Delusional disorder is a serious mental illness where you can’t tell the difference between what’s real and what’s not. Delusions, or false beliefs, come in several types. Delusions of grandeur are one of the more common ones. It’s when you believe that you have more power, wealth, smarts, or other grand traits than is true. Some people mistakenly call it “illusions” of grandeur.
Some delusions might be about events that possibly could have happened, but actually didn’t or were exaggerated. Other delusions are clearly bizarre, such as insisting that an alien lives in your fridge.
Symptoms
Even some healthy people can hold unreasonably high opinions of themselves. But unlike them, someone with grandiose delusions is unshakably convinced that their delusions are true.
For example, you may believe that you:
- Are a multimillionaire
- Found a cure for cancer
- Are related to a Hollywood celebrity
Other symptoms may include:
Change in your mood. You may be irritable, angry, or feel low.
