Micro Habits are very small, repeatable actions,..

Micro habits are very small, repeatable actions that reduce overwhelm and may help stabilize mood, stress responses, and daily functioning. For people dealing with depression or trauma related symptoms, the goal could be usually not “instant motivation,” but restoring nervous system regulation: Consult with a Neurologist, predictability, and a sense of agency.

Here are some possible evidence informed micro habits that may often used in trauma recovery, behavioral activation, and emotional regulation work:

Nervous System Regulation

These may help reduce chronic stress activation or emotional shutdown.

30-second grounding
- Name 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear.
- Helps interrupt dissociation, panic, or rumination.
Longer exhale breathing
- Inhale 4 seconds, exhale 6–8 seconds.
- Longer exhales activate the parasympathetic nervous system: Consult with a Neurologist.
Cold water reset
- Splash cold water on your face or hold something cold.
- May reduce acute emotional escalation.
Unclench check
- Relax jaw, shoulders, and hands several times daily.
- Trauma and depression might create chronic muscle tension: Consult with a Neurologist.

Depression Oriented Micro Habits

Depression may reduce energy, motivation, and reward sensitivity.

The “2-minute start”
- Commit to only 2 minutes of a task.
- Starting maybe neurologically: (Consult with a Neurologist), harder than continuing.
Open the blinds immediately
- Morning light may help regulate circadian rhythm and mood: Consult with a Neurologist.
One small completed task
- Make the bed, wash one dish, answer one message.
- Completion builds momentum and reduces helplessness.
Tiny movement bursts
- Stretch, walk for 3 minutes, or do 10 squats.
- Physical movement may improve mood regulation and cognitive clarity: Consult with a Neurologist.
Daily “evidence log”
- Write one thing you survived, handled, or accomplished today.
- Counters depressive cognitive bias toward failure and hopelessness.

Trauma Recovery Micro Habits

Trauma may create hypervigilance, avoidance, emotional numbing, or intrusive memories.

Orienting practice
- Slowly look around the room and remind yourself:
  “I am here, not back there.”
- Helps distinguish present safety from past danger.
Safe person contact
- Send one text or voice message daily to someone trusted.
- Trauma recovery maybe linked to positive social connection.
Micro-boundaries
- Practice one small “no,” preference, or limit each day.
- Rebuilds autonomy and self-protection.
Predictable routines
- Same wake time, same tea, same evening ritual.
- Predictability may help calm a sensitized nervous system: Consult with a Neurologist.
Containment journaling
- Write difficult thoughts for 5–10 minutes, then stop intentionally.
- Prevents emotional flooding while still processing feelings.

Cognitive and Emotional Habits

Name the emotion
- “I feel ashamed,” “I feel anxious,” etc.
- Emotional labeling reduces limbic reactivity.
Replace self-judgment with observation
- Instead of “I’m lazy,” try:
  “My energy is low today.”
- This may reduce shame spirals.
Reduce doom scrolling
- Even a 10 minute reduction may lower emotional overload.
One pleasant sensory experience daily
- Music, warm tea, sunlight, scented soap, soft fabric.
- Trauma and depression may dull reward processing; sensory regulation helps reconnect it.

Social and Environmental Habits

CONSULT WITH A MEDICAL DOCTOR

Sit near sunlight for a few minutes daily.
Keep one area of your environment orderly.
Eat something with protein and water early in the day.
Spend short periods outside, even briefly.
Avoid complete isolation for long stretches.

Why Micro Habits Work

Small repeated actions:

reduce avoidance,
increase behavioral activation,
improve emotional regulation,
restore a sense of control,
and gradually retrain stress response patterns.

In psychology, this maybe related to concepts from:

behavioral activation,
habit formation,
neuroplasticity,: Consult with a Neurologist,
and trauma-informed stabilization approaches.

Recovery may happen less through dramatic breakthroughs and more through repeated small experiences of safety, structure, movement, and connection.

If symptoms become severe such as persistent hopelessness, inability to function, thoughts of self-harm, severe dissociation, or suicidal thinking Please seek professional support from: an emergency room, psychiatric hospital, therapist, psychologist, and/or psychiatrist is extremely important.

Shervan K Shahhian

Recognizing a Mental Health Crisis, explained:

When to get help:

If you (or someone you know) shows sudden changes in thinking, behavior, or perception, especially involving Self Harm, Suicide, confusion, hallucinations, seek urgent medical help immediately (emergency services or a doctor).

Get Help Immediately:

If you think your friend is in danger, stay with them if you can. Do not leave a suicidal person alone. Call 911, take the person to an emergency room, or the Suicide and Crisis hotline at 988. Get support from other friends and family members, even if your friend asks you not to. It’s too serious to keep secret, and you can’t keep your friend safe all on your own. If your friend has been seeing a mental health professional (therapist, counselor, psychologist, social worker, or psychiatrist), call them and make them aware of the situation.”

Recognizing a mental health emergency means identifying when someone’s thoughts, emotions, or behaviors have become dangerous, severely impaired, or rapidly destabilized. Mental health emergencies require immediate attention because there may be a risk of harm to self, harm to others, or inability to care for basic needs.

Common mental health emergencies may include severe depression with suicidal intent, psychosis, panic crises, mania, substance induced crises, trauma reactions, and extreme dissociation.

Warning signs may include:

Talking about suicide, hopelessness, or wanting to disappear
Self-harm behaviors or threats
Sudden extreme mood changes
Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things others do not)
Delusions or paranoid beliefs
Severe confusion or disorientation
Aggressive or violent behavior
Inability to function in daily life
Catatonia or extreme withdrawal
Panic attacks that impair breathing, movement, or awareness
Intoxication or overdose
Not eating, sleeping, or caring for oneself for extended periods

A person may also show subtle signs before a crisis fully develops:

Social isolation
Giving away possessions
Increased substance use
Reckless behavior
Emotional numbness
Intense agitation or restlessness
Expressions of feeling trapped or unbearable psychological pain

Some high-risk conditions associated with emergencies may include:

Major Depressive Disorder
Bipolar Disorder
Schizophrenia
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Substance Use Disorder

If someone appears to be in immediate danger (Contact emergency services or a crisis team):

Stay calm and speak clearly.
Reduce stimulation and avoid confrontation.
Do not leave the person alone if suicide risk is high.
Contact emergency services or a crisis team if safety is threatened.
Encourage professional evaluation as soon as possible.

In the United States, people can contact:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988)
Emergency services (911) if there is immediate danger
Local psychiatric emergency services or hospital emergency departments

The Emergency Services will distinguish between emotional distress and a true emergency. Intense sadness, anxiety, or stress may mean a psychiatric emergency, but they should still be taken seriously when functioning declines or safety concerns emerge.

From a psychological perspective, early recognition matters because crises often escalate in stages rather than appearing suddenly. Intervention during the early warning phase may significantly reduce harm and improve outcomes.

Shervan K Shahhian

Reinforcing that Secrecy should not override safety:

Get Help Immediately

When to get help:

Reinforcing that secrecy should not override safety is important because suicidal crises and other mental health emergencies may become life threatening very quickly. When someone says, “Don’t tell anyone,” friends or family may feel torn between respecting privacy and protecting the person. Mental health guidance emphasizes that safety takes priority when there is a risk of harm.

Here are some of the main reasons:

A suicidal person may not be thinking clearly: Severe depression, hopelessness, panic, psychosis, or emotional overwhelm may impair judgment. The person may ask for secrecy even when they urgently need help.
One person usually cannot manage the risk alone: Friends often feel responsible, but crisis situations may require parents, trusted adults, therapists, crisis lines, emergency responders, or medical professionals.
Isolation increases danger: Suicidal thinking often thrives in secrecy and disconnection. Bringing in support increases monitoring, emotional connection, and access to care.
Early intervention can save lives: Many suicides are preventable when warning signs are recognized and acted upon quickly.
Confidentiality has ethical limits in emergencies: In psychology, counseling, medicine, and crisis intervention, confidentiality is not absolute when someone may seriously harm themselves or others. Protecting life becomes the primary responsibility.
Temporary anger is preferable to permanent harm: A person may initially feel betrayed if someone tells others, but surviving the crisis allows healing and understanding later.

This is why crisis guidance may say:

“Do not promise to keep suicidal thoughts secret.”

A more supportive response could be:

“I care about you too much to handle this alone. I want to help you stay safe.”

Shervan K Shahhian

Postpartum Psychosis is a rare but serious mental health emergency that can occur after giving birth:

When to get help:

If you (or someone you know) has recently given birth and shows sudden changes in thinking, behavior, or perception, especially involving confusion, hallucinations, or fear about the baby, seek urgent medical help immediately (emergency services or a doctor).

“Get Help Immediately”

If you think your friend may be in danger, stay with them if possible. Do not leave a suicidal person alone.

Reach out to trusted friends, family members, or other supportive adults even if your friend asks you not to tell anyone. The situation is too serious to handle alone, and keeping them safe is the priority.

If your friend is already seeing a mental health professional (such as a therapist, counselor, psychologist, social worker, or psychiatrist and medical doctor), contact them and inform them about the situation as soon as possible, ASAP.

Strengths of the original:

Includes professional and emergency resources.

Clear and direct.

Encourages immediate action.

Avoids minimizing the danger.

Reinforces that secrecy should not override safety.

Postpartum Psychosis:

Postpartum psychosis is a rare but serious mental health emergency that can occur after giving birth, usually within the first 2 weeks (sometimes up to a few months postpartum). It’s very different from the more common “baby blues” or even postpartum depression.

What it looks like

Symptoms may often come on suddenly and can include:

Confusion or disorientation
Hallucinations: (seeing or hearing or feeling things that aren’t real)
Delusions: (strong false beliefs, may often be about the baby)
Severe mood swings: (mania, depression, or both)
Paranoia or agitation
Trouble sleeping, even when exhausted
Unusual or risky behavior

In some cases, thoughts of self-harm or harming the baby may occur, which is why this condition is considered an emergency.

Why it happens

The exact cause may not be fully understood, but it’s linked to:

Rapid hormonal changes after childbirth: CONSULT WITH A PSYCHIATRIST
A personal or family history of bipolar disorder or psychosis
First-time pregnancy
Sleep deprivation

How common is it?

It could be rare, but the severity makes awareness critical.

Treatment

Postpartum psychosis is treatable, but requires immediate medical care. Treatment may include:

Hospitalization (to ensure safety)
Medications: CONSULT WITH A PSYCHIATRIST
Support from mental health professionals

With prompt treatment, people may recover fully.

When to get help

Shervan K Shahhian

Schizophrenia Care, explained:

Schizophrenia care maybe a long-term, multi-layered approach that supports both symptom management and overall quality of life for someone living with Schizophrenia. It may not be just about medication: Consult with a Psychiatrist, it may involve psychological, social, and lifestyle support.

A possible clinical breakdown:

Medication (Foundation of Care) Consult with a Psychiatrist

The primary treatment could be certain medications: Consult with a Psychiatrist, which may help reduce symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking.

Key point: Medication adherence is critical, relapse risk increases significantly without it: Consult with a Psychiatrist.

Psychotherapy & Psychological Support

Medication alone may not be enough. Evidence-based therapies include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT for psychosis)
May help patients question and manage delusional beliefs and hallucinations.
Supportive therapy
Focuses on coping, emotional regulation, and daily functioning.
Family therapy
Educates families and reduces relapse by lowering expressed emotion in the home.

Psychosocial Rehabilitation

This maybe where long-term recovery really develops.

Social skills training: Might improve communication and relationships
Vocational rehabilitation: May help with employment and independence
Case management: May coordinate care (housing, treatment, services)

Programs like Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) provide intensive, community-based support.

Lifestyle & Self-Regulation

These may often get overlooked but are powerful stabilizers:

Consistent sleep schedule
Low stress environment
Avoiding substances (especially cannabis, which can worsen psychosis)
Routine and structure

Crisis Planning & Relapse Prevention

Schizophrenia may often episodic, so early detection matters.

Recognizing early warning signs:
Social withdrawal
Increased paranoia
Sleep disturbance
Having a relapse plan (who to call, medication adjustments: Consult with a Psychiatrist)

Hospitalization (When Needed)

Short-term hospitalization may be necessary during:

Acute psychosis
Risk of harm to self or others
Severe functional decline

Recovery Perspective (Important Shift)

Modern care might emphasize that people with schizophrenia can:

Live independently
Work and maintain relationships
Experience meaning and purpose

Recovery may not always mean “no symptoms”, it means living well despite them.

Clinical Insight

From a psychological standpoint, schizophrenia care may often involves balancing:

Reality testing vs. subjective experience
Maintaining dignity while addressing impaired insight (anosognosia)
Integrating biological treatment: (Consult with a Psychiatrist) with existential/meaning-centered frameworks

Shervan K Shahhian

Substance Prevention, Treatment and Recovery, explained:

Substance Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery refers to a full continuum of care addressing substance use/abuse, from stopping it before it starts, to treating it, to supporting long-term healing. It may often be discussed within Addiction Medicine: PLEASE CONSULT WITH A NEUROLOGIST/PSYCHIATRIST, and Clinical Psychology.

1. Prevention (Stopping Problems Before They Start)

Prevention focuses on reducing risk factors and strengthening protective factors.

Key Types of Prevention:

Universal prevention: for everyone (education programs)
Selective prevention: for at-risk groups (trauma-exposed youth)
Indicated prevention: for early signs of substance misuse

Common Strategies:

Education about substances and risks
Strengthening family communication
Teaching coping and self-regulation skills
Community policies (limiting access to alcohol or opioids)

Psychological Focus:

Prevention may often targets:

Impulsivity
Peer pressure
Emotional dysregulation
Early trauma exposure

2. Treatment (Addressing Active Substance Use)

Treatment may help individuals reduce or stop substance use and manage underlying issues.

Evidence-Based Approaches:

Psychotherapies

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Helps identify triggers, thoughts, and behaviors tied to substance use.
Motivational Interviewing (MI)
Enhances readiness and internal motivation for change.
Contingency Management
Uses rewards to reinforce sobriety.
Trauma-informed therapy (important when addiction is trauma-linked)

Medications (Medication-Assisted Treatment, MAT)

Used especially for opioid and alcohol use disorders:

PLEASE CONSULT WITH A NEUROLOGIST/PSYCHIATRIST

Levels of Care:

Detoxification (medically supervised withdrawal, PLEASE CONSULT WITH A NEUROLOGIST/PSYCHIATRIST)
Inpatient / residential treatment
Partial hospitalization (PHP)
Intensive outpatient (IOP)
Standard outpatient therapy

3. Recovery (Long-Term Healing and Maintenance)

Recovery may not just be abstinence, it’s rebuilding a meaningful, stable life.

Core Elements:

Ongoing therapy or counseling
Peer support groups
Lifestyle restructuring
Identity transformation (moving beyond “addict” identity)

Peer Support Models:

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Narcotics Anonymous (NA)

These emphasize community, accountability, and meaning-making.

Recovery-Oriented Concepts:

Relapse is often part of the process, not failure
Building purpose and connection is essential
Addressing co-occurring disorders (depression, trauma)

Integrated View (Biopsychosocial Model)

PLEASE CONSULT WITH A NEUROLOGIST/PSYCHIATRIST

Substance use maybe best understood through a biopsychosocial lens:

Biological: genetics, brain chemistry: PLEASE CONSULT WITH A NEUROLOGIST/PSYCHIATRIST
Psychological: coping styles, trauma, personality
Social: environment, relationships, culture

Clinical Insight

From a deeper psychological standpoint, addiction often functions as:

A maladaptive self-regulation strategy
A substitute for unmet attachment needs
A way to modulate unbearable affect (shame, emptiness, dissociation)

This aligns with modern integrative approaches combining:

Neurobiology: PLEASE CONSULT WITH A NEUROLOGIST
Attachment theory
Trauma-informed care
Shervan K Shahhian

Compulsive Exercise or Exercise Dependence, explained:

Compulsive exercise, is a behavioral pattern in which physical activity becomes excessive, rigid, and psychologically driven, rather than flexible and health-oriented.

It may not just “working out a lot”, it’s when exercise starts to control the person, instead of the other way around.

Core Definition

Compulsive exercise maybe characterized by:

A loss of control over exercise habits
A compulsion to continue despite injury, illness: (SEEK MEDICAL HELP), or negative consequences
Exercise being used to regulate mood, anxiety, or self-worth

It may often classified under behavioral addictions, similar to gambling or internet addiction.

Key Psychological Features

1. Obsessive Drive

Persistent thoughts about needing to exercise
Feeling “forced” to work out, even when exhausted

2. Withdrawal Symptoms

When unable to exercise, the person may experience:

Anxiety
Irritability
Restlessness
Depression

3. Tolerance

Gradually increasing duration or intensity to feel the same psychological relief, could be very unhealthy.

4. Loss of Flexibility

Example: Rigid routines (must run exactly 10 miles daily)
Distress if routine is disrupted

5. Continuing Despite Harm

Exercising through:
- Injuries: SEEK MEDICAL HELP
- Illness
- Severe fatigue

Common Warning Signs

Prioritizing exercise over relationships, work, or health
Guilt or shame when missing a workout
Exercising primarily to avoid negative feelings rather than for enjoyment
Linking self-worth strongly to performance or body image

Underlying Psychological Drivers

Compulsive exercise may often be linked to:

Anxiety regulation (exercise reduces tension temporarily)
Perfectionism and high self-criticism
Control needs (especially when life feels chaotic)
Body image concerns, including
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Bulimia Nervosa

Compulsive exercise frequently might co-occur with eating disorders, where it may function as a way to burn calories or “compensate.”

Clinical Perspective

While not a standalone diagnosis, it could be widely recognized in clinical and research settings as a maladaptive coping mechanism and a subtype of process addiction.

Healthy vs. Compulsive Exercise

Healthy Exercise	Compulsive Exercise
Flexible and enjoyable	Rigid and obligatory
Enhances well-being	Reduces anxiety temporarily but creates long-term distress
Can take rest days	Feels unable to stop
Driven by health goals	Driven by guilt, fear, or compulsion

Treatment Approaches

Treatment might typically focus on restoring balance and addressing underlying issues:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Challenge rigid beliefs (“I must exercise daily”)
Emotion regulation strategies
Addressing co-occurring disorders (eating disorders)
Gradual reintroduction of healthy exercise patterns

Conceptual Insight (Psychological Lens)

From a deeper perspective, especially relevant to behavioral and parapsychological frameworks, compulsive exercise can be seen as:

A self-regulation loop gone rigid
A somatic ritual for managing internal states
Sometimes even a form of identity stabilization (“I am disciplined because I never skip workouts”)
Shervan K Shahhian

Exercise Addiction, what is it exactly:

“Please Seek Medical Advice”

Exercise Addiction is a behavioral addiction where a person feels driven to exercise excessively, even when it causes physical harm, emotional distress, or interferes with daily life.

Core Idea

At its core, exercise addiction may not about fitness or health anymore, it becomes about addiction: compulsion, control, and emotional regulation.

Psychological Features

Exercise addiction may share many features with other behavioral addictions:

Loss of control
Unable to reduce or stop exercising despite wanting to
Tolerance
Needing more and more exercise to feel satisfied
Withdrawal symptoms
Anxiety, irritability, guilt, or depression when unable to exercise
Preoccupation
Constantly thinking about workouts, schedules, or calories burned
Continuing despite harm
Exercising through injuries, illness, or exhaustion

Signs & Symptoms

Working out multiple times a day or for excessive durations
Feeling intense guilt or panic if a workout is missed
Ignoring injuries or medical advice: “Seek Medical Advice”
Prioritizing exercise over relationships, work, or responsibilities
Using exercise to cope with anxiety, shame, or emotional pain

Why It Happens

Exercise addiction may often develop from a combination of factors:

1. Psychological

Perfectionism
Low self-esteem
Need for control
Anxiety or depression

2. Biological

PLEASE CONSULT WITH A NEUROLOGIST

(“runner’s high”)
(reward system activation)

3. Social/Cultural

Pressure to maintain a certain body image
Fitness culture that glorifies extreme discipline

Related Conditions

Exercise addiction maybe linked with:

Eating Disorders (anorexia or bulimia)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (rigid routines, compulsions)
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (distorted body image)

Primary vs Secondary Exercise Addiction

Primary: Exercise itself is the main addiction (for mood regulation or control)
Secondary: Exercise maybe driven by another addictions

Healthy vs Addicted Exercise

Healthy Exercise	Exercise Addiction
Flexible routine	Rigid, compulsive routine
Rest days accepted	Rest causes distress
Enhances life	Interferes with life
Done for health/enjoyment	Done to relieve anxiety or guilt

Treatment & Recovery

Treatment may focus on restoring balance:

Psychotherapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Addressing underlying emotions and beliefs
Behavioral regulation
- Structured, moderate exercise plans
- Reintroducing rest without guilt
Addressing co-occurring disorders
- Especially eating disorders or anxiety

Deeper Psychological Insight

From a clinical perspective, exercise addiction may often functions as a maladaptive coping strategy, a way to:

Regulate overwhelming internal states
Maintain a sense of identity or control
Avoid deeper psychological conflicts

In some cases, it may resemble a ritualized behavior system, not unlike compulsions seen in OCD, but reinforced by social approval, which makes it harder to detect and treat.

Shervan K Shahhian

Psychiatric Hallucinations, what are they:

CONSULT WITH A PSYCHIATRIST

It is recommended that persons suffering from hallucinations get a medical evaluation.

Psychiatric hallucinations are perceptions that may occur without an external stimulus and are experienced as real by the person. In psychology and other related fields, they maybe considered a symptom of certain mental or medical conditions, rather than paranormal or spiritual experiences.

1. Definition

A hallucination is:

A sensory experience that may appear real but occurs without any external sensory input.

The mind may generate the perception internally, but the person experiences it as if it is coming from the outside world.

2. Types of Psychiatric Hallucinations

CONSULT WITH A PSYCHIATRIST

1. Auditory Hallucinations

The possible common type.

Examples:

Hearing voices speaking
Voices commenting on behavior
Voices arguing with each other

Common in:

Schizophrenia
Schizoaffective Disorder

2. Visual Hallucinations

Seeing things that are not present.

Examples:

People or figures
Animals
Shapes or lights

Common in: CONSULT WITH A PSYCHIATRIST

Delirium
Parkinson’s Disease
Lewy Body Dementia

3. Tactile Hallucinations

Feeling sensations on the body.

Examples:

Bugs crawling on the skin
Being touched

Common in:

Delirium Tremens (severe alcohol withdrawal) CONSULT WITH A PSYCHIATRIST

4. Olfactory Hallucinations

Smelling odors that do not exist.

Examples:

Burning smell
Rotting smell

Possible causes: CONSULT WITH A PSYCHIATRIST

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Brain injury or tumors

5. Gustatory Hallucinations

Experiencing tastes without food present.

Examples:

Metallic taste
Poison-like taste

Often associated with neurological conditions. CONSULT WITH A NEUROLOGIST

3. Key Features of Psychiatric Hallucinations, CONSULT WITH A PSYCHIATRIST

Clinicians look for these characteristics:

Lack of external stimulus
Strong sense of reality
Occurs repeatedly
Often accompanied by other symptoms

Such as:

delusions
disorganized thinking
emotional disturbances

4. Conditions Where They Occur

Hallucinations may appear in:

Schizophrenia
Bipolar Disorder (during mania or depression with psychosis)
Major Depressive Disorder with Psychotic Features, CONSULT WITH A PSYCHIATRIST
Post‑Traumatic Stress Disorder
Substance‑Induced Psychosis

They can also result from:

sleep deprivation
drug intoxication
neurological disorders, CONSULT WITH A NEUROLOGIST

5. Important Clinical Distinction

Psychiatry distinguishes hallucinations from normal experiences such as:

Grief visions (seeing or sensing a deceased loved one)
Hypnagogic hallucinations (during falling asleep)
Hypnopompic hallucinations (during waking)

6. Psychological Explanation

Some clinical models may explain hallucinations as:

Misinterpretation of internal thoughts or memories
Abnormal brain activity in sensory regions
Breakdown in reality monitoring

For example, in Schizophrenia, the mind may interpret internal speech as an external voice. CONSULT WITH A PSYCHIATRIST

(Parapsychology):
Some researchers in Parapsychology argue that not all anomalous perceptions should automatically be labeled psychiatric hallucinations. They compare them with bereavement visions, psi experiences, and the Super-Psi model.

Shervan K Shahhian

First-Rank Symptoms of Schizophrenia (FRS), an explanation:

It is recommended that persons suffering from hallucinations get a medical evaluation.

Also, PLEASE: CONSULT WITH A PSYCHIATRIC

First-Rank Symptoms of Schizophrenia (FRS) could be a group of symptoms. It could be believed these symptoms were especially characteristic of Schizophrenia and could help distinguish it from other psychiatric conditions.

Core Idea

FRS can be disturbances in the sense of self, where a person experiences their thoughts, actions, or perceptions as being controlled or influenced by an external force.

The Main First-Rank Symptoms

1. Auditory Hallucinations (Voices)

Hearing voices that:
- Comment on one’s actions (“He is walking now…”)
- Argue or discuss the person (voices talking about them in third person)

2. Thought Insertion

Belief that thoughts might be placed into one’s mind by an external agent

3. Thought Withdrawal

Belief that thoughts could be removed or stolen from the mind

4. Thought Broadcasting

Belief that one’s thoughts are accessible to others, as if “broadcasted”

5. Delusions of Control (Passivity Experiences)

Feeling that one’s:
- Actions
- Emotions
- Impulses
  are being controlled by an outside force

6. Delusional Perception

A normal perception (seeing a traffic light turn red) is given a bizarre, personal meaning
- Example: “The red light means I am chosen for a mission”

Clinical Notes

FRS might not be exclusive to schizophrenia (they could appear in other disorders), but they could be highly suggestive.
Modern systems might not rely solely on FRS for diagnosis.
Diagnosis might require a broader pattern of symptoms, including:
- Negative symptoms (flat affect)
- Disorganized thinking
- Functional impairment

Conceptual Importance

FRS highlight a breakdown in some philosophers might call the “sense of agency”, the feeling that:

“My thoughts are mine”
“I am the author of my actions”

In schizophrenia, this boundary could become disrupted.

(Parapsychology)

Some FRS especially thought insertion or voices might superficially resemble:

Telepathic experiences
External intelligence communication

However, in psychology, these could be understood as internally generated experiences misattributed to external sources, rather than veridical external communication.

Shervan K Shahhian