It is normal to sometimes have moments in which you feel something similar to a psychosis or unreality.
However, if this lasts for 24 hours it is advisable to go to health professionals. For better understand what psychosis is as a pathology Let’s look at its main features.
Psychosis is described as a loss of reality The person does not realize when it happens, they may well be doing their things normally and suddenly start having psychotic behaviors.
The worst thing that can happen is that a person goes out and gets lost, or carries out behaviors that put their life or that of others at risk; It is advisable to always consult with a specialist psychologist and psychiatrist to analyze where this event comes from.
The hallucinations
It is important to know that, in psychosis, the person begins by seeing or hearing things. That is, he experiences hallucinations.
When the hallucination is visual
The person could see other beings that only exist in their perception, or dark spots that are not really there ; There are proven studies that show how those who suffer from certain forms of psychosis feel as if they were leaving their body, and other people, as if there were ropes inside the brain that hang from the roof of the mouth.
Although it is not clearly known why it occurs, such visions may occur in some schizophrenic episodes and in bipolar disorder.
When the hallucination is auditory
The person may hear noises inside or outside their head as if they are speaking calling them to do something, and I couldn’t distinguish if it was his normal thinking or if it was this psychotic picture This is why these subjects could leave without returning home, since they do not realize the auditory instructions they are following.
Prevention is key
There are indicators to prevent crises due to psychosis
1. Notice if you spend time alone, but no more than 1 hour a day
It is important to know that spending a lot of time alone on a regular basis is a risk element associated with psychosis.
2. Analyze your thoughts to make sure you have goals and they are achievable
Also make sure that these goals last over time Often people who cannot sustain a thought and translate it into objectives present psychotic symptoms without knowing it.
3. Analyze your emotions
If sometimes you are very excited and suddenly your mood drops suddenly without a clear explanation, It could be due to bipolar disorder, which predisposes one to developing psychotic symptoms If this lasts more than 6 months, it is important to consult with a specialist.
4. Detect if you are neglecting your personal hygiene
In problems associated with psychosis there is a tendency to neglect personal hygiene If these problems occur, it is important to start considering a review with a mental health specialist.
On the other hand, in psychotic conditions people forget to wash their clothes and the days go by without realizing the reality of time, so they do not wash their clothes, which is why they put them dirty again around 5 to 6 times.
You may be interested: “5 signs of poor mental health that you should not ignore”
5. Notice if there is no longer eye contact
People who begin to have a psychotic episode stop looking people in the eyes If several of the things described above are present and this point is added, there are already many risk indicators.
6. Notice if you are stopping seeing yourself in the mirror
People who lose contact with themselves stop seeing themselves in the mirror; is an important indicator because the identity of the self begins to be lost
Related article: “Psychopathologies of perception: types, characteristics and symptoms”
What can be done?
If several of the aspects described here occur, it is important to go to a therapy professional, since it can prevent the person from reaching greater problems. When there is prompt attention, the symptoms decrease in the long run, since when treated with therapy and psychotropic drugs, the brain receives what it is missing.
The specialist will make an evaluation of the trigger(s) of psychosis ; Sometimes there are usually psychotic episodes due to the family dynamics that are taking place, or due to a malfunction in the biochemistry of the brain; It could also be due to the consumption of some tea, some drug or alcohol, etc. During the examination with the specialist, it will be determined whether it is a psychosis as such, a psychotic episode where drugs have to be administered, or a single episode.
There are institutions in which support is provided to family members to be able to go hand in hand with the patient and family members learn to lead a life with this family member, since it is not easy to live like this. On the other hand, using medication as indicated by the doctor is important to lead a goal-oriented life.
