Psychosis occurs when someone loses touch with reality or interprets it in a drastically different way from others around them. It can be experienced just once, in several short episodes, or throughout someone’s life.
Types of psychosis
The most common types of psychosis include delusions, hallucinations, and disorganised speech and thinking.
Hallucinations
Hallucinations can include hearing voices, seeing objects that others don’t or that seem to appear distorted, and experiencing sensations, tastes, and smells that have no cause.
Delusions
While many of us have beliefs that others don’t share, a delusion happens when someone believes in something that no one else believes in. Despite experiences that show it can’t be true, a delusion can feel completely real to the person to whom it is happening. Examples include believing that someone is trying to harm you, as your sense of reality has been altered.
Disorganised speech and thinking
This can mean someone has thoughts racing through their head that are out of control or a ‘flight of ideas’ whereby their thoughts make links and see meaning in things that others don’t. This can lead to them stumbling over their words and make their speech seem jumbled.
Can psychosis be treated?
It is possible to manage psychotic symptoms with the right support, which includes learning ways of coping to help make psychotic experiences less distressing. Once the patient has been assessed by a mental health professional, they may be offered talking therapies or antipsychotic medication. It may be that family intervention is recommended, focusing on talking about what helps.
There are many mental health training courses that can help participants support people who suffer from psychosis; for example, if you are looking for mental health training courses Milton Keynes, you will find providers such as https://www.tidaltraining.co.uk/mental-health-training-courses/milton-keynes.
Causes of psychosis
Several things can trigger psychosis, including a physical injury or illness, abuse or trauma, alcohol, smoking, recreational drugs, and as a side effect of prescribed medication.
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