Symptom 5: Hallucinations or Delusions
Perhaps among the most alarming symptoms of delirium are hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations involve perceiving things that aren’t present – this could be auditory (hearing voices) or visual (seeing people or objects that aren’t there). Delusions, on the other hand, are strong false beliefs held despite evidence to the contrary.
These symptoms can be incredibly distressing for the individual. They might become convinced of scenarios or dangers that aren’t real, leading them to react in ways that seem irrational to outsiders. But in their perspective, these hallucinations or delusions are very much a reality.
The roots of these symptoms lie in the brain’s disturbed processing. Neurotransmitter imbalances or external stimuli might be misinterpreted, leading to these false perceptions or beliefs.(5)
