What is psychosis?

Guide

Psychosis is a condition that affects the way your brain processes information. It causes you to lose touch with reality. Psychosis is a symptom, not an illness. It can be triggered by a mental illness (like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder), a physical injury or illness, substance abuse, or extreme stress or trauma.

Symptoms of psychosis

Gradual changes in the way you think about and understand the world
Hang on to unusual beliefs or thoughts, no matter what others say
A drop in grades or job performance
Trouble thinking clearly or concentrating
Suspiciousness or unease around others
Stop taking care of yourself
Spending more time alone than usual
Stronger emotions than situations call for
No emotions at all

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of your psychosis, for example antipsychotic medication. Whereas, you might need treatment in a hospital if you’re at risk of harming yourself or others. Psychosis can be a one-off experience or be linked to other long-term mental health conditions. Some people can make a complete recovery.

To access treatment for psychosis, you usually need to have an assessment by a specialist mental health service, like Virtu.