For example, a person with nihilistic delusions may be convinced that they do not really exist or that their life isn't real. They may believe that their reality is artificially constructed, similar to what's portrayed in the movies the Matrix or the Truman Show.
Cotard syndrome is a rare condition characterized by nihilistic delusions concerning body or life that can be found in several neuropsychiatry conditions. It is typically associated with depressive symptoms.
It is often associated with extreme pessimism and a radical skepticism that condemns existence. A true nihilist would believe in nothing, have no loyalties, and no purpose other than, perhaps, an impulse to destroy.
Nihilistic delusions occur primarily in schizophrenic reactions and depressive states, particularly in acute depression. They are also observed in occasional cases of general paresis, psychosis with cerebral arteriosclerosis, and the depressed and agitated type of senile dementia.
Introduction. Nihilism is one of the most extreme existential experiences in schizophrenia as it goes far beyond the notion of a meaningless life as one source of suicide.
Nihilists can have sympathy, empathy, and antipathy, but they cannot have apathy. Not caring is not the same thing as caring about nothing. The apathetic individual feels nothing. But the nihilist has feelings.
Nihilistic delusions, also known as délires de négation, are specific psychopathological entities characterized by the delusional belief of being dead, decomposed or annihilated, having lost one's own internal organs or even not existing entirely as a human being.
Nihilism is the defiant determination not to get fooled again. Having been swindled over and over by false promises of meaning, the nihilist stance refuses to acknowledge even the most obvious manifestations of meaningfulness—lest they, too, turn out to be illusory.
Nihilism, after all, means nothingness. This contagion foments the sensation that nothing helpful can be done. Here is how this psychological contagion spreads: A child with mental health problems comes to a general hospital and the family quickly learns there are simply no — or very few — treatment options.
The Power of Acceptance and Overcoming Nihilism
He believed that the only way to overcome nihilism was to embrace life and accept that our lives have no ultimate meaning or purpose. He argued that by embracing life, we can make our own meaning and find fulfilment in life's experiences.
Existential depression is rooted in nihilism, both emotional and imma- ture that can particularly occur in adolescents at a developmental stage who are seeking meaning in their lives.
Instead, we conceive nihilism in schizophrenia to be located on a continuum with smooth transitions between the 3 stages of our model of existence, that is, phenomenological, epistemological, and ontological.
Passive and active nihilism, the former of which is also equated to philosophical pessimism, refer to two approaches to nihilist thought; passive nihilism sees nihility as an end in itself, whereas active nihilism attempts to surpass it.
Persecutory type: This is one of the most common types of delusions and patients can be anxious, irritable, aggressive, or even assaultive - some patients may be litigious. Somatic type: Also called monosymptomatic hypochondriacal psychosis and the reality impairment is severe.
The most common type of delusional disorder is the persecutory type — when someone believes others are out to harm them despite evidence to the contrary.
Nihilism has existed in one form or another for hundreds of years, but is usually associated with Friedrich Nietzsche, the 19th century German philosopher (and pessimist of choice for high school kids with undercuts) who proposed that existence is meaningless, moral codes worthless, and God is dead.
Or we can become passive nihilists and continue to believe in traditional values, despite having doubts about the true value of those values. The active nihilist destroys in order to find or create something worth believing in. Only that which can survive destruction can make us stronger.
On a societal level, nihilism can lead to a breakdown of social bonds and a lack of concern for the common good. It can also lead to a rejection of authority and traditional values. Ultimately, nihilism is a philosophical position that is often associated with negative consequences.
While these are not the same, there are some overlapping ego-centric ideologies. Nihilism rejects the idea of God, embraces the meaninglessness of life, and rejects moral values. Narcissists often reject God since they perceive themselves as entitled humans with superhuman God-like powers.
In the late 1800s, German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche had a lot to say about love. Arguing that society was heading toward nihilism – that is, a world without meaning, morals and values – Nietzsche thought that romantic love was frivolous, with friendship acting as a much stronger foundation for relationships.
Nihilism as Liberation
Some people see a lack of objective meaning as freedom. An example: transgender and non-binary folks may look at the construct of gender and, with a healthy dose of nihilism, determine that there is no inherent meaning to the concept. Thus, they are free to define themselves how they please.
Nihilism and self-righteousness are similar in that they are destructive, but they are opposed in the methods and purposes of their destructiveness. Between the self-righteous and the rest of society there arises a war of beliefs. However, such wars are typically short-lived if they even take place at all.
The term neurological nihilism stemmed from the deep seated belief that neurological disease could be diagnosed, but not cured.
The role of delusions in schizophrenia psychopathology
The fundamental symptoms, which are virtually present through all the course of the disorder (7), are also known as the famous Bleuler's four A's: Alogia, Autism, Ambivalence, and Affect blunting (8).