How delusional infestation makes you feel bugs that aren’t there

About this episode

Paula Cox shares her experience with delusional infestation, a disorder where individuals believe they are infested with bugs, while experts explain the underlying brain mechanisms.

Imagine feeling an unbearable itch, convinced that tiny insects are crawling under your skin. But no doctor believes you. You try to prove it, collecting samples, documenting everything. But under a microscope? Nothing is there. That was Paula Cox’s experience with delusional infestation, a rare disorder where people are absolutely certain they’re infested with bugs, despite all evidence to the contrary. In this episode, Paula shares her harrowing experience, and experts - a leading entomologist and a psychiatrist-dermatologist - explain what’s really happening in the brain and how healing is possible. Suggested episodes: Body Integrity Dysphoria: When being disabled is a desire When every face you see is distorted: Living with PMO GUESTS:  Dr. Gale Ridge : an entomologist and Associate Scientist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven. She oversees the daily activities of the insect inquiry office. She’s also the editor of  The Physician's Guide to Delusional Infestation Paula Cox : a woman in Australia who experienced delusional infestation. She started a Facebook support group called “ Delusional parasitosis help…

People in this episode

Host: Chion Wolf

Guests: Paula Cox, Dr. Gale Ridge, Dr. John Koo

Topics covered

• delusional infestation
• mental health
• entomology
• psychiatry
• dermatology
• personal experience

Keywords

• delusional infestation
• bugs
• mental health
• entomologist
• psychiatrist
• dermatologist
• Paula Cox
• support group

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center, Delusional parasitosis help

Books & works: The Physician's Guide to Delusional Infestation, Morgellons Disease: High Yield Principles for Clinical Practice

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