Around 1 in 100 of us will experience an episode of psychosis (sometimes referred to as a ‘psychotic episode’) in our lifetime.
‘Psychosis’ is a medical term that refers to what some sufferers call a ‘break from reality’. It can happen to anyone and affects men and women equally and experiences vary from person to person; while some people may just have 1 episode, some have multiple during their lifetime and others may live with psychosis most of the time.
Common symptoms include hallucinations, delusions and disorganised thinking, which might make you feel scared and confused. According to Mind Charity, it’s possible to feel you have had a positive experience of psychosis. For example, if you see the faces of loved ones or hear their voices, you might find it comforting.
There is no single cause of psychosis. It is associated with a number of mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and severe depression, but can also be triggered by a traumatic experience, stress, drugs and can also be caused by some physical conditions (such as a brain injury).
There is help available for those living with psychosis and treatment often includes a combination of talking therapy and antipsychotic medication, both of which have proven successful in reducing the need for hospital treatment in people with psychosis. Your GP may also suggest involving your partner or close family and friends in a form of therapy known as ‘family interventions’.
Early intervention is important as, according to the NHS, people with psychosis have a higher than average risk of self harm and suicide. If you think you have psychosis or may have experienced psychotic episodes, seek help as soon as possible. Here are some things to look out for
In yourself:
● Seeing things that other people don’t
● Seeing things move in a way that they usually wouldn’t (for example patterned walls distorting and moving in a way that you know they do not)
● Hearing voices that other people don’t
● Experiencing tastes or smells that have no apparent cause● Feeling insects crawling on your skin (or other sensations that have no known cause)
● Experiencing ‘delusions of grandeur’ (e.g. believing that you are a superhero or that you control the weather)
● Experiencing delusions that scare you or paranoid delusions (e.g. believing that someone is trying to control, harm or kill you – without apparent cause for the belief)
● Racing thoughts or ideas that you jump between very quickly
● Memory problems, difficulty staying focused and an inability to make decisions
In someone you know:
● A change in speech: talking very quickly and stumbling over words or reduced speech
● A change in language: peculiar use of words or odd language structures
● Unusual sensitivity to light or sound
● Memory problems
● Irrational statements
● Personality changes
● Inappropriate laughter or excessive crying
● Dropping out of activities
● Unexpected aggression
● Extreme suspiciousness
● Social withdrawal
● Odd or out of character behaviour
● Self harm
● Reckless behaviour that is unusual for the person
● Difficulty functioning at work/school
● An extreme change in sleeping pattern
● A sudden extreme fixation with religion or the occult
● Expressing strange new social or world ideas that seem unusual or out of character
It is important you speak to a GP if you are self harming or having suicidal thoughts. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please seek immediate medical help or call the emergency services.