[Image IDs: Image #1: Flowchart titled “My friend is experiencing a delusion!”
First box: Have they asked you to give them reality checks when they have a delusion. Green “yes” leads to a green box reading: Reality Check. Pink “no” leads to a pink box reading: Let it be / Go Along With It. Black “no, but im still worried” leads to a box reading: Have you asked if you can give them reality checks and they said?
Green “yes” leads to a green box reading: Reality Check. Pink “no” leads to a pink box reading: Let it be / Go Along With It. Black “they said no but im still worried” leads to box reading: Have you asked if there is anything else you can do instead.
Green “yes” leads to green box reading: Do that instead. Pink “no” leads to a pink box reading: Let it be / Go Along With It.
Image #2: Pink box with text reading: What Letting it Be / Going Along With It Is Not: (red “X” bullet points)
adding new information to the delusion / trying to send your friend deeper into the delusion
“that must be scary to believe something that isn’t real”
“keep that to yourself, the more you talk about it the more you’ll encourage yourself”
dismissing your friend’s delusions, saying “everyone thinks like that once in awhile.”
trying to distract your friend from their delusion or act as if it’s a game
What Letting it Be / Going Along With It Is: (blue checkmark bullet points)
allowing your friend to vent or express themselves ( sometimes just talking about their delusions out loud can help them question it )
“I’m so sorry that you’re going through that”
encouraging your friend to express their delusions through poetry, song, art, or other non-harmful things they enjoy
“If that becomes too over whelming for you, you can call me and ask for comfort or a distraction”
allowing your delusional friend to feel safe around you, allowing them to healthily express themselves
Image #3: Green box with text reading: What Reality Checking Is Not: (red “X” bullet points)
“Snap out of it, it’s just a delusion.”
“Think about it for a second, then you’ll snap out of it”
forcing your friend into the hospital
calling the police on your friend
trying to fix or stop the delusion
What Reality Checking Is: (blue “checkmark” bullet points)
“Could you describe the evidence you have for your belief?”
“How firm are you with this belief? Would you be okay with other suggestions on what could be happening?”
“You’re going to be okay, what you’re fearing won’t hurt you.”
“Can we take a step back? Is what you’re going through effecting those around you?”
“Has what you believe happened to anyone else? What is the likeliness of this being real?”
Helping your friend question the delusion or become aware of how the delusion is affecting them.
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