INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Therapy is the most effective part of treatment for delusional disorder. The most important part of therapy is finding a therapist you trust. Because people with delusional disorder tend to be distrustful of others, establishing a solid relationship with a therapist is a must. If you don't feel comfortable with your therapist, find a different one that helps you feel safe, trusting, and supported. Find a therapist who makes you feel unconditionally supported and not "crazy." Keep in mind that therapists and other mental health professionals take confidentiality very seriously. It is part of their professional code and they are also bound by federal and state laws to keep your information confidential. The only reason why a therapist might be required to report something that you said during a therapy session is if you are suicidal, someone else is at risk of being harmed, you or someone else is being abused, or the therapist has received a court order. Make clear goals for therapy and daily living with your therapist. You may have your own goals (such as reducing distress), and the therapist may suggest goals such as improving social skills, engaging in positive behaviors, and improving personal, social, and occupational functioning. Find a therapist that will be direct and honest with you. Subtle cues may be less effective than direct comments. It can be helpful in therapy to work on reducing distress associated with the delusions. A therapist will listen and provide support. Your therapist may ask you questions regarding the state of your health: your sleeping patterns, eating habits, your ability to hold a job, etc. If you are struggling in certain areas, the therapist will work to lower the distress the delusions cause. Work with your therapist, or practice these on your own to cope with distress: Deep breathing: Place your attention on your breath and slowly inhale and exhale. As you relax, feel the flow of each breath and the sensation of breath. Slowly lengthen your breath as you relax. You may choose to count the length of each inhale and exhale, lengthening each breath. Muscle relaxation: Release physical tension by systematically tensing and relaxing each muscle in your body. Start with your toes, feet, and legs, then move up to your pelvic area, stomach, chest, arms, neck, and face. Challenging negative thoughts: Recognize when you engage in catastrophizing (assuming the worst), personalization (taking blame), or "all or nothing" thoughts. Ask yourself, "Is this accurate? Am I making assumptions? Am I only seeing the negative? Are there any positive aspects to think about?" Once a therapist has established a good relationship with you and listens and understands your delusions, he or she will slowly begin to challenge the delusions. Your therapist will most likely challenge your smaller delusions first. Starting with the smaller, less-important delusions can help the therapist gauge the willingness to challenge the beliefs in therapy. If you are unwilling to give up the smaller delusions, it's likely therapy will be ongoing and long-term. The therapist will gently and gradually challenge the beliefs. This may include gentle questioning, such as, "You say a celebrity is in love with you. That must feel nice. When was the last time she visited you?" It's not enough to go therapy a few times and say, "It didn't work." Often, therapy will be long-term, so keep at it. Work at making life more productive without the presence of delusions. Remind yourself that you are working to improve your life and this can take time.

SUMMARY: Find a therapist you trust. Engage in goal-oriented therapy. Reduce distress. Start with small delusions. Continue attending therapy.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Instead of focusing on the end-goal, break the process down into manageable, daily goals. For example, instead of saying "My goal today is to get a raise at work," approach the goal from a more manageable perspective. Start with smaller goals, such as getting to work early every day, or going out of your way to have a conversation with your boss. The point of the baby steps is to build up to your end-goal through obtainable, tangible steps. There are countless distractions in today's world, and it can be easy to get side-tracked. Keep your Must-Do list handy and refer to it whenever you feel yourself drifting off course. Don't allow yourself to get sucked into time wasting activities when you have goals to obtain. Set aside designated leisure time for the day. Resist the temptation to "work on it tomorrow." Remind yourself that you need to accomplish your list today. Take the time to practice skills that you haven't mastered yet. More skills means more opportunities for you. Hone your skills that you need to achieve your goal. For example, if you are looking for a raise, work on the skills you need for the job on your free time in order to increase your effectiveness at work. Broaden your skillset. Work on skills that may not relate to your current goals, but that interest you. Not only will this keep you productive, it will make you a more well-rounded and capable person. You will hit obstacles and setbacks. Keep your mind focused on your goals and your heart positive. Celebrate each small victory to give yourself a boost in spirit. Approach each defeat as a lesson to be learned; dust yourself off and try another way. Confidence is essential to obtaining goals and changing your life. It will affect all of your interactions with others, and will drastically increase your motivation. Take pride in your actions and thoughts, and own your mistakes. Be able to laugh at yourself, but avoid self-deprecation. There is a difference between being confident and being cocky. Avoid over-inflating your ego by tempering your confidence with some realism. Cockiness is often viewed as a sign on inner insecurity. A truly confident person inspires confidence and trust in others.

SUMMARY:
Take baby steps. Demonstrate self-control and self-discipline. Practice until you're perfect. Never lose heart. Be confident.