Psychosis | Support for AFYP

Common questions about psychosis

If I feel good during an episode do I still need help?

Some aspects of psychosis can feel good for people, especially if it makes you feel more creative or you may see the face of a loved one who has passed away. However, there is no guarantee that your symptoms will continue to be nice for you. Psychosis is also a sign that there might be an underlying problem or part of a wider mental health condition. Even if you enjoy some aspect it is always good to tell your doctor or someone you trust that you’re experiencing things that aren’t real.

Will I always have psychosis?

Psychosis isn’t a condition that you will have continuously. That’s why it is referred to as ‘an episode’ or ‘an experience’. If left untreated psychosis can go on for some time but once you have the right help and support psychotic symptoms reduce and eventually end. For some people that’s the end of their psychosis and they may never have another episode again. However, psychosis is also closely linked to mental health conditions such as bipolar, schizoaffective disorder and some personality disorders. For people who live with mental health conditions like these, they may go through further periods of psychosis in the future.

If I hear voices, am I schizophrenic?

It is thought that around 1 in 10 people hear voices and it is a very common symptom of schizophrenia conditions, it is also common for people who have psychosis which isn’t always caused by schizophrenia. Also, not everyone who hears voices has a mental health illness or condition. If you hear voices that other people can’t hear then it’s important to speak to your doctor who can help you to find out the cause.

5 Tips for psychosis

1. Learn what triggers your psychosis or the early signs that it might be developing
2. Find ways to manage your stress
3. Look after your general health and wellbeing
4. Create a plan of what need to happen if you have a psychosis episode; you may want to include family and close friends in your plan
5. Access peer support. It can be hard for friends and family to understand what you are going through, talking to people who have also experienced psychosis can help you feel supported and see that there is life after an episode

Getting help for psychosis

The first step to getting help is to speak to someone, this can be your parents, a close friend or a person you trust.

If you are in a psychosis episode they may be the ones who talk to you about going to see someone.

If you speak to your GP, they will be able to refer you to mental health services. This might be CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services) or EI (Early Intervention Team).

There are also charities and groups that have information, resources and peer support for managing psychosis.

Psychosis can be confusing and scary but you don’t have to manage it alone.