Psychosis
Psychosis is the term given when people see, hear, feel, smell and even taste things that others do not. These are called hallucinations. Psychosis can also involve believing something to be true (that are contrary to the evidence) whilst others do not share these same beliefs. These can be referred to as delusions. Examples of delusions include worrying that secret services are monitoring you and fearing that others are causing you harm.
Difficulties associated with psychosis can include problems concentrating and thinking clearly. Some people may jump topics when speaking. Some people may feel frightened and overwhelmed by their experiences. Others may not view them as negative experiences as they feel their experiences help them to understand the world and to become more creative. Some people can withdraw socially and may neglect their self-care. Sleep can be affected. People experiencing psychosis commonly also experience depression and anxiety.
Some people experience one episode of psychosis, some experience episodes of psychosis every now and then whilst others experience episodes of psychosis frequently.
You may have heard or even received a diagnosis of Schizophrenia; this is considered to be a form of psychosis.
What is the Cause of Psychosis?
There is not one factor that causes psychosis, and each person is different. However, research and clinical experience suggests that various factors can play a role in the development of psychosis:
- Brain injury
- Illness
- Drugs
- Stressors
- Lack of sleep
Therapy for Psychosis
We can work with you to try to identify possible causes, triggers as well as explore what might keep the problems going. Gaining good insight into your difficulties will guide the therapy. Your strengths and resources will be drawn upon. You may have found your own ways of coping which we can help you to build upon. There has been a lot of research into Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for people experiencing psychosis. Research suggests that it can be an effective form of therapy, therefore, your therapist will likely base therapy upon this therapy model.
Get professional help with Psychosis – Contact us for a free 15 min consultation.