Psychologist View of Miami – Illusion, Delusion, Hallucination, Reality

When you hear the word “Miami,” what words come to mind?

Google “What words describe Miami?” and here is what comes up from City-Data.com:
“Sexy, hot, fun, diverse, paradise, filled with salsa and perfume, the sun and fun capital of the world, popular, gritty, swanky, drug dealers and Medicare fraud, food trucks and street vendors, rap, hip hop and reggae, crazy, beautiful, tropical, sublime, cosmopolitan, rude, uncivilized, egocentric, pricey, fake, pretentious, shallow, a mix of extremes, and twenty dollars for a martini.”

Notice that psychology, psychologist, or psychological health didn’t come up at all; not even mental health or well being. When people think of Miami, they imagine the glamour and glitz of famous homes on Star Island and sexy people on the beach. None of those are conducive to living a normal, happy, stable life. Ask any psychologist.

Is Miami all of these words, some of these words or none of these words? Is Miami even any words at all? Is Miami an illusion? Is Miami a delusion for some people? Is Miami a hallucination for some people? Is there an objective reality of “Miami?” Is objective reality the ultimate delusion?

“Illusion” does not mean that it is not happening or it is not real in its own way, but that it is not absolutely real or real in absolute terms. An illusion is a kind of dream, and when the dreamer stops dreaming, that reality vanishes. Imagination is potential and is a power, but it has no shape. An illusion is a misperception of real external stimulus. A delusion is a fixed, false belief that is not corrected by logic and is not consistent with the experience and education of the holder of the delusion. A hallucination is a false sensory perception experienced without real external stimulus, but perceived as originating in the outside world and not in the mind of the holder.

In many cities what passes for psychological sanity is easier to maintain because you can just be you, but for Miamians, whether residents, long term visitors or even short term visitors, what passes for sanity is harder to maintain in Miami. Too much of too much. Too many shoulds pushing and driving you to be “sexy, hot, fun, diverse, popular, gritty, swanky, nonstop wild sexy beach party goer, and on and on crazy, beautiful, tropical, sublime, light turns green – horn blower, cosmopolitan, rude, uncivilized, egocentric, uneconomical, fake and pretentious.”

Do you feel those shoulds closing in and stifling your personal growth? Do you feel those shoulds driving you away from your family? Do you feel those shoulds keeping you from moving forward in your career? There is help from a fellow Miamian who understands these pressures. Psychologist Dr. Orlandini’s main office is located in Miami Beach in the heart of South Beach and her second office is located in the Brickell Avenue Business Center in Miami. Dr. Orlandini provides psychology therapy for families, couples and individuals dealing with depression, infidelity, bipolar disorder, stress and other issues.