The reality of the average person’s life isn’t consistently happy or easy. There are relationship issues, financial troubles and overwhelming responsibilities, just to name a few trials and tribulations. Many people like to try to escape reality through fantasy movies, video games or books. However, there’s also a mental health concern that causes a detachment from reality.

Psychosis isn’t a mental health condition; rather, it’s a collection of symptoms that makes it difficult to perceive reality. Psychosis often occurs in episodes, or a period of time where a person feels disconnected from the world around them. It can stem from a mental health condition, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or severe major depressive disorder. It can also occur from taking medication or substances.

Read on to learn about the symptoms that often occur during psychosis. We’ll also discuss how Lightfully Behavioral Health can help following a psychosis episode.

6 symptoms that may occur during episodes of psychosis

Psychosis can look different for different people, varying based on severity and cause. Understanding what psychosis may involve can help you understand if you’re showing signs of an episode that requires treatment.

Here are six symptoms commonly associated with psychosis:

1. Hallucinations — A hallucination refers to a false perception of taste, smell, sound or touch. You may think you smell or hear something that isn’t actually present. Your brain essentially makes you believe something is real when it’s not.
2. Delusions — A delusion is a belief that’s not based in reality, but you have a difficult time acknowledging that it’s false. There are a variety of delusions that may occur during psychosis, including a belief that you’re in danger, that you have special powers or that other people are infatuated with you.

1. Disorganized speech — Also known as formal thought disorder, disorganized speech during psychosis refers to difficulty forming and sharing one’s thoughts effectively and coherently. This is often one of the most noticeable symptoms of psychosis in social interactions. A variety of speech interruptions fall under the category of disorganized speech, including run-on sentences, tangents and repetition.
2. Lack of personal hygiene — Proper personal hygiene goes beyond making sure that you don’t spread germs or put yourself in potentially embarrassing social situations. It’s also about self-care, which is essential for improving and maintaining your mental health. During episodes of psychosis, a person may not complete personal hygiene tasks, such as showering or brushing their teeth.
3. Unusual behavior — People who are experiencing psychosis are likely to act outside what is usual for them. This often leads to risky or unpredictable behaviors. They may behave inappropriately toward others, or they could withdraw socially when they’re usually outgoing. Other types of unusual behavior involve excessive movement or ignoring instructions.
4. Lack of emotion — Many mental health concerns often lead to overwhelming emotions. They often involve pervasive sadness or anxiety. However, if a person isn’t exhibiting any emotion, sometimes known as diminished emotional expression, it’s possible that they’re experiencing psychosis. This may involve a monotone voice or a lack of emotional perception of others.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of psychosis, it’s crucial to receive treatment to reduce its impact on your overall quality of life, such as your ability to carry out everyday activities and maintain healthy relationships.

If left untreated, there’s also a risk of harming yourself or others. Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988 if you are having thoughts of hurting yourself or other people.

Lightfully Behavioral Health can help after you experience psychosis

Psychosis can interfere with a person’s safety and well-being if it’s not treated properly. A doctor will likely recommend a combination of medication and psychotherapy as treatment. If the psychosis symptoms worsen or put you in danger, you may be admitted into inpatient care at a psychiatric hospital or a psychiatric unit in a general hospital.

Following inpatient treatment, Lightfully can help you maintain progress and continue on your mental health journey. If your psychosis stems from major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder, our holistic, personalized treatment plans can help.

Our levels of care include Residential Treatment (RTC), Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (vIOP), Partial Hospitalization Program and Intensive Outpatient Program. We treat your whole person, not just your mental health conditions. The framework of everything we do consists of evidence-based, data-driven and whole-person-centered care provided by licensed clinical experts.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.