Psychosis is a well-known mental condition where a person experiences things that do not exist in reality. In simple words, these are experiences with no basis of reality in them.

When a person undergoes a psychotic episode, he or she might experience delusions or hallucinations. Individuals may hear or see things that do not exist.

Such episodes are frightening both for the sufferer and also for the people around them. A person can even harm themselves during such episodes.

Psychosis Symptoms to Look For

Psychosis has some classic symptoms that can be easily evaluated in a person. Some of these symptoms are:

  • Hallucinations: One of the most common symptoms in which a person might see, hear, or feel things that do not exist in reality.
  • Delusions: Delusions can be termed as false beliefs. It means a person believes something out of fear or suspicion, but neither those thoughts nor the beliefs are real.
  • Difficult to focus: A person with psychosis might find it very difficult to concentrate and focus on one thing. They are easily distracted.
  • Catatonia: It is a condition where a person is so much involved in his/her virtual world that they become unresponsive in reality.
  • Disorganization: A person with psychosis has scattered thoughts. Even his speech and behavior are disorganized and strange.
  • Scattered thinking: The person might jump from one topic to another quickly. They may even make weird links between two thoughts or actions.
  • Anxiety and depression: A person with psychosis will constantly experience a depressed mood. They may even experience episodes of extreme to moderate anxiety.
  • Insomnia: They might not be able to sleep through the night. On the other hand, a person may also sleep too much throughout the day.
Psychosis symptoms

Types of Psychosis

Based on the condition and symptoms, psychosis is classified into different types. The main types of psychosis are:

  1. Paranoid psychosis 

People with paranoid psychosis always remain suspicious of others. They always think there’s something wrong with the other person. This behavior makes it very difficult for them to hold a job, attend events, and have relationships or friendships. Paranoid is a mental health condition that is quite difficult to treat. However, its symptoms can be reduced.

Paranoid symptoms

Paranoid delusions are false beliefs. It reflects fear and anxiety to a level where a person does not know what is real and what isn’t. Some types of fears such people have includes:

  • Someone might have poisoned their food.
  • Their partner is cheating on them.
  • Someone is following them or is after their life.
  • People try to harass you.

Such beliefs cause trouble to form relations or friendships with anyone. And that can further decline a person’s mental health.

  1. Manic Depressive Psychosis

Manic depressive psychosis is similar to bipolar disorder. This condition causes a person to experience the symptoms of psychosis along with the disparity of depression. 

A person feels sad, hopeless, and far from reality at the same time. Depressive psychosis is very dangerous as the person may hallucinate and feel suicidal.

Manic depressive symptoms

  • Sadness and hopelessness
  • Delusional thoughts
  • Guilt and irritability
  • Paranoia and hallucinations

The delusions of a person with this type of psychosis are guilt-ridden, paranoid, or self-harming. For example, a person might feel he is dying of a disease, and he deserves such a death because he is a ‘bad’ person.

  1. Fear psychosis

Fear psychosis, also known as Paranoia, is a mental health condition where a person experiences feelings and perceptions of being persecuted. This psychosis is generally accompanied by anxiety, and the individual might experience constant traumatic episodes that last for 2-3 days. A person might feel he/she is being threatened in a way as if someone is stalking them, and that in most cases is not true.

Fear psychosis symptoms

  • The person gets easily offended.
  • He/she is always hostile or aggressive.
  • The person cannot relax because of constant fear.
  • Unable to trust others.

Paranoia can be easily treated with therapies and does not have many side-effects. However, it can sometimes create unwanted anxiety.

Psychosis Treatment

A person can have acute psychosis or chronic psychosis depending upon the time the person has been experiencing such episodes. The treatment of psychosis consists of a combination of medications and therapy. The symptoms will start improving as soon as you undertake psychosis treatment. The treatment includes:

  • Tranquilization

Rapid tranquilization helps to calm down a person if they try to take any extreme step due to psychosis. A doctor might use a fast-acting injection to relax the patient quickly.

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

This therapy is done to change the behavioral patterns of a person. A counselor will help you and guide you towards a path of transformation.

It is a very effective method and has helped people change their behaviors permanently. CBT can resolve many symptoms that are not cured by medications.

  • Medications

Your doctor might prescribe you medicines to manage and control the symptoms of psychosis. Such medications are called antipsychotics. They mainly reduce hallucinations and delusions. The pills are to be taken for a short period and not forever.

Conclusion

Psychosis though scary is an easily treatable mental condition. However, it can be fatal if not treated on time. The treatment of all types of psychosis and its symptoms is available. All you have to do is consult your doctor and get yourself diagnosed if you see any such signs.

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