Standing Psychosis
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under- standing psychosis samh.org.uk contents What is psychosis? 04 What types of psychosis are there? 06 Why do I experience psychosis? 08 How can I help myself? 10 What treatment and support is available? 12 How can other people help? 14 Useful contacts 16 This booklet explains what psychosis is, including possible causes and how you can access treatment and support. IT Includes tips for helping yourself, and guidance for friends and family. Further information To read or print SAMH’s information booklets visit samh.org.uk. If you require this information in word document format for compatibility with screen readers, please email [email protected] For more information visit: samh.org.uk 3 Understanding psychosis What is psychosis? What is psychosis? Is psychosis a diagnosis or a symptom? The word psychosis is usually used to refer to an experience. It’s a symptom of Psychosis (also called a psychotic experience or psychotic episode) some mental health problems and not a diagnosis itself. Doctors and psychiatrists is when you perceive or interpret reality in a very different way from people may say someone is experiencing psychosis rather than giving them one of around you. You might be said to ‘lose touch’ with reality. these diagnoses. Some people prefer this. The most common types of psychosis are ‘The sense of shame Psychosis and stigma Here are some options for you to hallucinations and delusions. You might and guilt I felt There are a lot of misunderstandings think about: also experience disorganised thinking and because I was about what it means to experience • Show people this information to help speech. Psychosis affects people in incapable of psychosis. Lots of people wrongly think them understand more about different ways. You might experience it that the word ‘psychotic’ means psychosis. once, have short episodes throughout functioning day-to- ‘dangerous’. The media often shows • Talk to other people who experience your life, or live with it most of the time. day as an adult left people with psychosis behaving like this psychosis by going to a support group - me isolated from even though very few people who or setting one up for yourself. You may have a positive experience of others and experience psychosis ever hurt • Get involved in awareness raising psychosis. For example if you see the faces aggressive to those anyone else. about psychosis. of loved ones or hear their voices you may who cared and • Share your experience with others. find this comforting. Some people say it wanted to help.’ It’s important to remember that you aren’t Contact [email protected] helps them understand the world or makes alone and you don’t have to put up with • Know your rights. Our online pages on them more creative. people treating you badly. legal rights provide more information. But you may find that psychosis affects your behaviour or disrupts your life, making you feel tired and overwhelmed. I’t’s an illness Hallucinations or delusions could make that can be you feel anxious, scared, threatened or confused. If you have delusions about treated just certain people or organisations, you may like any other. find it hard to trust them. I don’t choose or want to be psychotic any more than people choose or want any other types of ill health.’ 4 For more information visit: samh.org.uk 5 Understanding psychosis What types of psychosis are there? What types of psychosis are there? Hallucinations Delusions Hallucinations could include: Lots of people have beliefs that many other Disorganised thinking and speech If you have disorganised thinking • seeing things that other people don’t people don’t share. But a delusion is usually Hallucinations and delusions can make you might: (for example people’s faces, animals or a false belief that no-one else shares. You your thoughts and emotions feel confused • speak very quickly and stumble over your religious figures) will still believe it even if logically it doesn’t and disorganised. But disorganised thinking words. Other people may find it difficult to • seeing objects that seem to be distorted make sense, or if experiences show that it (sometimes called ‘formal thought understand what you’re saying or move in ways that they usually wouldn’t can’t be true. disorder’) can also be a type of psychosis. • link words together because of the way • experiencing tastes, smells and For example, you might think you are a very they sound rather than what they mean. sensations that have no apparent cause important person - you may believe that Racing thoughts is where thoughts go This can mean your speech sounds (for example feeling insects crawling you are rich and powerful or that you can through your head very fast. If you have jumbled and doesn’t make sense to other on your skin) control the stock markets or the weather. racing thoughts you usually have flight people. This is sometimes called word salad • hearing voices that other people don’t These kind of beliefs are sometimes called of ideas too. (these could be positive and helpful or delusions of grandeur. Flight of ideas is where your thoughts • change the topic of conversation very hostile and nasty) Some delusions can be very frightening move very quickly from idea to idea, making quickly as your thoughts move from one and can make you feel threatened. For links that other people don’t. thing to another example you might feel that something • find it difficult to keep your attention or someone is trying to control, harm or on one thing kill you (when you have no reason to believe You may also have racing thoughts and this). These ideas are sometimes called flight of ideas if you experience mania or paranoid delusions. hypomania. If you only have them during a ‘Racing ide- depressive, manic or mixed episode then as flooded my you may be diagnosed with bipolar mind. It seemed as disorder. See SAMH’s booklet though my Understanding bipolar disorder for mind was more information. ‘I felt as though I was disintegrating, in wonderland. None of my inner life – my family or friends understood why... I had a my unconscious calling from a mind – started voice in sky. I was lost flooding my and lonely.’ consciousness without a break.’ 6 For more information visit: samh.org.uk 7 Understanding psychosis Why do I experience psychosis? Why do I experience psychosis? But you might also experience psychosis Psychosis can be a symptom of lots of different mental health problems.If you on its own. Some ideas about things that have one or more of these diagnoses then you may experience psychosis - make psychosis more likely include: and if you experience psychosis (and you have other symptoms too) then you may be given one of these diagnoses: • physical illness or injury - you may see • abuse or trauma - if you have or hear things if you have a high fever, experienced abuse or a very traumatic head injury, or lead or mercury poisoning. event, you are more likely to experience • severe depression If you have Alzheimer’s disease or psychosis. Parkinson’s disease you may also • spiritual experiences - some people • schizophrenia or schizophreniform experience hallucinations or delusions. experience voices or visions as disorder • drugs - you may hear or see things as a part of a spiritual experience. This may • bipolar disorder result of taking street drugs like be a positive experience for you - • schizoaffective disorder cannabis and LSD, as a side effect of it may make you feel special or help you • paranoid personality disorder some prescribed drugs or if you are make sense of your life. It could be a or schizotypal personality disorder coming off psychiatric drugs. negative experience - for example you • lack of sleep - you may experience may feel that you’re possessed by an • post partum psychosis hallucinations if you have a severe lack evil spirit or that you are an important • delusional or paranoid disorder of sleep. religious person. • brief psychotic disorder (you may be • hunger - you may experience • family inheritance - you are more likely given this diagnosis if you experience hallucinations if you are very hungry, to experience psychosis if a blood relative psychosis for a less than a month and have low blood sugar or if you are has also experienced it. your doctor doesn’t think that another not getting enough food. diagnosis describes your • bereavement - if you have recently symptoms better) lost someone, you may hear them talking to you. You may also feel that they are with you even though you can’t see them. 8 For more information visit: samh.org.uk 9 Understanding psychosis How can I help myself? How can I help myself? Learn to relax Create a crisis plan These suggestions could help you cope with psychosis. You may • Manage your stress. During a crisis you may not be able to tell people what helps you. When you are choose to try them on their own or alongside treatment. • Try some relaxation techniques. Relaxation can help you look after your feeling well it can be a good idea to talk to wellbeing when you are feeling stressed, someone you trust about what you would Peer support Recognise your triggers anxious or busy. like to happen (or not to happen) when you are in crisis. It might help to create a Peer support brings together people It might be helpful to keep a diary recording, crisis plan. who’ve had similar experiences to support for example: Look after yourself each other. You could access peer • life events • Try to get enough sleep.