Experience of psychosis anyone?

[thinkofanamechange]

I had my first (and hopefully last) psychotic episode about 6 weeks ago. I spent 3+ weeks in hospital and have been on abilify for 5 weeks.

I hadn't eaten or slept in over a week which lead to paranoid delusions and halucinations.

Whilst I know lots of people who have experienced depression and anxiety I dont know of anyone who has been through this.

My daughter had a psychotic episode at age 14 and was in hospital for 10 months mainly due to self harming. That was 2 years ago and has a lot of problems with anxiety which she is slowly overcoming. It all sounds very frightening. I think people don't like to share these experiences cos of the stigma of schozophrenia which different from having a psychotic episode. xx

No personal experience but work in mental health.

Well done on recovering so quickly.

Hopefully this won't happen to you again, but if it does then knowing your early warning signs gives you a chance to nip it in the bud, if you access the right help quickly enough.

Psychosis is not rare. I'm sure there will be someone on here soon who will have shared your experience

Hi,

I haven't personally suffered psychosis, but my exH this time last year. His was the result of cannabis (once or twice a week - but over a period of several months).

His resulted in command hallucinations (which he acted on).

He also spent 3 weeks in hospital and went onto abilify.

Thankfully since the cause of the psychosis was known, and has been stopped, he's not had any more since then.

Do you have a team supporting you at home?

exH was allowed to continue using the OT groups at the hospital for 4 weeks after he was discharged from them. Plus had weekly meetings at home with a CPN, plus support from InSTEP who work with people who've suffered from psychosis. Helping them learn to recognise any early symptoms should they ever return etc.

Do you have a CPN coming to see you see/that you still see? If so perhaps you could ask if there are any groups in your area where you could meet others that have experience the same?

wherecanihide I know what you mean about the stigma, I've been calling it a "nervous breakdown" because of the stigma attached to the word psychosis.

I'm under the care of the early intervention team and have just been discharged from the local crisis team. I've been having meetings with them twice a week.

No OT as yet, none offered in hospital either.

Not sure what the root of my problem is. I dont drink or take drugs but I've suffered with anxiety for years and I suspect some form of PND since DS2 was born 3 years ago.