TikTok's Latest Trend: Delusional Thinking

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personhealyouself
May 17, 2024

TikTok's Latest Trend: Delusional Thinking

### TikTok's Latest Trend: Delusional Thinking TikTok is home to many trends: positive affirmations, quiet quitting tips, and hot girl walks. Now, add delusional thinking to the list. Chances are you’ve encountered the term “delulu” on the app. Some users are embracing a “delulu is the new solulu” mindset, suggesting that being delusional can help achieve goals. While we may be cautious about taking mental health advice from TikTok—or any social media platform—there might be some validity to this idea. ### What is “Delulu”? The simplest explanation is that “delulu” is a shorthand for delusional, says licensed social worker and host of The Verywell Mind podcast, Minaa B., LMSW. Before its popularity on TikTok, “delulu” was primarily used in fandom communities, particularly in K-Pop, to describe fans who believed they could have a romantic or platonic relationship with their idol—a belief that's both unrealistic and false, thus delusional. Today, the term is used more broadly to describe anyone holding an unrealistic idea not based on logic or facts. According to TikTok, this mindset can "solve all your problems." But is “delusional thinking” a valid coping mechanism? We consulted mental health experts to find out if this is the mental health strategy social media claims it to be. Keep reading to see if you should start your delusional era. ### Understanding the Concept of Delusion “Delulu” is slang, but delusional disorder is a real mental health condition, says Dr. Rachel Hoffman, a licensed clinical social worker and the chief clinical officer at Zeera, a digital therapy app. “In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which therapists use to diagnose patients, a delusion is defined as a false belief based on incorrect inference about external reality that is firmly sustained despite what almost everybody else believes and despite incontrovertible and obvious proof or evidence to the contrary.” To have a clinical delusional disorder, one must have one or more non-bizarre thoughts—unrealistic but not impossible—persisting for over a month, and these thoughts must not be caused by any psychopathology, according to the 2015 book "Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorder Treatments for Delusional Disorder." A “delulu” moment, however, refers to “odd behavior but doesn't necessarily indicate a mental illness,” explains Minaa B. For instance, if a celebrity follows an influencer on Instagram, and the influencer starts spreading rumors that the celebrity has a crush on them, it’s an exaggerated thought without evidence, making it a form of delusional thinking. ### Exploring the Use of “Delulu” in Popular Culture Remember, “delulu” isn’t native to TikTok. It originated in K-pop fandom culture in 2014, referring to fans who believed they’d enter a relationship with their idol. But Gen Z and millennials have adopted the term as a form of manifestation. Nicole Doyon, the host of Girl Therapy and a proponent of the “delulu” mindset, explains on her TikTok, “Being delusional is another form of manifestation,” and that the more you manifest (i.e., be delusional), the more likely your beliefs become reality. She compares being delusional to affirmations, noting that positive thinking improves mental health and self-esteem. The same concept applies to “delulu” thinking. ### Is Being Delulu Bad? Being “delulu” isn’t inherently bad, but Dr. Hoffman warns that tying your mental health or self-esteem to delusional thinking can be harmful. She likens it to emotional masturbation, where fantasizing about a relationship can significantly impact self-esteem when the relationship doesn’t materialize. It’s important to recognize that while manifestation can occur, it’s not guaranteed. If your mental health suffers because a delusion or manifestation didn’t pan out, practicing “delulu” thinking might not be healthy for you. Minaa B., LMSW, also notes that relying on a “delulu” mindset can be harmful “because it might cause an individual to resist taking action to either change their circumstances or manage their emotions by being rooted in the reality of what they’re feeling.” ### Is It Ever OK to Be Delulu? When done right, being delulu can be safe and healthy! Dr. Hoffman recommends practicing delulu thinking in moderation. “As a clinician, my point of view is that most things are healthy in moderation as long as they don’t impact functioning,” she says. “As humans, we sometimes daydream or dream big, and that can be both inspiring and motivating.” Maintaining a balanced perspective is essential. If manifesting a job offer motivates you to take actions like practicing interviews or updating your resume, that’s beneficial. But manifestation without effort won’t result in success. Action plus delusional thinking can be a recipe for achieving goals. ### Strategies for Addressing Delusional Thinking Wondering how to safely practice delusional thinking? Here are some tips: - **Try regular self-reflection:** Regular self-reflection helps maintain healthy delusions, says Dr. Hoffman. Checking in with yourself and reviewing the facts—What do I know to be true? What evidence supports this?—is crucial. Delusional thinking promotes optimism but can also cause mental stress if relied upon exclusively. - **Embrace all your emotions:** A 2018 study found that accepting one’s mental experiences leads to better psychological health by reducing negative emotions in response to stressors. Embracing disappointment and sadness keeps you grounded. A healthy attitude towards delusional thinking is accepting both outcomes: "If it happens, cool; if it doesn’t, that’s fine too!" - **Practice gratitude:** Gratitude helps you appreciate what you have instead of coveting what you want. Writing down what you’re grateful for, whether from manifestations or not, helps maintain perspective. Small wins, like having food in the fridge, remind you that a failed manifestation isn’t catastrophic. ### Keep in Mind “It's normal for people, including Gen Z, to use fantasies or daydreaming as a temporary escape from stressors,” says Minaa B. Being delusional can ease life’s difficulties but can’t be the sole solution. Balancing perspective is essential for adopting a “delulu is the new solulu” mindset. For example, if you want a partner soon, believing you’ll be in a committed relationship is fine. However, if you’re not actively dating or meeting new people, this isn’t realistic. A healthy approach to “delulu” thinking involves believing something will happen while taking necessary actions to make it a reality. Without this balance, you risk disappointment and additional stress. If you’re willing to work towards your goals, “delulu” thinking could be a beneficial strategy for you.

TikTok hosts a variety of trends—from positive affirmations to quiet quitting tips and hot girl walks. Recently, "delulu" thinking has entered the scene. You might have encountered the term on the app, where some users advocate for "delulu is the new solulu," suggesting that embracing delusional thinking can aid in achieving goals. While cautious about mental health advice from social media, there's curiosity about whether there's any merit to this idea.

What is “Delulu”?

“Delulu” is shorthand for delusional, explains licensed social worker and host of The Verywell Mind podcast, Minaa B., LMSW. Originating from fandom communities, particularly in K-Pop, it originally referred to fans believing in unrealistic relationships with idols—false beliefs that are both unrealistic and false, thus delusional.

Today, the term is more broadly applied to anyone holding unrealistic ideas not grounded in logic or facts. According to TikTok, this mindset can purportedly "solve all your problems." But is “delusional thinking” a valid coping mechanism? We consulted mental health experts to investigate this social media claim.

Understanding the Concept of Delusion

Dr. Rachel Hoffman, a licensed clinical social worker and chief clinical officer at Zeera, explains that while “delulu” is slang, delusional disorder is a recognized mental health condition. It’s defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a false belief firmly sustained despite evidence to the contrary.

On TikTok, a “delulu” moment refers to odd behavior without indicating mental illness. For instance, spreading rumors about a celebrity crush based on minimal evidence falls into this category.

Exploring the Use of “Delulu” in Popular Culture

“Delulu” originated in K-pop fandoms in 2014 but has been adopted by Gen Z and millennials as a manifestation tool. Nicole Doyon, host of Girl Therapy, likens being delusional to positive affirmations, suggesting that believing in something strongly can manifest it into reality.

Is Being Delulu Bad?

While not inherently negative, Dr. Hoffman warns against tying mental health or self-esteem to delusional thinking. Relying solely on delusional beliefs can lead to disappointment and impact self-esteem negatively if these beliefs don’t materialize.

Minaa B., LMSW, also cautions against relying on a “delulu” mindset excessively, as it might deter individuals from taking necessary actions to manage their circumstances.

Is It Ever OK to Be Delulu?

Dr. Hoffman suggests moderation when practicing delusional thinking. Balancing belief with action is crucial; using delulu thinking alongside proactive steps can motivate and inspire achievement.

Strategies for Addressing Delusional Thinking

  • Regular Self-Reflection: Check in with yourself regularly to maintain a healthy perspective.
  • Embrace All Emotions: Accepting disappointment and sadness alongside optimism is essential.
  • Practice Gratitude: Appreciating what you have can help maintain perspective and balance.

Keep in Mind

“It's normal for people to use fantasies or daydreaming as a temporary escape,” notes Minaa B. However, a healthy approach involves believing in goals while taking tangible steps to achieve them. Without this balance, disappointment and stress can follow.

In conclusion, adopting a “delulu” mindset can be beneficial when paired with action towards goals. Balancing belief with reality checks ensures a healthy approach to achieving aspirations.

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