Hallucinations and delusions, can they both happen at the same time?

Hallucinations and delusions are examples of symptoms that often appear in people with psychological disorders. These two conditions usually indicate different diseases. However, there are also psychological disorders that show these two symptoms together.

Difference between hallucinations and delusions

Hallucinations are unreal sensations created by the mind itself. People who experience hallucinations can see things, hear sounds, and smell smells that don't really exist.

Apart from being a symptom of several psychological disorders, hallucinations can also be caused by side effects of drugs, hangovers from drinking alcohol, or physical illnesses such as epilepsy.

Hallucinations and delusions are two different things. Delusion is not a sensation, but a strong belief contrary to reality.

The person experiencing delusions believes something that is actually wrong or doesn't exist.

Delusions can be a symptom of certain illnesses, such as schizophrenia, or appear as part of a psychological problem called delusional disorder. The triggers can come from genetic factors, nervous system disorders, and stress.

Can hallucinations and delusions occur simultaneously?

Although different, hallucinations and delusions can occur simultaneously in people with certain psychological disorders. When they occur together, these two conditions generally indicate the following disorders:

1. Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that affects how sufferers think, feel emotions and behave. Schizophrenics seem like individuals who have lost touch with real reality.

The symptoms of schizophrenia fall into three categories, as follows:

• Positive symptoms, namely behavior that shows that the sufferer has a different reality. For example hallucinations, delusions, unusual ways of thinking, and gestures out of control.
• Negative symptoms, or behavior that interferes with normal everyday life. For example, a flat face, the absence of pleasure from doing activities, and difficulties in carrying out daily activities.
• Cognitive symptoms, which is characterized by a decrease in the ability to remember, understand information, make decisions, and focus attention.

2. Delusional disorders

People with delusional disorders can also experience hallucinations related to the type of delusions they are experiencing. For example, a person who believes that he has body odor can hallucinate the smell of his body.

There is also a type of delusion called erotomania. This delusion makes the sufferer believe that someone he admires has fallen in love with him. Patients may hallucinate seeing or hearing the figure's voice.

3. Brief psychotic disturbances

Brief psychotic disorders are characterized by the appearance of psychotic behaviors in the form of delusions, hallucinations, and confusion. The behavior appears suddenly and is only temporary, usually from one day to one month.

The cause of a brief psychotic disorder is not certain. However, severe stress or trauma from the death of a family member, criminal behavior, or a natural disaster can trigger the symptoms.

Hallucinations and delusions are signs of serious psychological disorders that make sufferers live in different realities. Both can endanger the sufferer and the people around him if not treated.

Treatment of hallucinations and delusions can be done with a combination of therapy and medication by a psychiatrist. If your family member has this condition, you can accompany him to consult or even record the symptoms.