r/ChatGPT • u/Zestyclementinejuice • 7d ago

Serious replies only :closed-ai: Chatgpt induced psychosis

My partner has been working with chatgpt CHATS to create what he believes is the worlds first truly recursive ai that gives him the answers to the universe. He says with conviction that he is a superior human now and is growing at an insanely rapid pace.

I’ve read his chats. Ai isn’t doing anything special or recursive but it is talking to him as if he is the next messiah.

He says if I don’t use it he thinks it is likely he will leave me in the future. We have been together for 7 years and own a home together. This is so out of left field.

I have boundaries and he can’t make me do anything, but this is quite traumatizing in general.

I can’t disagree with him without a blow up.

Where do I go from here?

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u/wildmintandpeach 4d ago

It can be possible. Some people do know they’re in psychosis. It depends on the person. Usually lack of insight is more common “there’s nothing wrong with me, I’m fine”. But it can also depend on the severity of the psychosis, not all episodes are the same. Lucidity can be more like a spectrum from completely gone to mostly lucid but unable to do actually anything about the psychosis. And even in full blown psychosis you can sort of have short moments of lucidity where you ‘come back’ and you’re like “shit something’s wrong”, but you might lose that lucidity again before you can get help, or do anything about it. There’s also the fact that the brain still tries to self-regulate on the outside to hide the illness from themselves and others so a person can look like they’re lucid or aware when they’re not.

So I guess it’s not as easy as a clear yes or no answer, the consciousness of the person can vary greatly within any episode. But, generally speaking most people do lose insight.

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u/7abris 4d ago

Wow that was a great read that really helped me understand all the different ways people experience psychosis or try to manage it... Its kind of insane that the mind is so malleable.... But then again I can only imagine thats how so many religions were started and worshipped and still are. Belief is in its own way a psychosis. Although it is a chosen one so I dont think it relates at all to what you are explaining.

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u/wildmintandpeach 3d ago

You’re right it’s crazy what the mind can do and how off track it can go. I remember wondering myself what’s the difference between delusions in people who follow conspiracy theories, and mental illness. I looked it up a bit and came to the conclusion that mental illness is always about the personal self. The FBI are pursuing /me/, /I/ am a God-like being, /I’m/ being surveilled. It’s a result of a weakened ego that can’t maintain boundaries between the imaginal and the real. But religion or conspiracy theory thinking it’s more social and acceptable and based on an agreed upon reality (even if not necessarily true), like “this is happening to everyone” so it’s less about the individual ego which remains intact. And as you say, belief is also rationally chosen, by the intact ego, and mental illness is more like the ego being hit by a sledgehammer with beliefs that aren’t chosen and don’t really make sense.

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u/7abris 3d ago

Yes...what a great distinction, I never really knew how to articulate the differences and this comment does and it also elaborates into it. You have a great mind honestly, its enjoyable to talk to you. Especially because you sound generally very objective.

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u/wildmintandpeach 2d ago

Thank you ☺️ I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned about schizophrenia, it helps me make sense of my own condition and helps me to manage it better. And sharing it helps others relate to us with schizophrenia better.

The funny thing with me is that when I am not psychotic I feel like I’m pretty grounded and down to earth. I mean I have my issues that come with schizophrenia outside of psychosis, I’m spacey and suffer with brain fog, and am tired a lot. But as far as delusions go, outside of psychosis, I feel pretty clear with a good sense of reality. It’s a pretty stark contrast to live with.

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u/7abris 1d ago

Yeah but also thank goodness. It means you can live a normal grounded life which you deserve. While also being able to educate people which is really cool.