5️⃣ Psychosis Disorders

Psychosis disorders are mental health conditions where a person may lose touch with reality.
This can affect how they think, see, hear, and understand the world.

Psychosis is serious but treatable, especially with early support from the NHS and mental health professionals.

It is not weakness. It is a medical condition — and help works.

Psychosis means having difficulty telling what is real and what is not.

A person may:

✔️ Hear or see things others don’t
✔️ Strongly believe things that aren’t true
✔️ Feel very suspicious or frightened
✔️ Feel confused or disconnected
✔️ Struggle to think clearly

These experiences feel very real to the person.

• Long-term condition with repeated psychotic episodes
   
• Needs ongoing treatment and support
   

• Psychosis + strong mood problems (depression or mania)
   

• Short-term psychosis (days/weeks)
   
• Often after extreme stress
   

• Severe depression with psychotic symptoms
   

• Caused by alcohol, drugs, or withdrawal
   

• Can happen during severe mania or depression
   

✅ Hearing voices
✅ Seeing things
✅ Strong unusual beliefs (delusions)
✅ Paranoia (feeling watched or threatened)
✅ Confused thinking
✅ Fear and distress

✅ Withdrawing from others
✅ Talking strangely
✅ Neglecting self-care
✅ Agitation or restlessness
✅ Acting on false beliefs

These symptoms are real to the person — even if others cannot see them.
 

Psychosis usually develops from several factors together:

🧬 Family history
🧠 Brain chemistry changes
😞 Severe stress or trauma
😴 Lack of sleep
💊 Medication effects
🍺 Alcohol/drugs
🩺 Physical illness

It is not your fault.

With the right care, many people recover and live well.

• Antipsychotic medicines
   
• Help reduce hallucinations and delusions
   

• CBT for psychosis
   
• Supportive counselling
   
• Family therapy
   

• Regular sleep routine
   
• Structured daily plan
   
• Healthy meals
   
• Avoiding alcohol/drugs
   
• Stress management
   

• Mental health teams
   
• Crisis services
   
• Supported housing (if needed)
   
• Peer support
   

Early treatment = better recovery.

If psychosis symptoms increase:

✅ Stay with someone you trust
✅ Go to a calm, quiet place
✅ Reduce noise and stress
✅ Use slow breathing
✅ Take medication as prescribed
✅ Contact your care team

Do not face it alone.

Get immediate help if someone:

❗ Feels unsafe
❗ Is hearing voices telling them to harm
❗ Is very confused or frightened
❗ Is aggressive or reckless
❗ Is not eating, sleeping, or caring for themselves
❗ Has suicidal thoughts

In the UK:
📞 Call 999 (emergency)
📞 Call 111 (urgent advice)

Safety comes first.

💙 Psychosis does not define you.
💙 Many people recover and thrive.
💙 Treatment makes a real difference.
💙 You deserve care, dignity, and hope.