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The Stages of Psychosis: Warning Signs & Symptoms

Jun 12, 2024

Psychosis occurs when someone loses contact with reality. It can cause many symptoms, substantially impacting the patient’s quality of life. Friends and family members can often serve as the first line of defense when it comes to identifying psychosis and ensuring that the affected individual gets treatment as soon as possible. However, it’s also critical to be able to identify symptoms of psychosis in yourself so that you can determine when you may need to seek treatment or when you may need further mental health services.

What Is Psychosis?

Psychosis is a mental health condition that involves a loss of contact with the real world. People suffering from psychosis may see or hear things that other people do not struggle with delusions or believe in things that are not true. Psychosis can also lead to confused or disordered thinking patterns.

Is Psychosis Permanent?

Many people who suffer from psychosis can seek treatment and go on to live fully healthy, active lives. The sooner a patient seeks treatment for and receives help with psychosis symptoms, the better the odds of making a full recovery. Around a quarter of patients will only suffer a single episode, and another 50% may have more than one episode but will otherwise go on to live normal lives.

Warning Signs of Psychosis

Several behaviors could indicate that a patient might be suffering from psychosis. If you notice these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, seek mental health treatment as soon as possible.

• Becoming paranoid or suspicious, especially when around others
• Social withdrawal
• Significant changes in feelings, including seemingly over-the-top, big feelings or a lack of feeling
• Changes in overall perception, including the feeling that something in the area has changed, even when it hasn’t
• Dropping out of activities that they previously enjoyed
• Memory problems
• Distractibility
• Changes in speech, including odd speech patterns or a reduction in the amount they’re willing to talk
• Aggression, especially if it seems unwarranted
• Inability to read social situations or cues
• Heightened sensitivity to noise or light
• Personality changes
• Odd or bizarre behavior

The symptoms of psychosis can vary significantly from one individual to the next. Extreme behavior changes should be a warning sign, especially those that seem very out of character.

Treatments for Psychosis

There are three common treatment methods used to deal with symptoms of psychosis. These treatment methods are normally used in combination with one another. However, a mental health professional will design a treatment regime that best fits the needs of each patient.

• Medication. Antipsychotics can help reduce symptoms and help patients live a more normal, healthy life.
• Talk therapy. Talking through the challenges they face can help many patients deal with symptoms of psychosis successfully.
• Social support. Support from friends and loved ones can make a huge difference in patients’ ability to handle psychotic symptoms and ultimately resume normal life.

Working closely with a mental health professional is essential for patients dealing with psychosis. Prompt treatment is key to future prognosis, including the extent of recovery and the duration of the psychotic episode.

Get the Help You or a Loved One Deserves

If you or a loved one are dealing with symptoms of psychosis, do not wait to seek treatment. At MHS, we offer a range of treatment options to help you identify and manage your symptoms, ultimately allowing you to live a healthier, happier life. Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can help.

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