Megalomania: what is it and how to get rid of it?

Of people who behave arrogant and arrogant, it is often said that they have a star fever, but this rarely relates to real megalomania (megalomania). Do not confuse a poorly educated snob (even if he is a world star) with a true megalomaniac, since megalomania is a serious disease.

Megalomania, megalomania or delusions of grandeur have been known to mankind for a long time. The disease got its name from a combination of the ancient Greek words μεγάλως - “majestic” and μανία - “passion, madness”. And also this mental illness is called megalomanic delirium.. This mental disorder is a special type of self-awareness and behavior in which the patient perceives himself inadequately, significantly exaggerating its significance, achievements, popularity, abilities and power.

Very often on the Internet you can find the term "megalomania" in relation to arrogant pop stars, cinema. This use of the diagnosis is erroneous - in psychiatry it is considered to be megalomaniacal people, who not only consider themselves the Almighty or, at worst, the ruler of the entire planet, but also are in an internal state, regarded as a classic manic delirium.

A real megalomaniac does not necessarily have to occupy the lowest steps on the social ladder. Often these are people who have really achieved a lot and are important people. Experts believe that classic megalomania was observed in Napoleon Bonaparte, Adolf Hitler, Vladimir Lenin. Such a mental disorder was mathematician John Nash who was offered a place of honor at the academy, appreciating his considerable personal contribution to the formation of exact science, and he refused, citing the fact that he should become, no less, the emperor of Antarctica.

In a psychiatric sense, he suffered a delusional state of greatness Alexander the Great. Signs of classic megalomania were demonstrated by the artist Salvador Dali. Among contemporaries, signs of delusions of grandeur are found in the rapper Kanye West, he even wrote his own bible, which begins with the words "First Kanye created the heavens and the earth's earth", and released the album Yeezus, in which he openly calls himself God. A musician Jay Z in all seriousness assures that his presence at some events is “a great benevolence on his part”.

The delirium of greatness is classified in modern psychiatry as a group of mental disorders, which includes several varieties of pathology.

• Mania of Special Origin - this is nonsense in which the patient is firmly convinced that he belongs to a famous family, for example, to the Bourbon or Romanov dynasty. He can see himself as the offspring of famous actors, musicians, kings, scientists. With such a disorder, a person can give a lot of reason to his convictions, and the facts of the biography of the famous "ancestor", which indicate that there is no connection between them, are stubbornly ignored.
• Mania of wealth - a delusional state in which a person is sure that he is fabulously rich. The size of the state can be both plausible (a person claims to have a couple of million dollars in a bank account) and completely illogical - "I am the owner of all the world's gold reserves."
• Invention Mania - the patient is sure that he made a grand discovery, for example, he knows the formula of the elixir of eternal youth or a cure for cancer. The patient is offended at the world, because “ungrateful mankind” does not understand what great prospects it refuses, rejecting its invention.
• Mania of love - a person seriously believes that he is the object of passion of a famous artist or politician. He claims that he has an intimate relationship with a famous person, and the argument that the patient never met the President of Venezuela or the world-class opera diva has no effect.
• Reform Mania - the megaloman is sure that he knows how to organize affairs in the country, in the world, he knows an effective model of economic, military and other reforms, insisting on revolution.
• Antagonistic nonsense - megaloman considers himself the center of the earth, a key figure in the struggle of opposites - good and evil, darkness and light. With this disorder, a person usually considers himself chosen, capable of influencing the outcome of the battle of opposites.
• Mania of Altruism or Messianism - the patient considers himself the savior of mankind, he, according to his own conviction, is a prophet, a great healer, a miracle worker, a son of God, a person with a direct connection with the cosmos.

It is the delusional component that prevails in the psychology of megalomaniac, which suggests that mental disorder is persistent, prone to relapse and chronic course.

There is no separate diagnosis with this name and delusions of greatness are considered by specialists as a symptom of other mental disorders. Most often, delusions of grandeur are found in paranoid mental changes, in manic syndrome, with progressive paralysis and schizophrenia, at certain stages of bipolar mental disorder. Manifestations of megalomania are not an independent disorder, but a sign of another disorder.

The reasons why a person suddenly begins to perceive himself as God or a genius are diverse, and far from all the factors causing the disease have been studied. However, they are enough to highlight several possible sources of influence:

• heredity - the probability of inheriting a delusional mental disorder from parents or from relatives in the second and third generation (grandparents, great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers) is high;
• severe ailments of the central nervous system, organic brain lesions;
• endocrine disorders associated with a change in the balance of serotonin and dopamine;
• the presence of schizophrenia, manic syndrome, drug addiction, alcoholism (with severe toxic brain damage);
• prolonged neurosis;
• difficulties with self-esteem - excessive self-esteem predisposes to the occurrence of delusions of greatness.

The condition, like most other manic disorders, proceeds according to certain stages. The initial stage of megalomania is manifested by an obsessive desire to somehow stand out from the crowd, to be better.

Comprehensive perfectionism can become the basis for the development of pathology, because it is very important for a person to win, to be the best, and any failure is perceived by him very painfully. Man is constantly looking evidence of genius and outstanding features, he compares himself with others, finds a lot of advantages and benefits.

At the middle stage, a person is confident in his “peculiarity”, doubts no longer exist. This is accompanied by open statements, as well as a change in behavior, reactions. A person no longer listens to the opinions of others, his own opinion for him becomes the only true one.

It is at this stage in a state of extreme excitement that the patient can prove that he is a descendant of the Japanese emperor or Caesar himself in his current reincarnation. Often, aggression is manifested at this stage if the allegations do not receive due respect, if others do not deliberately perceive and show the patient the degree of respect that he, in his opinion, deserves.

In the third stage, the symptoms of delirium begin to disappear - a person is disappointed. He was not accepted, did not understand, the world is hostile to him, it causes depression, a sense of his own uselessness, which can cause voluntary isolation, aggravation of addictions (the patient begins to drink, use psychoactive substances).

Mania of greatness belongs to psychiatrists to qualitative disorders of thinking, which means that a “mistake” arises at the stage of logical processing of information. The beliefs of a person, his self-conceit, bordering on insanity, do not correspond to reality, but it is impossible to convince a person already at the initial stage of megalomania - he believes, he is convinced.

At the peak of the disorder, the patient performs all his actions and thoughts from the perspective of who he considers himself to be a king, ruler, president, great scientist, and self-criticism is completely absent. This is no longer pride, not a delirious mood in a mild form, and the real lack of self-control.

In people with delusions of grandeur, the internal focus is always focused on themselves - they are sure that they are superior to others in some way or in general. How megaloman will behave is difficult to say in advance. Much depends on how interesting his personal experience is, what education he received, what memories he will take as his own.

As a result, a lot depends on who the patient will identify with - with the cruel emperor Nero or with the great lover Casanova. In the first case will prevail aggressive behavior, an imperative tone, the promise of inhuman torture and punishment for disobedience, sometimes - physical cruelty. In the second case, a person begins to behave as avid ladies manwithout missing a single woman, so as not to let go of compliments, not to try to touch.

It is clear that behavior becomes inadequate, human reasoning is not amenable to normal logic. But in each case, it becomes important for the patient to “draw others” into the game. They should be admired, they should be loved, respected, appreciated, bowed to them. Worst of all, when megalomaniacs begin to demand that they be served, that loved ones fulfill their most dirty whims and requirements.

For men and women with a diagnosis of "delirium of greatness" an important manifestation is the instability of moods - either they are in joyful euphoria, then for no apparent reason they are plunged into depression, anxiety. The early stages of the disease are characterized by excessively high self-esteem.

He cannot listen to constructive criticism of himself, as well as the advice of those around him for an empty phrase, which is also often annoying. At this stage, megalomanes are active, mobile, full of energy, but at the same time they often experience great anxiety, which they cannot explain, there are moments of incredible distraction. Already at the initial stages, physiological disturbances occur - sleep becomes "torn", a person often wakes up, cannot fully rest at night. Aggression increases, especially in men.

On a universal scale, delirium becomes already at the peak of the disease. The patient ceases to be shy and begins to openly declare that he is the lord of the Galaxy, the embodiment of Napoleon, God or a new superhero with superpowers, whose task is to protect all people on the planet from an unprecedented threat from outer space. At the same time, the patient behaves quite naturally, at ease, euphoria and excitement prevail in him.

If delusional disorder of wealth or noble origin is more characteristic of men, then erotic delirium of greatness is more common in women. Disappointment in one's own convictions (the third stage of mania) is already considered to be its complication, since it is during this period that a person can be in serious danger. The more global the delirium was, the greater its scale and scope, the stronger the depression will be at the exit.

The psychiatrist is involved in the diagnosis of megalomania. A family history is surely collected (which of the relatives suffered from any mental illnesses, were there alcoholics, drug addicts), an assessment of the central nervous system is given, for which they attract a neurologist and do a CT or MRI of the brain.

Of great importance Doctor talk with patient. It is carried out several times starting from the first treatment. The specialist will carefully listen to why the patient believes that he is the Savior or the emperor of the Galaxy, usually even interns do not have any difficulties at this stage, because megalomanes willingly share their history of “life”, they are happy to answer clarifying questions.And already at this stage, a specialist can understand by the nature of the delirium what kind of concomitant illness a person may have - with progressive paralysis, delirium is absurd, and with schizophrenia - fantastic.

In order for a person to be able to get rid of his unreal irrational beliefs, it is important for the doctor to take a responsible attitude to the diagnosis and identify which underlying mental illness is taking place. It is very important to begin treatment with the therapy of the underlying disease - schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, manic-depressive psychosis, and so on..

If this is not done, it will be impossible to cope with the manic delirium of greatness. At the same time, with the right treatment for the underlying ailment, the signs of megalomania recede on their own, gradually, as a matter of course.

Are used cognitive-behavioral and rational approaches - these techniques allow a person to gradually understand the errors of their judgments, and under the strict guidance of a psychotherapist, erroneous statements are replaced by an adequate perception of oneself.

Medicines also take place, but only if the doctor considers that there is a need for them (as part of the treatment of the underlying disease). If the megaloman is overly excited, moves too much, makes a huge number of unnecessary movements, small doses of tranquilizers can be recommended for a short course, so that drug addiction does not develop.

Where to treat a person – in a psychiatric hospital or at home – the doctor will say since only he knows against the background of what underlying disease erroneous delusional statements about his own genius and his superiority appeared. Mild forms of the disorder usually do not need hospitalization, but with delirium of greatness of a severe stage or with severe concomitant depression, when the patient can do irreparable harm, it is more logical to conduct treatment in a hospital with round-the-clock observation of medical personnel.

How successful the treatment will be for megalomania also depends on the underlying diagnosis. In almost all cases, regardless of the underlying disease, doctors talk about the likelihood of relapse (in about 75% of cases, delusions tend to return). Therefore, of great importance family climate, features of rehabilitation after treatment.

There are no methods for the prevention of delusions of grandeur, it is impossible to predict the onset of the syndrome and its development - this can affect everyone. If a person has already undergone treatment with megalomania, then relatives will need help to prevent relapse. It is important that a person lives in a favorable emotional climate, does not use alcoholic beverages, drugs.

When the first signs of relapse appear (anxiety, nervous breakdowns, inadequate statements), it is important to immediately contact a psychiatrist. Most often, the disorder manifests itself in spring and autumn, like most other mental disorders. During the off-season, the excitability of the nervous system increases.

On how to recognize a person with high self-esteem, see below.