Anyone else recovering from a psychotic episode?

Question

How bad did it get? When did you start feeling better? What helped most? What caused your psychosis? (schizophrenia, depression, mania, etc).

To answer my own question:

I'm going through my second (third? fourth?) psychotic episode, caused by schizotypal PD, and triggered by work stress. It's bad enough for me to be off work for a couple of months, but I'm starting work again soon.

The worst thing was feeling watched, my mind invaded by something else that I thought was going to destroy me. I also saw and heard things.

I'm not sure things are getting better. I still feel my world is like glass and things could look in whenever they want. I don't feel they are looking at me any more, but they feel nearby.

I'm on some medication, I don't know if it is helping much. Talking to my partner sometimes helps, sometimes it makes me exasperated. I've made a safe, quiet room in the house where I can retreat, that helps a bit. Going for walks helps. I'd love to hear more coping strategies.

I want to get back to work (perhaps in adjusted circumstances).

I am on general anxiety meds: i.e. lexapro.

Answer 1

I have a diagnosis of a psychosis. At its worse, I was preoccupied by hallucinations of thoughts being put into my head and thoughts being taken out of my head. I was also bothered by delusions of strangers chattering about me. Also delusions of grandeur made me think I was famous.

I received two years of psychotherapy. In combination with a treatment of medicine, psychotherapy persuaded me that I have a thought disorder, and that there is no reason for strangers to chatter on about me, although this delusion persists occasionally.

I was working full-time in a high stress job environment, the tax office, although I was only a temp worker (an intern) before I entered psychotherapy. I don't work anymore.

I believed I was experiencing ESP until I was told I was psychotic. I also thought some employees in the tax office were maliciously impersonating one another's voices.

Have you been very imaginative before your psychotic episodes began? Maybe your imagination has been taken over by these morbid thoughts you have mentioned in your details.

What medication are you on? Is your partner supportive? It is a wise idea to have made yourself a quiet retreat. It is also nice to note that exercise helps you feel better. For me, I absorb myself in entertainment & music and the internet and in Yahoo! Answers.

Answer 2

Second Psychotic Episode

Answer 3

What happened to you was totally out of your control. At the time, you were experiencing this psychotic break, your mind was imbalanced. This was not of your creation. Would you blame someone for getting sick when they had some tainted food? At the time of your psychosis the chemical balance in your brain was off. This might be just some genetic, physical or chemical problem you have in your brain. At this point, you need to be gentle with yourself and try to realize that because you have this problem you are not a bad person. Feeling bad will not help your future recovery nor change the past. Others need to be compassionate towards you too. We don't always have total control over our emotions and mental health. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You are a good person.

Answer 4

My grandmother was a paranoid schizophrenic. I think her first episode was in her early 30's. I witnessed I think about 3 episodes before she died. Once she thought my parents were eating me and wanted to take me away and then went down to our local post office where she proclaimed she was god, she thought demons were scrathing her at night, she thought she was god's bride and wore a string around her wedding finger. She ran from a highway patrol and went right out into oncoming traffic in the highway, she started walking down a very busy highway by her house drinking coffee and just sat in the middle of the road, she thought the male attendants at the mental health center were watching her change (at 60yrs old), she maxed out all her credit cards, she attacked and beat the crap out of my 15 year old cousin who was living with her at the time. The medicine they gave her made her shake and drool and sleep all the time she was like a zombie and I always new when an episode was coming on because she would start laughing and talking and getting out of the house because she had stopped taking her meds and who could blame her with the way they made her feel but eventually she would get REALLY bad and have to go inpatient. The episodes just got worse and worse as she got older and every time she would get back from the mental institute she would alittle bit less like herself until finally there wasnt much left of my old grandmother just a zombie. My sister is now having symptoms she attacked my crippled aunt because she heard her screaming inside her head. When you tell her its no big deal and they have meds for this. She says she isnt crazy and no one understands her that she doesnt need meds I really dont know what to do I want to help my sister before something bad happends she has 2 kids that are little. I would call someone but I already checked into it and she has to be full blown before they will do anything and for now she can lie and hide it when she needs to. I am so very sorry for you. I wish you the best. I will pray for you.

Answer 5

First off, I'm sorry. I know how agonizing it is. I went through a couple of them within the last 2 years and it tooks its toll on me. I'm literally having to learn to do everything all over again. I cope by tuning out with tv or reading a book to try and forget what's going on in my head. You're doing the right things, it just takes time and that always feels like forever.

Answer 6

wow, my depression was worse a while back, and i started hearing voices and my mind was confused most of the time. I really don't know what defines a psychotic episode, but my depression most likely brought on the confusion and voices. i've started reading a self help book on self esteem. (something i lost during that time) i like to participate in forums or chats about things i am passionate about. I also like this website, i love to help people.

Answer 7

Yes, I have had numerous almost constant psychotic episodes my whole life (diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia) the stress of my current flat mate is too much it is causing things to get worse more louder strange noises more frequent voices more hallucinations she is literally driving me mad (well madder) so I have just moved out and things already feel so much more calmer.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

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Answer 10

I remember being psychotic and also being attacked, and it was indeed real.
You should talk with me... I was going to add some stuff but it's too much to post.
In case we don't talk I recommend you read Robert Bruce's book on defense against what he calls negative entities.