Psychosis

Psychosis is known as the primary symptom of schizophrenia, but numerous psychiatric and medical conditions can lead to psychotic episodes. If you experience psychosis, don’t wait to see the team at Westwood Psychiatry Associates in Westwood, New Jersey. They offer comprehensive care, including medications and therapy, that reduce your risk of future psychotic episodes and support a fulfilling life. If you need help, book an in-person or telepsychiatry appointment online or call the office today.

What is psychosis?

Psychosis occurs when you don’t know the difference between real life (reality) and hallucinations or delusions. Psychosis may be a diagnosis, such as brief psychotic disorder, or a symptom of another mental or physical condition.

Psychosis may occur if you have:

• Schizophrenia
• Bipolar disorder
• Delusional disorder
• Major depression with psychosis
• Epilepsy
• Brain tumor
• Alzheimer's disease
• Parkinson's disease

Though not common, psychosis may also develop due to medications or after a severe traumatic event.

Will I have warning signs of impending psychosis?

Some people experience changes in their behaviors or feelings before a psychotic episode, such as:

• Having new, intense feelings
• Feeling like your brain is foggy
• Having a hard time talking or communicating
• Struggling to tell reality from fantasy
• Withdrawing from family and friends
• Having paranoid or suspicious thoughts
• Not performing well at work or school

If you recognize any of these red flags, and experience tells you they’re followed by a psychotic episode, then you should seek help at Westwood Psychiatry Associates. They can provide treatment that help slow down or prevent psychosis.

What are the symptoms of psychosis?

During a psychotic episode, you have unusual thoughts and perceive things differently. As a result, you lose touch with reality and have a hard time functioning in your daily life.

Psychosis causes symptoms, such as:

• Delusions (a belief or idea that isn’t based in reality)
• Hallucinations (seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, or feeling things that aren’t really there)
• Incoherent speech (difficulty speaking, repeating words, or using nonsense words0
• Psychotic throughs (believing your thoughts are controlled by others)
• Catatonic behavior (lack or movement or excessive movement)
• Disorganized behavior (talking to yourself, repetitive movements)
• Difficulty sleeping
• Withdrawing from others

During psychosis, you may engage in childish or regressive behaviors.

How is psychosis treated?

It’s important to seek care from Westwood Psychiatry Associates immediately after your first psychotic episode. Getting early treatment can significantly reduce your risk of having another episode in the future.

Your therapist creates a care plan based on your unique mental health needs. However, the primary treatment includes antipsychotic medications combined with therapy. Medications reduce psychosis symptoms, while therapy gives you the skills you need to cope with psychosis and its impact on your life.

If you need psychosis treatment, call Westwood Psychiatry Associates or book an appointment online today.