From Toxic Fears to Fixed Beliefs: A Perspective on Common Delusions

Dr Ashna Singh¹, Dr Gurkirat Kaur², Dr. Aditi Goyal³

Abstract
In mainstream media and conversations lately, especially in younger generations, we frequently come across the word ‘toxic’ in every other sentence, often used to describe almost anything from a bad work environment to people to relationships. Following in the footsteps of this trend, this article takes light-hearted inspiration to explore similar patterns in conversations with patients in healthcare settings. Many patients exhibit suspicion and fear, leading them to refuse medication due to perceived toxicity or even avoid visiting medical facilities entirely. Here we aim to delve into common dialogue with such patients and discuss the process of converting these conversations into rubrics. Further, it also delves into analysis and the differentiation of a few seemingly similar rubrics.

Keywords: Rubrics, Delusion, Toxic, Conversation, Situation

Introduction: In the digital age, the word ‘toxic’ has taken on new dimensions. Originally derived from the Latin word ‘toxicum’ which means ‘poison’⁽¹⁾,  the contemporary definition of toxicity extends beyond just physical harm. It has come to include harmful behaviors and environments that affect individuals emotionally, mentally, and socially. These circumstances invoke in us a feeling of fear, impending danger, and cause us to be on guard and alert. Constant exposure to such behavior and situations can take a toll on mental and emotional well-being. Recognizing the profound impact and the source of these thoughts and feelings is crucial in aiding us to reach the homeopathic simillimum and treat our patients effectively.

Fear and delusion are two distinct experiences with fundamental differences in their nature. Fear is characterized as a feeling of anxiety concerning an outcome, and it is typically rooted in reality, serving as a response to a genuine or rational threat. On the other hand, delusion refers to a false belief about external reality, persisting despite the existence of clear evidence to the contrary. Delusions are irrational and false perceptions that lack a basis in reality and remain unshakable even when confronted with contradictory evidence.⁽²⁾

 Consequently, fears can be relieved when presented with evidence countering their origins, unlike delusions. No amount of consolation or reasoning can alter the fixed beliefs of individuals experiencing delusions. The intensity of these feelings is significantly higher in delusions compared to ordinary fears.

Presented below are explanations offering insights into converting speech and situations into rubrics.

Analysis:

1. Delusion, about to be poisoned, he is

Meaning– Poison: a substance with an inherent property that destroys life or impairs health.⁽³⁾

Interpretation– Patients who exhibit this delusion may express extreme fear, suspicion, and anxiety about the possibility of being poisoned, even though there is no objective evidence to support their belief. They might be highly cautious about the food they consume or the beverages they drink, fearing that these items could be contaminated with harmful substances.

Versions-

• ‘Please don’t give me a strong medicine, my body reacts very easily’
• ‘Will these sweet pills increase my blood sugar levels?’
• ‘I don’t want to take any medicine because I’m afraid there will be side effects’
• A one year old girl refused to take medicines, would throw tantrums and spit out the pills. The patient thus had to be given medicines in a liquid form so that they could be administered with water, without her knowledge.

2. Delusion, injury, receive will

Meaning: Injury: Damage or hurt.⁽³⁾

Interpretation– One is perceiving an imminent danger or harm through their senses. They may have a fixed and irrational perception that harm is inevitable. ⁽⁴⁾

Versions–

• ‘If I have to stop allopathic medicine, I’m worried about what will happen to me in case your medicine does not work?’
• ‘I’m so afraid of injections and surgical procedures for the possibility of irreparable damage that I don’t want to go for any investigation’.
• ‘My father used to suffer from diabetes so I don’t eat sweets, just to prevent that from happening to me’
• The patient might even change doctors if he is advised by the doctor to get some investigations done

3. Delusion, injured, he is

Interpretation– Patients who express this delusion genuinely believe that they have experienced an injury, despite the absence of any visible wounds, bruises, or physical damage.

Versions–

• ‘Wherever I touch on my body, I find something is wrong with that part and feel that it is diseased’
• A person who believes they have significant bodily defects or injuries, leading to emotional distress and preoccupation with their perceived flaws.
• When a person notices a new small mole on the skin and is convinced that it is cancerous

4. Delusion, injury, being injured by surroundings

Meaning: Surroundings: things, persons and environment, around a person.⁽³⁾

Interpretation : A person who believes they are being harmed or injured by their immediate environment, even though there is no actual physical injury or harm present. They might perceive that objects, people, or even places around them are intentionally inflicting injury or causing danger to their well-being.

Versions:

• Patient might have a history of changing his job multiple times because they may think that their colleagues are secretly plotting against them.
• A patient who believes that certain places, such as public parks or shopping malls, are dangerous to visit because they are convinced that hidden dangers or traps are waiting to cause harm.
• An individual who is convinced that the air around them is contaminated or toxic, leading to fears of breathing and feeling injured by the environment.
• A driver who dreads getting behind the wheel, convinced that they will be involved in a fatal car accident every time they drive

5. Delusion, happen, that something terrible is going to

Interpretation: This rubric specifically pertains to the delusion experienced by a patient that something dreadful or catastrophic is about to occur. The patient firmly believes that a significant negative event is imminent, leading to intense fear, anxiety, or apprehension. The ‘happen’ in the rubric refers to the patient’s perception that the event is going to take place in the future.

Versions–

• A person who imagines that he’s going to suffer from cancer when all he’s complaining of is a simple toothache
• A parent who is excessively concerned about their child’s safety, imagining worst-case scenarios, such as accidents or abductions, whenever the child is away from their sight.
• Someone who avoids medical check-ups or screenings due to an irrational fear of being diagnosed with a severe illness, imagining a grim prognosis and a shortened life expectancy.

Conclusion
In conclusion, we can always understand and interpret rubrics and apply them to the language of the patients and find that our prescription becomes efficient, our case taking thorough and our practice more comprehensive.

References–

1. Online etymology dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/toxic
2. Kiran c., Chaudhary S., Understanding delusions, Ind psy j., 18(1), 2009 jan-jun
3. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/
4. Sehgal M.L, Rediscovery of homeopathy, Sehgal brothers publishers, 1999

Author details:

1. PG scholar, Part 1, Batch 2021-24, Department of Repertory.
2. PG scholar, Part 2, Batch 2020-23, Department of Repertory.
3. Associate Professor, Department of Repertory