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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”
Dr. John Koo: a Professor of Dermatology at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center and Director of the UCSF Psoriasis Skin and Treatment Center. He is board-certified in both dermatology and psychiatry and co-author of Morgellons Disease: High Yield Principles for Clinical Practice

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&rsquo;s experience with delusional infestation, a rare disorder where people are absolutely certain they&rsquo;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&rsquo;s really happening in the brain and how healing is possible.
Suggested episodes:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2023-03-16/body-integrity-dysphoria-when-being-disabled-is-a-desire" data-cms-ai="0">Body Integrity Dysphoria: When being disabled is a desire</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf/2024-12-13/when-every-face-you-see-is-distorted-living-with-pmo" data-cms-ai="0">When every face you see is distorted: Living with PMO</a></li>
</ul>
GUESTS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://portal.ct.gov/caes/about-caes/staff-biographies/gale-e-ridge" data-cms-ai="0">Dr. Gale Ridge</a>: 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&rsquo;s also the editor of&nbsp;<a href="https://a.co/d/4GbDQpU" data-cms-ai="0">The Physician's Guide to Delusional Infestation</a></li>
<li>Paula Cox: a woman in Australia who experienced delusional infestation. She started a Facebook support group called &ldquo;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/g/p5tYSbWVfo6S8q3F/?mibextid=K35XfP%C2%A0" data-cms-ai="0">Delusional parasitosis help</a>&rdquo;</li>
<li><a href="https://profiles.ucsf.edu/john.koo,%20book:%20https://a.co/d/5l217kX]" data-cms-ai="0">Dr. John Koo</a>: a Professor of Dermatology at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Medical Center and Director of the UCSF Psoriasis Skin and Treatment Center. He is board-certified in both dermatology and psychiatry and co-author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Morgellons-Disease-Principles-Clinical-Practice/dp/B08CLT96MS" data-cms-ai="0">Morgellons Disease: High Yield Principles for Clinical Practice</a></li>
</ul>

Audacious with Chion Wolf spotlights the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood. Guided by deep curiosity and genuine compassion, the team behind Audacious creates space for the kinds of stories that rarely get told - and the kinds of questions we're often afraid to ask. From those speaking publicly for the very first time to voices already known around the world, every guest is met with care, and every story is honored as both deeply personal and profoundly human.

For more: ctpublic.org/audacious

Audacious with Chion Wolf spotlights the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood. Guided by deep curiosity and genuine compassion, the team behind Audacious creates space for the kinds of stories that rarely get told - and the kinds of questions we're often afraid to ask. From those speaking publicly for the very first time to voices already known around the world, every guest is met with care, and every story is honored as both deeply personal and profoundly human.
For more: <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/audacious-with-chion-wolf">ctpublic.org/audacious</a>

Audacious with Chion Wolf spotlights the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood. 

Audacious with Chion Wolf

Audacious with Chion Wolf spotlights the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood.

Guided by deep curiosity and genuine compassion, the team behind Audacious creates space for the kinds of stories that rarely get told - and the kinds of questions we’re often afraid to ask. From those speaking publicly for the very first time to voices already known around the world, every guest is met with care, and every story is honored as both deeply personal and profoundly human.

Listen at ctpublic.org/audacious

Support is provided by a generous contribution from Suzanne Hopgood, in Memory of Frank Lord.

Audacious with Chion Wolf spotlights the stories of people whose experiences, professions, or conditions defy convention or are often misunderstood.
Guided by deep curiosity and genuine compassion, the team behind Audacious creates space for the kinds of stories that rarely get told - and the kinds of questions we&rsquo;re often afraid to ask. From those speaking publicly for the very first time to voices already known around the world, every guest is met with care, and every story is honored as both deeply personal and profoundly human.
Listen at <a href="http://ctpublic.org/audacious">ctpublic.org/audacious</a>
Support is provided by a generous contribution from Suzanne Hopgood, in Memory of Frank Lord.