, similiar to patients of mine who have stablized and decide to go off their meds, and abandon their own self work. Why? Because the old habits are so ingrained in their way of being that it is too much of a hassle for them to take the effort in changing for the better. Hey, let's face it - this is extremely normal. I do it. I promise myself to cut down on sweets, eat healthier and excercise more often. What do I do? I come home, scoop out some ice cream, sit on the couch and watch television. Oops. Even though I feel better when I am active and eating healthier, chocholate chip ice cream and American Idol will always entice me.

May you all have great mental health.