Here Is All You Need To Know About Fregoli Delusion & How You Can Tackle It

Thanks to the internet, an abundance of knowledge and a lot of research, we are realising how the human mind can be much more intricate than we realized. There are psychiatric conditions and mental disorders that may not be common but are still very prevalent. One such psychiatric disorder is Fregoli syndrome.

What is Fregoli syndrome?

A very rare psychiatric disorder, Fregoli syndrome is when people tend to have a false belief that multiple people are in fact the same person. As per research by Langdon R, Connaughton E, Coltheart M named the Fregoli delusion: a disorder of person identification and tracking, people with this disorder tend to believe that people they don't know are impersonating someone else and are following them. These feelings lead to paranoia, distress and anxiety among the person going through it.

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What are the causes of Fregoli syndrome?

As mentioned, Fregoli disorder is all about paranoia caused by thinking that several people are the same people. But this rare psychiatric disorder is caused due to several other causes and even mental disorders. Here are a few of them:

Dementia

Dementia is when there is a loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that severely affects a person. As per research by "Cipriani G, Vedovello M, Ulivi M, Lucetti C, Di Fiorino A, Nuti A. Delusional misidentification syndromes and dementia: a border zone between neurology and psychiatry", it was mentioned that people with dementia may have delusions, such as the belief that someone is following them.

Schizophrenia

A mental disorder causing hallucinations and delusions, schizophrenia can also lead to Fregoli syndrome. As per research by "Kumar PNS, Gopalakrishnan A, Williams M. A case of Fregoli syndrome in schizophrenia", it is mentioned that people with this disorder could feel that people are impersonating someone and are following them.

Due to brain injury

A traumatic brain injury can lead to changes in the way people think and behave. They can act differently due to chemical changes caused by the injuries. It was denoted in "Feinberg TE, Eaton LA, Roane DM, Giacino JT. Multiple fregoli delusions after traumatic brain injury" that fregoli syndrome can arise after a brain injury.

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How can one cope with this disorder?

Coping with this disorder may require patience and a lot of persistence. The first way to cope with it is when one realizes that there is a problem. Due to the idea of delusion, one may not feel that there is a problem in the first place. Here are some ways to cope:

Educating oneself

First and foremost, the first thing a person with this rare disorder should do is educate themselves about this condition. Learning and understanding what exactly is this syndrome and how is it caused can help the person deal with it better. This can also help you make informed choices rather than listening or doing things based on third-party advice.

Take support

Always lean on your near and dear ones when you think you are not able to cope. When there are problems and you feel like giving up, getting help and words of motivation from your loved ones can be highly motivating.

Self-care

When it comes to any mental or physical ailment, it is the most important to take care of oneself. This includes having a proper routine which includes doing exercise, eating nutritious and healthy food, sleeping well and of course indulging yourself in a hobby.

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Taking medication

If things still don't seem to work, one can always take medications for anxiety and paranoia. Medications for certain problems such as delusions can also be prescribed by doctors to ease the confusion and discomfort.

Taking therapy

Therapy is a great way to cope with this syndrome and learn what you're thinking can just be your inner fear. A good therapist can help you cope with the said problem by providing certain methods.

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If you think someone around you is going through this rare disorder, help them figure it out and make sure they seek professional help for the same.