Psychosis has been studied and examined for centuries dating to before the 1800s. In the medieval days, it was believed that someone experiencing psychosis was practicing witchcraft mainly due to the lack of knowledge about mental illness.
It wasn’t until Thomas Aquinas, a Christian philosopher, developed the concept of psychopathology that mental health took a broad understanding that the mind was ill – not the soul.
However, later in history, a German physician named Karl Friedrich Canstatt introduced psychosis as psychic neurosis. Canstatts theory states that psychosis derives from a brain nerve disorder, referring to brain disease.
In 1845, the word psychosis was defined by a psychiatrist, Ernst von Feuchtersleben, referring to insanity and mania. Today the word psychosis stems from the Greek words’ psyche’ (soul) and ‘osis’ (abnormal condition), which relates to the idea of disease in the brain resulting in madness or insanity.
What Is It?
Psychosis is a symptom of mental illness that causes people to experience a world that is their reality. In layman’s terms, psychosis is a condition that affects the brain and causes the individual to believe and experience things that aren’t real – much like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Psychosis interferes with one’s ability to think and perceive reality as it causes hallucinations and delusions. Someone living with psychosis may experience sight, taste, smell, and sound differently as if they sense things that aren’t there.
Causes
Again, psychosis is not a mental disorder but a symptom of another mental illness. Consequently, psychosis has many causes ranging from tragic accidents caused to the brain, drug-induced trauma, severe depression, significant stress, and alcoholism, among other life pressures.
Contrary to popular belief, psychosis can come on abruptly and disappear on its own, or you can experience psychosis and live with it for the entirety of your life. 3 out of 100 people experience a psychotic break or live with psychosis daily.
Other causes of psychosis are as follows:
Mental Illnesses
Since psychosis is more a symptom of mental illness, not all disorders lead to psychosis; rather, it is known to trigger a psychotic break. These mental illnesses include but are not subject to:
- Severe stress and anxiety
- Severe depression
- Bipolar
- Schizophrenia – likely to cause hallucinations and unreal distortions
Keep in mind that mental health is unique to the person experiencing it. Not all mental illnesses lead to psychosis, though the person experiencing mental illness does not choose to be ill; they are simply living and coping with their reality.
Brain Tumor
Although rare, a brain tumor can trigger psychotic episodes with symptoms resembling schizophrenia. Depending on where the lesions are located in the brain, this can determine whether psychosis becomes a symptom following a tumor.
Medical Conditions
Medical-induced psychosis can only get diagnosed if there are physiological effects resulting from a medical condition. For example, if someone experiences hallucinations or senses things that aren’t there derived from a medical circumstance such as seizures or strokes.
On the other hand, someone withdrawing from drugs or alcohol can become delirious and experience psychotic episodes or symptoms relating to psychosis.
Other medical conditions that may cause psychosis are:
- Malaria
- HIV/AIDS
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Hypoglycemia
- Multiple sclerosis
- Lupus
- STDs
Sleep Deprivation
Sleep-related psychosis is not the same as having a psychotic break or being diagnosed with psychosis. Sleep deprivation shows many of the same symptoms as psychosis, such as confusion, hallucinations, and changed feelings or behaviors. Once the sleep-deprived individual gets much-needed rest, psychosis symptoms should dissipate.
However, if you experience endless insomnia and are unable to rest well, you should seek medical advice immediately, as sleep deprivation can cause many health issues.
Symptoms
A person experiencing psychosis feels heightened anxiety and paranoia and will perceive the world around them much like anyone else, except their distortion isn’t real. However, delusions and hallucinations – the most common symptoms of psychosis – are real to the individual, so they may not understand they are experiencing psychosis.
Luckily there are early signs of psychosis being:
- A gradual decrease in activity or motivation resulting in poor job performance
- Subtle paranoia
- A decrease in self-awareness
- Manic moods – feeling everything at once or nothing at all.
- Decrease in self-care
Although early symptoms of psychosis may resemble depression or anxiety, it is difficult to distinguish a diagnosis, as psychosis can present itself in early teens and young adult behavior.
Psychosis is diagnosed upon the first psychotic episode and is watched closely, which relates to other symptoms regarding:
- Hearing, tasting, and seeing things that others do not.
- A rapid fluctuation in emotions beyond the hormonal explanation
- Extreme brain fog, finding it difficult to tell what’s real and what isn’t
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Out-of-character behavior
If psychosis does not get diagnosed or treated, it will worsen over time, leading to extreme behaviors such as:
- Restricted facial expression and movement
- Limited speech and verbal communication
- Decreased social interaction
- Suicidal thoughts and tendencies
- Rapid thoughts and behaviors (changing between topics and difficulty keeping to one task)
- False beliefs that you are being attacked or everyone is ‘out to get you.’
- Hallucinations
Treatment Options
Upon diagnosis, a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker will listen to your symptoms and discover the root cause of your early signs. After ruling out other possible results, psychosis will get diagnosed.
Your doctor or medical practitioner will advise the best treatment based on your psychosis and triggers. Treatment includes antipsychotic drugs, which will reduce or control psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and paranoia.
Alongside medical prescription, your physician may advise you to undergo family support, individual or group psychotherapy, supported employment, and education.
How to Help Someone Experiencing a Psychotic Break
Since individuals living with psychosis may not fully understand what is happening, anyone can help calm their minds and bring them back to reality. Some helpful ways to help others experiencing psychosis are:
- Validate their beliefs and distress (don’t call them crazy or tell them things aren’t as they seem)
- Talk with purpose in a calm and understanding tone
- Understand when they don’t feel like talking, but be close by when they do
- Please treat them with respect and empathy
- Be mindful that it’s just as scary for them as it is for people around them
- Listen fully to what their experience is
- State positives in their life as a grounding technique
- Focus on feelings rather than experiences
- Give them numbers to call for extra support
Final Words
Psychosis can happen to anyone regardless of ethnicity, gender, and age. An individual with psychosis is likely unaware of what’s happening to them, so fear and paranoia are the most common early signs.
The best course of action is to offer support and find a diagnosis sooner than later, as psychosis can develop into more severe symptoms resulting in a debilitating lifestyle for the experience.
If you feel you might be witnessing a psychotic break, reach out to helplines or call 911 immediately. If you know someone that shows signs of psychosis, ensure you get them to a hospital or arrange for a therapist to chat with them.
If you or someone you know is in need of a consultation, treatment, or a general discussion regarding mental health, reach out to a facility like Alvarado Parkway Institute. Our specialists have helped countless individuals regain control of life.
