How many times do you feel that the things you see or voices you listen to do not exist in reality? How often do you feel that you are unable to think clearly and focus on important details? If you’re in this situation or showing these symptoms, you might be the victim of psychosis. Psychosis is a collection of symptoms that involves the loss of contact with reality.
Read this article if you want to know more about psychosis. This article provides a comprehensive guide on psychosis, its symptoms, causes, and treatment. So read now!
What is Psychosis?
“Psychosis is a mental state in which an individual feels reduced or lost connection with the real-world present around him. This involves the group of symptoms that completely take control of the mind and affects the thoughts, emotions, as well as behavior. Psychosis is a symptom of mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, as well as the severe form of depression.”
Moreover, individuals with psychosis see those things or objects and hear those voices that do not exist in reality. They feel that whatever is happening around them is completely real. However, the reality is different. They are unable to differentiate between the real and fake. Affected individuals are unable to maintain their relationships and prefer to stay alone. They also have difficulties in both their personal and professional life aspects.
Who develops Psychosis?
Any individual can become a victim of psychosis, but mostly young adults suffer more from psychosis. Moreover, recent studies have reported that approximately 100,000 young individuals in the USA suffer from psychosis every year.
The onset of psychotic symptoms occurs in late teens, as well as older age. In addition, people in old age suffering from any other neurological condition are also more prone to suffer from psychosis.
What are the common Signs and Symptoms of Psychosis?
The major and common symptoms of psychosis are as follows:
1. Hallucinations
This involves hearing unusual or strange voices and seeing different things or objects that are not real. In addition, they also feel different things that do not exist in reality, but they feel that all these things that they see, hear, or feel are real and exist in reality.
2. Delusions
Individuals with psychosis also have strong negative or false beliefs in their minds. They think that someone is interested in them or they will get harmed by anyone. So different kinds of delusions affect their mental peace and quality of life.
3. Disorganized thinking patterns
Different ideas and thoughts rapidly appear in their mind, but they face difficulty in effectively interpreting them. Due to this, they face difficulty in communication and speech and remain confused in conversations.
Some other common symptoms of psychosis are as follows:
- Social withdrawal
- Anger outburst
- Emotional intensity
- Paranoid or suspicious ideas
- Strange feelings
- Difficulty in expressing their emotions
- Self-harming thoughts or thoughts of harming others
- Confused speech
- Lack of passion or interest
- No contribution to productive activities
What are the causes of Psychosis?
Different scientific evidence has also reported that there is not a single cause of psychosis. There is a combination of different genetic, hormonal, as well as environmental factors that can contribute to the development of psychosis in individuals, which are as follows:
1. Genes
Genetic factors are also responsible for the onset of psychosis in individuals. If any of the parents have the genes that can develop the psychosis, then a child is more likely to have the psychosis. Moreover, the presence of genes in siblings is also considered the cause of psychosis.
2. Maternal complications
If the female is not taking care of her child during the pregnancy stages, then there is a greater possibility of the child suffering from psychosis. The following are the major stress factors that can induce psychotic symptoms in the fetus during the pregnancy:
- Defects in brain growth and development during pregnancy
- Excessive stress
- Intake of contaminants
- Exposure to any chronic or infectious agent
- Misuse of alcohol or any toxic substance or drug
What are the types of Psychosis?
The major types of psychosis comprise the following:
1. Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a common type of psychotic disorder. This involves altered or disrupted thought patterns, emotions, feelings, and thoughts.
2. Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is also a common mental illness that involves unexpected mood swings or alterations. If the negative mood changes persist, then they can lead to psychosis.
3. Brief psychotic disorder
As the name indicates, the brief psychotic disorder comprises symptoms that only last for a few days.
4. Psychotic depression
This is a form of severe depression that involves the occurrence of psychotic symptoms.
5. Drug-induced psychosis
Excessive intake of any drug can also develop the symptoms of psychosis.
6. Postpartum psychosis
Postpartum psychosis is a severe form of depression that develops in females after childbirth. This involves the occurrence of psychotic symptoms.
How can Psychosis be diagnosed?
If psychosis is left untreated, then it can lead to multiple negative consequences. Therefore, this mental illness should be diagnosed in time to get timely intervention. Those individuals who get mental support on an early basis can recover easily from psychosis.
Mental health professionals first diagnose the mental state and then make personalized treatment plans considering the mental state of each individual.
Postnatal psychosis
Postnatal psychosis is a severe form of postnatal depression, moreover, it is also known as the postnatal psychosis. Postnatal depression is one of the major types of depression that females experience after childbirth.
Females suffering from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are more likely to suffer from postnatal psychosis.
The most common symptoms of postnatal psychosis comprise:
- Low mood
- Loss of appetite
- Reduced energy levels
Other symptoms include high mood, which is called mania. Common symptoms which are linked with mania include:
- Extra talkative behavior
- Interrupt in conversations
- Feeling elated
How is Psychosis treated?
If you want to come out from the phase of psychosis, then you need to treat it with the help of professionals. A qualified, skilled, and trained expert can better employ the treatment plan that comprises medications and psychotherapy. Some experts recommend the therapy alone, while some are in favour of the combined use of both therapy and medications.
1. Medications
The medications that experts usually recommend to manage the symptoms of psychosis are antipsychotic medications. Antipsychotic medications work against psychotic symptoms by targeting a specific neurotransmitter in the brain, which is named dopamine. There are multiple types of antipsychotic medications that experts recommend to treat psychosis. In addition, it is always recommended that individuals should take the expert recommendation first before the intake of any medication.
2. Therapies
Therapy is the best way to deal with mental issues as individuals directly interact with mental health professionals and get solutions after sharing their mental issues. Different types of psychotherapies are highly effective for the treatment of psychosis such as:
3. Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of talk therapy or psychotherapy that helps in the treatment of psychosis. Experts conduct cognitive therapy sessions in which they directly interact with psychotic patients and address their mental health concerns. Experts first completely evaluate the mental state of individuals and then guide the individuals to change their negative thought patterns to positive ones.
4. Individual & Group therapy
You can take the therapy in the form of both individual and group therapy sessions. The choice is entirely yours. If you want tailored solutions with confidentiality, then take the individual therapy sessions. However, if you want to increase your confidence or self-esteem, then group therapy sessions will work best for you.
5. Family support
Family members can also provide support to the individual suffering from psychosis. They can take guidance from experts on how they can help their loved one to counteract the symptoms of psychosis. Furthermore, there are also multiple support groups that individuals can join and get support to overcome the psychosis.
What are the best ways to prevent Psychosis?
If you want to protect your mental health from psychosis, then you should follow some essential preventive strategies, which include:
Protect your head: Multiple studies have reported that brain injury can also develop psychosis. So whenever you feel that you are at risk of getting any brain injury, you must wear the safety equipment. In this way, your brain will remain protected from the head injuries that can later cause psychosis.
Avoid substance abuse: Multiple studies have linked the occurrence of psychosis with substance abuse. Therefore, if you want to prevent psychosis, then avoid the intake of marijuana, alcohol, or any other substance.
Don’t ignore infections: If you suspect that you are having some infections in your ears or eyes, then immediately consult the professionals as these infections can also cause psychosis.
Self-care: Self-care is also considered the best way to deal with psychosis. Take a balanced diet and avoid the intake of less healthy food products. Moreover, also consider your sleep patterns so you remain energetic and mentally active throughout the day. In addition, make a schedule to perform any physical activity regularly.
Where to seek Professional help for Psychosis
If you or someone you are concerned with is suffering from psychosis and facing extreme difficulty in normal life functioning, then Renewed Mental Health Group is an ideal platform. Here, you can communiate with the top mental health professioanals and share your mental health concerns to get the best psychosis treatment.
So without any delay, schedule a consultation with our mental health experts and initiate the journey of mental well-being.
