I’m writing this post today because I’m deeply concerned about how YouTube has changed the narrative dialogue and reporting in our nation. As a person in recovery and healing from schizophrenia, I have a unique qualification to speak about dealing with alternative narratives like people who are reacting to being radicalized by YouTube. Delusions, conspiracy theories, and personal narratives have a lot In common. Some are fun, others mind-bending, and some are dangerous. I’m not suggesting everyone who believes outside the mainstream is delusional, but I’m suggesting there are effective strategies to help individuals experiencing isolating ideas. Theories help us make sense of our world, but if they aren’t grounded and triangulated with reality testing - it can be dangerous if people choose to act on their beliefs. For me, alternate ideas have involved politics, technology, religion, and the multiverse. I’m lucky that in my paranoia I documented everything as my only major action, and I trusted my loved ones (friends and family). Treating individuals experiencing alternative beliefs with care is critical to recovery. In many ways, delusions and radicalized people are similar because they may behave like someone living in an alternative narrative from mainstream thinking. Today, I’m writing because I’m concerned about others who may choose to act on their radical alternate beliefs.

As part of my healing process, an essential treatment has been my supportive family and relationships with friends over the years. These relationships helped me get back to mainstream thinking by finding common ground. Using social connectedness is a critical strategy in helping individuals struggling to make sense of delusions, alternative thinking, and experiences. When the medication has yet to take effect for me, the best medicine is a connection, even if it is talking about something trivial. It keeps me grounded at the moment. It is vital to stay connected with those in our networks in this time of isolation and the pandemic.

There is an effective strategy that I’ve had used on me that I like. I use the system to help my loved one radicalized by YouTube videos, and I work to maintain our relationship.

LEAP (Listen. Empathize. Agree. Partner) is the most effective strategy for healing from a crisis with the reality that I know. Never confront a delusion or radicalized thinking directly. You can read more about why not to on www.psychforums.com, and the delusional disorder thread “avoiding the forbidden confrontation.” It explains the struggle well within the context of mental illness. Use this strategy instead:

1. Listen: Acknowledge the persons’ emotional struggle. Listen to their feelings, not their facts.

2. Empathize: Empathize with their experience, but don’t agree with alternate facts.

3. Agree: Find common ground that you can both stand on and reflect on. But, never agree with the delusion or false narrative. That will feed the illusion or delusion and not help the person get back in touch with a shared reality.

4. Partner: Try to partner to find a solution together related to the crisis the individual is experiencing.

This technique was developed by Dr. Amador, who wrote, “I’m not sick, I don’t need help.” He is a psychiatrist with a brother who struggled with schizophrenia.

The key to healing trauma is keeping a healthy relationship and finding common ground. Propaganda is a form of psychological warfare. The best way to fight psychological warfare disinformation is by treating your loved ones with humanity, dignity, and respectful discourse. This process will take time and effort to stay with our family and friends who radicalized, and I highly recommend family therapy if you struggle to keep in connection through this process.

Over the past four years, one of my loved ones radicalized through youtube content about China and the presidential campaign. We are living with different understandings and narratives as to why things are the way they are.

I have maintained the relationship with some strategies that have worked over the years to heal my psychosis. We’ve found ways to agree. Here is our list.

1. The income inequality of the 1%, holding 90% of the nation’s wealth, is terrible for our children and their future.

2. There is a need to hold our leaders accountable for the inequality of the nation's wealth.

3. There is a need for term limits.

4. There is a need for health care for all.

Find your list, and stay actively engaged together. I believe our local and state governments will help support us through this challenging time.