Question about psychosis...?

Question

I'm a psychology major, and I've always wondered if people who are going through psychotic episodes, or any type of psychosis realize what is happening to them, and how they feel. I had a professor tell me that when she was in college, she suffered from a brief psychotic episode, and had to be medicated, but that she didn't remember much of the month she was "out of it". Any thoughts?

Answer 1

I began my "career as a DDD (Schizophrenia paranoia) patient in 1960 when I was in the military. I remember it distinctly because I knew that something was gravely wrong. Normal people don't experience these things so I was even afraid to tell any one about them because I was sure of what would happen to me. I began to withdraw; the symptoms (mental voices) grew so numerous and so bad they would at times force me to my knees.

Depression set in; I became suicidal and was involuntarily hospitalized. Since I was already in the hospital (the worst had happened) I told about the voices and other hallucinations and was diagnosed "Schizophrenia Paranoid" and medicated. Things began to steadily improve after that as long as I stayed on the meds.

I remember it all clearly. I was at first terrified and withdrawn.I remember every incident of voice hallucination and poltergeist hallucinations since but the terror and withdrawal have decreased. Because (?) I have been curious as to what causes it and being trained as a scientist have tried to rationally analyze the experiences.

I am still on neuroleptic medication and haven't heard a voice in a decade or more and have ceased having poltergeist like visual hallucinations. I was even able to work in my profession for about 15 years and attended several universities.

Answer 2

In my experience with patients who are experiencing psychosis for the first time (newly diagnosed schizophrenics or drug induced psychosis are the most common scenarios), they usually know something odd is happening because of their symptoms - the hallucinations - the oddness with their thoughts (people putting thoughts into their heads or reading their minds etc - thought disorder). They are usually quite scared and not sure why this stuff is happening.

Sometimes when they get very distressed or paranoid, they become difficult to manage (especially the amphetamine induced psychosis patients) and may need to have large doses of tranquillizers. This can interfere with their memory of their episode.

When they are not so difficult to manage, they are usually given lower doses of medications and can often remember what has happened.

I wonder what happens with health professionals who have psychotic breaks. I'm sure there are some who do. That would be an interesting question as to if they realize what is going on.

Answer 3

Hi i am psych 2nd year. I think typically most episodes are rarely remembered as how they are. Usually just a blur of chaos. I have recently been dealing with a 'jekyll, hyde' type patient whos behaviour goes from conformity to please to sudden hysteria. In this case the episodes last usually around 10 mins until sedation kicks in. Afterwards the patient understands that something has happened, something that caused patient to feel fear but this usually dissipates shortly after. I think that although there are sometimes strong simularitie, every situation is unique. Hope this helps and from one student to another - Good Luck xx

Answer 4

possibly in some or maybe many cases yet i could take difficulty with the thought that fasting in and of itself motives psychosis in all persons. Ghandi wasn't psychotic and a great form of alternative non secular experts who presented deep insights into the human circumstance have been something yet psychotic. i've got faith there is plenty to be gained from regular fasting the two physiologically as properly as psychologically yet having suggested that consistent with danger i'm psychotic huh.

Answer 5

medication didn't work for me. I was too screwed up for that. I remember things but at times they are foggy and at times i mixed up reality with ideas or daydreams, and even dreams and thought that they really happened. It was weird and very intense suffering from two psychotic delusions that i had. But the meds in my opinion are a joke...they lead to all kinds of physical problems and it is as if the pharmacueticals don't care if they kill or hurt 'crazy' people.

Answer 6

People who are psychotic generally lack insight and do not realize they are ill. They are utterly convinced that their delusions are true and often believe their hallucinations are real. People with severe thought disorders usually don't realize that their speech is incoherent and not understandable to others. They may complain of and seek treatment for secondary symptoms like sleep disturbances, anxiety or depression.

Answer 7

My father and my nephew are both schizoprenic and each have had several episodes. I have witnessed it . while they may have lucid moments, I don't think they realize that's what's happening isn't "real." Because it's real to them. I've witnessed my father break down . . . he was seeing stuff, hearing stuff, and he definitely didn't realize what was going on. He was acting on what he perceived to be real. It was terrifying. It's only after medication is given and adjusted properly do they acknowledge that what they were experiencing wasn't "real". Another problem I've noticed is that if they stop taking their medications
they become paranoid and it's hard to get them to take them again. Kind of a vicious cycle.

Answer 8

i've always gone with the catch-22 theory.. crazy people don't know they're crazy. the 1st sign of improving mental health is realizing that something is off

Answer 9

NO NOT ALL TIMES DO YOU REMEMBER THINGS SHE IS RIGHT , THEN WHEN WE GET MEDICATION IN US THEN WE REALIZE WHATS HAPPENING , IT HAS TO DO WITH THE BRAIN FUNCTIONINGS!