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

Q: When planning your own romantic treasure hunt, it's easiest to start with your end result and work backwards. Knowing how the treasure hunt will end will help you plan how to get there. Choose a final location and/or activity that has a special meaning to you and your partner. You can include numerous activities and locations throughout your treasure hunt, but make sure to end it in the most special way imaginable.  Choose the spot where you had your first date or first kiss. End your treasure hunt in a romantic hotel room setting. Consider ending your treasure hunt at the spot where you and your spouse got engaged. Create a list of all of the activities and/or locations that are meaningful to you and your partner, as these could be used in your treasure hunt. Use locations where you share amazing memories, include your partner's favorite coffee shop or restaurant, etc.  The longer you want your treasure hunt to be, the more steps you should have. Make sure to keep the treasure hunt fun and interesting. If you make it too long, your partner may get bored or tired. Do you want to do the whole treasure hunt in your house? Do you want to plan it to be throughout your neighborhood? Do you want to create a treasure hunt around the entire city? Do you want your treasure hunt to last all day or just a couple hours? Do you want to include activities or do you just want to leave clues at numerous locations? Be creative, and remember to choose locations that are important to you and your partner.  Consider how your date will get around town. If they have a car, you can plan a larger scale treasure hunt. However, if they have to take public transit, walk, or ride their bike, you might want to plan your treasure hunt on a smaller scale. Plan your treasure hunt so that it geographically makes sense. Don't make your date zig-zag around town. Plan each step so that you treasure hunt flows easily. Take advantage of your city's landmarks when planning out your treasure hunt. These landmarks could serve as a guide for parts of your treasure hunt.
A: Decide what and where the final treasure will be. Plan the other parts of your treasure hunt. Consider the scope of your romantic treasure hunt.

Q: Much of your communication is done through body language. Be conscious before, during, and after your interview, to maintain strong body language that will help you make a positive, lasting impression on your interviewer.  Practice good posture by keeping your shoulders back, your back straight, and your chin up.  Don't keep anything in your lap like a briefcase or purse. Keep your hands and arms steady, and free of objects that you may subconsciously play with during your interview. First impressions go a long way, and one way to make a great one, is by greeting your interviewer with a handshake. This will show you are a confident, welcoming person. Practice your handshake with a friend to make sure it is not too soft, or aggressive. After your interview is over, follow up with your interviewer to show your appreciation, and once again, highlight why you are a strong candidate. You can send an email, or a card in the mail. However you chose to send it, be sure to do it within the next day.
A:
Display confident body language. Greet with a firm handshake. Send a thank you note.