Can one purposely become psychotic?

Answer 1

No one can purposely become psychotic. Psychosis, in psychological language, is a condition in which a person isn't in contact with reality like most people.

Psychosis can take many forms, it can include:

Sensing things that aren't really there (called Hallucinations)
Having beliefs that aren't based on reality (called Delusions)
Problems in thinking clearly (e.g. thought insertion, withdrawal, block, broadcasting)
Not realising that there is anything wrong with themselves (called lack of insight)

In Psychiatry there are a number of disorders that come under the general title of the psychoses. They all differ in symptoms, but all are joined in the fact that the person is in someway not experiencing reality like most people.

These are:

Schizophrenia
Schizoaffective Disorder
Manic-Depression (Bipolar Disorder)
Mania
Delusional (Paranoid) Disorders
Psychotic Depression

In fact, there is quite a lot of controversy about the psychiatric classification of the psychoses. With many experts, now arguing, that it is more helpful to treat people according to the specific symptoms that they have (e.g. hearing voices in their head) rather than putting them under a label such as "schizophrenic", which can cover widely different people, with widely different problems.

People suffering with a long-term psychosis often have problems looking after themselves, and getting on well with other people.


What Causes It:

No one really knows, pretty much every possible suggestion has been made throughout the years. Some popular theories include:
You inherit it (through your DNA)
You have a 'wiring problem' in your brain
You have a chemical imbalance in your brain/body
You get too anxious or stressed
It's a psychological defence mechanism
any combination of the above
Although we know psychosis can be brought on in some people by:

Using Illegal Drugs (e.g. cannabis, LSD)
Infections (e.g. Menningitis)
Brain Tumours (Cancer)
Epilepsy
Head Injuries


What Treatment Is There?
Psychosis has been shown to respond well to treatments such as antipsychotic medication, and more recently Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy has been suggested as working well. Family and Group therapies are often suggested as working well with certain individuals.

Despite providing quite useful ways of thinking about psychosis, traditional Psychodynamic therapies are generally not thought to work well, and some people even consider them potentially harmful.

Social skills training, occupational therapy, and supported employment schemes have been shown to help some long-term sufferers, without necessarily treating the underlying psychosis.

Current thinking reckons that if you catch psychosis at it's early stages (called prodromal), you have better prospects in treating it.


Do People Recover?

Some people who experience a psychosis may only experience it once throughout their whole life (this is called a 'single episode'), other people may have problems with it for the rest of their lives.

Answer 2

Being psychiotic means that thought and perception are severely impaired.

Taking this definition, having a purpose to become psychotic means the person is not psychotic.

Watch a film called "Catch 22" to see the real meaning of this or an episode of MASH where Kilnger dresses up as a woman to get out of the army.

Answer 3

You know I will be the first to say that I am a Nutcase.. Because I am. But Why would you want to be psychotic. I really am psychotic and I see and hear voices all the time. I take Resperdal 5 mg. for it but I still sometimes hear and see things. And here you are wanting to see and heard thing that ain't there!! WHY!! Do you have any ideal what it is like?? How hard it is to know if what you are seeing is real or not?? Well I do and i dont like it at all!!.. And it;s not just the seeing and hearing things! What about all the other mental problems that go with it.. You better really be carful what you wish for. Because it could happen to YOU!!! And you know what idiot you heard it here first from a REAL Nutcase!!""NUT'S"" ..PS ..did i win...did i win...did i win???

Answer 4

depends on the situation...if u killed somebody, than u haVe to become purposely psychotic.

Answer 5

Why, do you WANT to be psychotic?

Answer 6

With the intake of alcohol or certain drugs yes.

Answer 7

WE ALL ARE AT A BALANCE BETWEEN PSYCHOSIS AND DEPRESSION. LIFE CHANGING EVENTS TIP US INTO ANY OF THESE DIRECTIONS DEPENDING ON ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND AVAILABLE SUPPORT SYSTEM. MENTAL HEALTH TENDENCIES CAN ALSO BE INHERITED.

Answer 8

asking a ques like dat i think u r

Answer 9

Yes, and stop watching me.

Answer 10

r u retarded