Psychosis - How do you know...?

Question

I know what psychosis technically is. I can read the website definitions.

But I was wondering -- how do you know if you're getting close to that point? Not full-blown psychosis, but that your brain is going in that direction? Can you tell or is it something that just happens? If you can tell, how?

I'm wondering if and how thinking changes.

Answer 1

Basically if you are suffering from a psychotic episode, and are aware of the symptoms and warning signs of psychosis, then you will know!

Also, if you have suffered an attack before, you will know.  The best thing to do is to see your doctor or psychologist about it as soon as possible so that it doesnt get out of control.

Answer 2

I started becoming disconnected with reality. I didn't know this, but my friends told me. I started hearing voices, seeing things that weren't there, and thinking the TV was talking only to me.

They got me to the hospital and one month and a supply of risperdal worked magic.

Mind changes occur due to chemical imbalances. Kind of like choking off the fuel supply to a car. It'll function for a while, but sooner or later....You can't really tell what's happening, but the people closest to you will notice a difference.

Answer 3

It helped me to read about the psychosis prodrome to explain a few things about my mind, though a lot of the information is still being written and ascertained.  Google that, though.  Most people probably start decreasing social contact, can have decreased functioning in daily life and in relationships, and start to perceive things a bit differently.  

What other people are able to tune out as unimportant stimuli, become for the person at risk for psychosis stimuli that are very annoying and can hamper concentration - can't think when there is a tv in the house on, or when there are cars driving by - before then causing problems like the positive symptoms of an episode ie hearing messages from the tv that no one else can hear.  

Also, thinking that things like the arrangement of puzzle pieces on a table means you are going to win the lottery or feeling like a new lamp you have is "evil" and against you but not actually being convinced that either of these things are true (if someone thinks they are true, it is a delusion of reference) - rather, a feeling, even if you think it's absurd, a subtly altered perception.

Answer 4

Well luckily you are a woman... so you know what PMS feels like. You know how after you come out of the PMS period, you know then you feel normal (as opposed to during PMS)??

It's very difficult to assess oneself during the onset of psychosis. However the person usually suffers at least some kind of confusion and distress, and can tell that he/she is not being himself/herself, or isn't feeling "normal" (meaning what's normal to that particular person's daily life).

Consult a psychiatrist. They will have heard so many in that situation talk, so they would have a pretty good idea!

Answer 5

I started to have paranoid thoughts...  I was very sheltered in my upbringing, so I started thinking that my parents had hired people to spy on me.  I also had made up some weird memories.  Memories which had to be false because they really didn't make any sense, but they felt so real.  I think my brain did that in order to help me deal with some really stressful situations.  I've since started taking good care of my health (quit smoking pot) and am doing better.  I didn't need medication, although, they really tried to talk me into taking some.  I was always honest with my family about the way I felt (because I think honesty is of upmost importance), so I think that helped me realize that things were wacked out.  So, it might be kind of noticeable, but not really.  You need sane people to help.

Answer 6

Well you may feel like you are not yourself like you may see or feel things that your mind tells you that are there that are not. Or maybe you have anxiety about situations for no apparent reason like because your brain is telling you to be suspicious of something for no reason. So if you ever experience anything unusual like this you let a psychiatrist or other trained mental health professional know so that they can help you. Then that is how you know for sure that your brain has had a break from reality if a psychiatrist can help verify it.