Whether you are seeking out specific information to better understand a loved one or wanting to take care of your mental health, learning about various mental disorders and their symptoms can be beneficial. Specifically, learning more about the causes and symptoms can help you understand those that live with psychosis.
What is Psychosis?
Psychosis is a medical condition that alters the brain and a person’s understanding of reality. According to mind.org, someone that lives with psychosis may also experience something known as a psychotic experience or a psychotic episode. A psychotic experience or psychotic episode refers to moments where patients misunderstand their surroundings and reality. Many individuals that experience the symptoms of psychosis may also experience other mental illnesses.
You can learn more about psychosis with the aid of medically-reviewed BetterHelp articles.
What are the Symptoms of Psychosis?
According to the National Health Service (NHS), psychosis has three main symptoms: delusions, hallucinations, and disturbing thoughts.
Delusions mean that you believe something to be an irrefutable fact. Whatever delusion someone may have can be true or false. In a person’s mind, this delusion is factual. For example, someone experiencing a psychotic episode may believe that they are being followed or that someone is out to get them. In other cases, those with psychosis may think that a partner is unfaithful to them.
Another common delusion among psychosis patients is a grandiose delusion. A grandiose delusion is a belief that a person thinks that they are above others. For example, someone may believe that they have special powers or that they are of a higher class than they are. Many individuals will go so far as to think that they have connections to people of authority when they do not.
A hallucination is similar to a delusion in some ways. A hallucination is anything that physically appears in someone’s mind. For instance, someone experiencing a hallucination may hear someone calling their name even when no one is. It can also feel like someone is touching them when they are alone. Individuals that experience a hallucination may also see a dead loved one or friend despite evidence proving otherwise.
Disturbing thoughts can also be a sign of psychosis. A person that can not seem to shake intrusive thoughts may lash out. They may also abnormally experience emotions. For example, the constant flow of hallucinations may cause someone to react with no emotion at all or an excessive amount of emotion.
What are the Causes of Psychosis?
While many believe that psychosis is a mental illness, it is actually a symptom. Psychotic episodes can occur in a person’s life for a number of reasons. Many who experience a traumatic event can experience psychosis. After experiencing a traumatic event such as sexual assault or war, a person can hallucinate various snippets of their trauma. In addition, those that have partaken in illegal substances can also have psychotic episodes. Substance abuse can cause a person to see and hear things that are not there.
Because psychosis is a symptom, it is often found in patients that live with the following mental health conditions: schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and depression.
Is Psychosis Treatable?
Yes, psychosis is treatable! Typically, psychosis is treated with prescriptions and therapy. Many medications can help patients control their hallucinations, delusions, and mood swings. Therapy, also known as psychotherapy, is also beneficial because it allows individuals a place to talk about their experience with psychosis. Licensed therapists can assist these individuals in understanding their psychotic episodes and managing their symptoms.
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of psychosis, it is crucial that you get the help you need.
This post is written by Marie Miguel. Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
