The word psychosis is used to describe conditions that affect the mind, where there has been some loss of contact with reality. When someone hallucinates or believes they hear or see something that isn't there it is called a psychotic episode.
Psychosis is most likely to occur in young adults and is quite common. Around 3 out of every 100 young people will experience a psychotic episode - making psychosis more common than diabetes in this age group. Psychosis can happen to anyone and like any other illness it can be treated. Most people make a full recovery from the experience.
What are the signs?
Psychosis can lead to changes in mood and thinking and can lead to abnormal ideas, making it hard to understand how a person experiencing a psychosis is feeling. Common characteristic symptoms of Psychosis include:
- confused thinking
- false beliefs
- hallucinations (auditory, visual and/or sensory)
- changed feelings
- changes in behaviour
What are the causes?
The exact cause of psychosis is not known but as it occurs in a variety of mental and physical disorders it's likely to have several different causes. It is believed that some people have a vulnerability to developing a psychosis due to various biological and genetic risk factors and that stress, in combination with this vulnerability, can bring on an episode of psychosis.
The impact of stress on an individual with psychosis has been well documented and it has been noted that stress is a significant factor at first onset and also at subsequent relapse.
Many people who take large amounts of drugs (e.g. cannabis, amphetamines, cocaine, LSD) may experience psychosis.
How is psychosis treated?
It is very important to be assessed by a health professional if experiencing symptoms of psychosis. Treatment can vary depending on the severity of the psychotic episode. Medication can be used to control symptoms. If the psychosis is drug induced, drug withdrawal will also be necessary. Education and treatment from a trained clinician and support from friends and family can assist someone to recover from a psychosis.
Most people make a full recovery from the experience. Psychosis can happen to anyone. Like any other illness it can be treated.
References:
ORYGEN Youth Health
SANE Australia
Worried About Someone Else?
For people with a mental health problem, there may be periods of time when things are not manageable. Stress, traumatic events or changes in medication can trigger further symptoms of their illness.
If you are concerned that your friend is not behaving as they normally would, then it is important to encourage them to talk to someone they trust like their doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist. If you think that your friend is likely to hurt themselves or someone else get help immediately even if your friend doesn't want you to.
When someone becomes extremely unwell, it can be distressing and confusing for others, as well as the person concerned. Here are some tips that may help:
- Communicate clearly in an honest, understanding manner. Do not crowd, rush or unnecessarily touch the person.
- Provide a calm, safe environment. Move to quieter, more open surroundings. If necessary, remove items with which the person might use to harm themselves or others.
- Seek help from a doctor, Psychiatric Emergency Team or the police.
- Try to behave in a quietly confident manner. Be firm but friendly and unthreatening. Reassure that help is on its way.
Reference: Reach Out! website
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