Through personal experiences, a question has been brought to my attention: Is it possible for a completely aware person to realize that he or she is suffering from psychosis?
2006-12-24 05:53:05 · 9 answers · asked by NereidoftheBlue 2 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
I believe so, it is unlikely however.
2006-12-24 05:55:35 · answer #1 · answered by JoninCT 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One can learn, from experience, that one has experienced episodes of psychosis, and therefore form a basis of data from which to understand how it manifests within the person (not every person experiences psychosis in the same manner) but one cannot say, during an episode, that one is experiencing psychosis.
That is because, in the state of psychosis, the experimental/empirical data one is receiving is flawed. Since empirical data is the objective data we use to make subjective decisions, 'hearing voices' does not come across to the person experiencing them as being 'weird'. That would be like someone standing in front of you, talking to you, and you attempting to stand back and say 'this person is not real, I am merely hallucinating'. If you are experiencing the phenomenon as real, then you consequently cannot entertain the notion that the phenomenon is not real. Attempting to do so would only exacerbate the psychosis, since it would create a 'everything is false' phenomenon, which would force you to reach even further psychologically for answers, which would only lead to greater and greater psychotic imaginings, since your only access to data would be empirically gathered through your damanged psychological state.
I only realize I was having 'delusions' after the fact. Every time they occured, I thought I was being 'rational' and 'logical' in my thinking, and therefore reacting, only to find out that, when the episode was over, I wasn't.
2006-12-24 13:32:47 · answer #2 · answered by Khnopff71 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are in a psychotic state you are not completely aware of yourself and your actions! So are you in control?
Therefore, in my opinion if you are in a psychotic episode you are not completely aware of what's going around you! Therefore, you are not in control! Thus, you are not able to realize that you are suffering from a psychosis!
However, if your getting feed back from family, friends, co-workers employers and customers that you are acting out of character or are being socially unacceptable it's up to you to take heed to this feed back. If your unable or unwilling to do so you might still be experiancing an episode.
Only!!! When YOU accept this feed back will you be able to seek help.
2006-12-24 07:04:41 · answer #3 · answered by Dan M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not being technical but i notice on every page of any psychology book your personality is reflected to some extent......i might recognise a 5% paranoid schitzoprenic tendancy, 30% compulsive obsessive disorder, but only 2% depressive. Maybe I would not believe it if I was 100% paranoid.....or are you really who you say you are Neriedof...........just what is the real reason you are asking this question????? I hear voices....so...many......voices
2006-12-24 06:00:05 · answer #4 · answered by b-overit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some do, some don't... depends if the symptoms are viewed as ego dystonic or ego syntonic. Dystonic- they are viewed as abnormal, the patient recognizes that, and will seek treatment for the problem. Syntonic- the symptoms are seen as normal and the patient does not feel that there is anything wrong with their behavior. They don't seek treatment (because they feel nothing is wrong) but are usually forced into it by family and friends who do see the problem, and the patient wants to go in "to prove them wrong".
2006-12-24 06:25:48 · answer #5 · answered by Cruel Angel 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is possible to know your psychosis. It is beneficial to go to a Therapist or Psychologist/Psychiatrist to find out what your diagnosis is, if you feel that you have a mental illness.
2006-12-24 06:02:08 · answer #6 · answered by jdis 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it is possible to know that somethings not quite right,a lot of people who are on the onset of mental illness dont believe that they are ill they believe that they are part of a conspiracy,it also depends on what the illness is if its a major illness like schizophrenia then they are totally oblivious to the fact that they are ill at all.
2006-12-24 06:03:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I believe it is definitely possible for someone to realise that they are psychotic. However, it is unlikely, and it would take a very "reasonable" person, let's say, to realise this.
2006-12-24 09:12:03 · answer #8 · answered by Corrida 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Self-awareness is the first step towards helping yourself.
2006-12-24 06:01:56 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋