Disclaimer: Do not send any threats or harassment to any of these people, always be respectful and follow boundaries

note

This text doesn't apply to Kinning ノ OSDD & DID

Summary: This document is a breakdown of what 'IRLs' are, why they can be harmful, and how to deal with them. The main cause is to counter the blatant misinformation about them & spread awareness. I kept seeing people on Pony Town with '(insert character) IRL' where other players would feed into their delusions, and it did perplex me, so i decided to make this. You can use/steal this Rentry for any usage.


So, what is an IRL?: First of all, IRLS and Delusional Attachments (D/A) are NOT medical terms and were created online around 2020. The term attachment really has nothing to do with psychosis or delusions. The real term that should be used is delusion of grandeur(GD) or Delusional Misidentification. It is when somebody believes that they are someone else whether fiction or reality, that they are superior to others, that they may have powers/special abilities, or other illusions. Other symptoms can include hallucinations.

These beliefs can provide a positive sense of belonging, self identity & purpose but at the same time can cause physical, sexual, social, occupational, and emotional harm. Someone in psychosis will not be aware of their delusion, instead thinking that it is the reality. Only after it is over then they can look back upon it.

What is the cause? 1. psychosis as a symptom of mental illness (psychosis cannot be a diagnosis by itself), mostly seen in schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, dementia (which isn't as relevant, considering GDs is mainly seen in teenagers), depression & intense stress. 2. Drug/substance abuse 3. Physical trauma.

Treatment: Mainly antipsychotic or antidepressant medications, followed by therapy, and hospitalization if you or someone else's safety is compromised.


What NOT to do: Feed into it. By continuedly feeding into GDs by referring to someone with another personality will only make things worse for the person, making it more complex & harder to detach from the delusion. Reality checking isn't necessarily bad nor ableist, but it shouldn't be done by anyone on the internet, including you. You can ask the person: I've seen some will accept it. It's important to note that psychosis can affect everyone in different ways, so every situation is unique.

What to do: First, use the correct terminology in order to spread the correct information. Validate the emotions of their delusions, rather than the facts of it. Help regulate their emotions & set up grounding techniques. You can let them vent to you, but remember not to overextend yourself and if you're getting overwhelmed its always ok to step back. Lead the person to seek help with a psychiatrist or any other medical professional available. The delusion will most likely not solve by itself.


Do not glorify or encourage them.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7984144/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9599-delusional-disorder
https://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/delusions
https://healthtalk.unchealthcare.org/what-to-do-if-a-family-member-or-friend-has-psychotic-symptoms/
https://www.bcss.org/support/how-do-i-get-help-for-my-loved-one/steps-working-delusions/

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Pub: 06 Mar 2024 02:17 UTC

Edit: 15 Mar 2024 19:43 UTC

Views: 565