Symptoms of Psychotic Episodes
By Paul RothbartEach year, 100,000 young Americans experience a psychotic episode. These episodes can be connected with several types of mental illness and involve a break from reality. These episodes can be frightening and, are themselves, symptoms of mental illness. People who experience psychosis should be receiving treatment. There are also symptoms that can indicate an impending episode. The ability to recognize these symptoms is very helpful in allowing you to seek help immediately before having to undergo a scary and disturbing experience.
Lack of Self-Care
A common sign that may indicate a psychotic episode is imminent is ignoring self-care. This is often connected to hygiene and the person stops showering, brushing their teeth, or even getting dressed each day. If the individual is normally a meticulously clean person, the sign is an even stronger indicator. At the start of psychosis, a person may lose self-awareness due to not thinking clearly and neglect taking care of themselves.
Inability to Think Clearly
A frequent early symptom of a coming psychotic episode is a lack of focus, concentration, and the ability to think clearly. Depending upon the individual, this symptom can range from subtle to extreme. Communication may be difficult, and the person's behavior may change significantly. Others may be better able to pick up on these clues than the person suffering from the mental illness. They can intervene and guide the individual to seek help, which may be able to slow or head off the psychotic episode.
Isolation
Isolation is a symptom of many mental illnesses including psychosis. The individual may avoid social engagements that are a normal part of their lives. This is especially telling as the person is normally outgoing and socially active. In extreme situations, the individual may withdraw from everyone, including family and close friends. This can be detrimental to others recognizing the signs that the individual may be on the verge of a psychotic episode. If someone you know is prone to mental illness and begins to avoid others, it's a good idea to check on them.
Unusual Moods
One's emotions are often severely affected by psychosis. There may be extreme feelings of anger, guilt, or frustration. In other cases, a person may feel nothing, just numbness. Sometimes, there may be feelings that are strange, disturbing, or inappropriate. Experiencing moods of any of these types is a very common sign of an impending psychotic episode.
Mental health is every bit as important as physical health. Having a psychotic episode creates a break from reality that can be scary and dangerous. Know the symptoms and be able to recognize them in yourself or people close to you. The sooner you get help, the better able you will be to manage your psychosis.
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