Are you supporting a family member or friend with psychosis?
This can be a stressful, overwhelming and isolating experience, especially if you don’t understand what psychosis is and how to help someone with psychosis.
To guide you through this challenging time, HelpingMinds has prepared the following information that may help you understand what your loved one is going through and how you can look after yourself as you care for your loved one.
What is Psychosis?
Psychosis is a condition that affects the way the brain processes information. It is a temporary loss of contact with reality in which the individual displays obvious changes in personality, sometimes seeing and hearing things that aren’t real and experiencing delusions which are fixed false beliefs. Symptoms of psychosis can be temporary and can be treated effectively with antipsychotic medications and therapy. Some conditions such as Schizophrenia, in which psychotic symptoms occur, can be long-term.
To determine your type of psychosis and address related health problems, you need to see a medical professional specialising in mental health, specifically one on Psychotic Disorders to get a diagnosis and create a proper treatment plan for the medical condition.
Symptoms of Psychosis
Symptoms of psychosis may vary depending on age and the type of psychosis. Some of the earliest indications may present themselves in developmental problems as early as childhood. Nevertheless, here are the general symptoms of psychosis:
- Changes in personality such as social withdrawal and isolation
- Changes in emotions such as uncharacteristic anxiety, anger or moodiness
- Disordered thinking – slow, muddled, disrupted thoughts which may be expressed through speech
- Disordered behaviour – unusual, inappropriate, extreme or risky actions
- Delusions – fixed false beliefs that can’t be changed by evidence; for instance, the person can be convinced that “they are God” or that “someone is trying to kill them” despite there being no real reason for this belief
- Hallucinations – hearing voices or otherwise sensing things that aren’t real; this can include seeing, smelling, tasting and hearing things that others can’t sense
What causes Psychosis?
- Hereditary – genetic predisposition; sometimes runs in the family
- Biochemical – shortage or excess of certain chemicals in the brain
- Lifestyle – stress, lack of sleep, substance abuse such as alcohol, marijuana and LSD
- Trauma – experiences such as death, war or sexual assault. Brain injuries as a result of trauma can also trigger psychosis
- Psychological – a symptom of mental illness such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression or Alzheimer’s Disease
Treatment of Psychosis
Psychosis is often associated with delusions and hallucinations and people who experience this mental health condition may develop symptoms at an early age which should already be taken as signs for young people to undergo assessment for early detection and proper treatment to help them deal with this condition long-term.
Treatment with antipsychotics is the most common therapy for people with psychosis or psychotic condition. However, the medication does not treat or cure the underlying condition that triggered the psychosis. Additional holistic therapy should be sought to address the underlying triggers. This may require a lifestyle change, for instance, stopping the use of recreational drugs, trauma therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy or another form of therapy and/or treatment tailored to the individual. The first step is a diagnosis by a GP or Psychiatrist, along with the prescription of antipsychotic medication to stop the psychosis and connect the person back to reality. An appropriate treatment plan should be discussed with the treating clinician.
Psychosis is uncurable and for life.
Not true.
A person who experiences a one-off psychotic episode, multiple psychosis or a psychotic condition can seek effective treatment and live a normal and fulfilled life.
People with psychosis are dangerous.
No, not necessarily.
Although someone in psychosis who is re-experiencing a trauma or “frightening” delusions or hallucinations can act violently.
How to help your loved one
The best way to help someone with psychosis or anyone experiencing a mental health challenge or illness is to get them the proper medical help that they need.
Often, we have a strong desire to ‘fix’ or ‘solve’ someone else’s problem, however, this is not your role and should be left to a professional. The best thing you can do is to help them find an appropriate service through a GP, mental health phone line, mental health service or by searching online.
How to help yourself
Having someone close to you who lives with mental health challenges can be exhausting, frustrating, confusing and isolating. But you don’t have to go through it alone.
HelpingMinds® offers free and confidential support to people who are caring for someone living with mental health challenges. We offer free counselling, support groups, rest and revive activities, school holiday programs, family programs, youth programs and advocacy to people living in WA.
Get Support from HelpingMinds®
Would you like to know more about free and confidential mental health carer services and how we can support you? Please feel free to contact HelpingMinds® via the form below or on (08) 9427 7100. For one of our team to get back to you, we will require your email address and/or phone number. Please know all information provided will be treated completely confidential and in line with our privacy policy.
