Delusions are false beliefs that involve a misinterpretation of experiences—for example, someone may believe people are trying to harm them.
Paranoia is when someone distrusts others for no perceived reason at all—for example, someone may suspect the motives of those around them.
Hallucinations are false or distorted sensory experiences that seem real—for example, someone may see, hear, or smell something that isn’t actually there.
People often describe delusions, paranoia, and hallucinations as “breaks from reality”. The term doctors and mental health professionals use to summarize these three experiences is “psychosis”. About three out of every 100 people will experience an episode of psychosis in their lifetime. Psychosis can be a part of any number of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, delusional disorder, and others.
If you think you or someone you know is experiencing any of the symptoms of psychosis, you should speak with your doctor or mental health professional. Psychosis is treatable, and many people recover well.