“People who have psychosis are dangerous and violent”.

For the most part, false. People who are in psychosis are more likely to cause harm to themselves than others. This can be through social withdrawal, substance misuse, eating disorders or malnutrition, self harming behaviours and even suicide. There have been instances where psychosis has led to incidents of harm toward others. When someone’s delusions or hallucinations go unchecked their survival instincts can go into overdrive. Their delusions become reality. This is why early intervention is important and extremely necessary. It’s a very scary and very real illness and should be taken seriously with all cases.

“Psychosis is just paranoia”.

False. Psychosis can range in symptoms and beliefs for each person. Someone may have a “positive” psychotic experience where they believe delusions of grandeur. Someone else may have experiences of extreme paranoia and terrifying hallucinations. Someone may suffer with both simultaneously causing immense mental anguish and confusion. Some people describe missing the elevated mood and euphoria their psychosis gave them whereas others describe feeling nothing but sheer terror and fear. Everyone’s experiences may have common themes but it will be completely unique to that individual.

“My psychosis wasn’t as bad as someone else’s. I don’t need help”.

Completely false. Psychosis is a spectrum as is any disability or mental health disorder. Autism is a spectrum. OCD is a spectrum. ADHD is a spectrum. Depression is a spectrum. Anxiety is a spectrum. Personality disorders are a spectrum. Schizophrenia is a spectrum. Psychosis is no different. Just because you don’t believe that your psychosis is as bad as someone else’s doesn’t mean you don’t deserve help. Intervention is crucial to ensure your best quality of life and to hinder any further developments or relapses into the illness. For example: two people are sat in the ER of a hospital. One has a severe wound on their arm. Another is experiencing abdominal discomfort. The person with a severe wound will be seen first as the severity of their injury is immediately life threatening. The other will have to wait a bit longer to be seen and treated but just because one person was seen first doesn’t mean that the other is dismissed or doesn’t deserve treatment. Psychosis presents differently for everyone and based on the severity one person may need immediate intervention whilst someone else who has milder symptoms may not but it doesn’t detract from the seriousness or validity of their experience.

“Psychosis is demonic”.

False. This is a common belief amongst highly religious groups and organizations. Psychosis is a symptom of an underlying internal or external pressure. It’s chemicals within the brain. For example: someone with bipolar or schizophrenia may develop psychosis or manic psychosis/mania due to an influx of dopamine flooding the brain. Individuals with depression may also develop psychosis due to a sudden chemical imbalance within the brain. It isn’t demonic or demonic possession. Instances of demonic possession can be chalked up to the patients in question suffering from a delusion or mental health condition with family members who are susceptible to such beliefs feeding into the delusions which culminates into a “folie á deux” or shared delusion/psychosis. Everyone has differing views or beliefs when it comes to this phenomena and this isn’t meant to detract from people’s views but add a different perspective.

“Only mentally ill people can develop psychosis”.

False. Psychosis can happen to anyone at any time given the right internal or external stressors. Instances such as isolation, grief, heartbreak, job loss, abusive dynamics, drug abuse, alcohol dependency, homelessness, addiction, malnourishment or malnutrition, ongoing stress, sleep deprivation or any other stressor can contribute or cause an emotional or psychotic break in an otherwise mentally healthy individual. Those with mental health disorders are more susceptible to developing psychosis compared to those who can be described as neurotypical but it doesn’t mean they are the only individual who can develop it.

Psychosis is a spectrum which can range in severity. No two cases are ever the same such as no two people suffering from the same health condition are the same. Its onset can be either rapid or slow. Episodes can range from days to years. Some people may become aware they have psychosis whereas others may not. Some people may be able to function “normally” whilst going through psychosis through internalizing symptoms whereas another may not depending on symptoms. Anyone can develop it.

Every case is valid and deserves treatment. Every individual is entitled to healthcare and recovery. Remission isn’t linear but with time and the correct treatment symptoms can be reduced and managed.