An episode of psychosis is treatable, and it is possible to recover. It is widely accepted that the earlier people get help the better the outcome. 25% of people who develop psychosis will never have another episode, another 50% may have more than one episode but will be able to live normal lives.
The good news, however, is that it is possible to heal and return to normal after psychosis. This happens most reliably when the required support system is present. With medication and additional therapy, some patients quickly recover. Others may continue experiencing less acute symptoms of psychosis.
Recovery from the first episode usually takes a number of months. If symptoms remain or return, the recovery process may be prolonged. Some people experience a difficult period lasting months or even years before things really settle down.
Experiencing psychosis can be associated with changes in how people see themselves as individuals and in relation to others (ie, changes in their identity).
Psychotic symptoms may be explained as a natural defense mechanism or protective response to stressful environments. This is in line with the fact that psychotic symptoms most often develop during adolescence.
What is it? Psychosis is often described as a "loss of reality" or a "break from reality" because you experience or believe things that aren't real. It can change the way you think, act, feel, or sense things. Psychosis can be very scary and confusing, and it can significantly disrupt your life.
In some cases, a person experiencing a psychotic episode may behave in confusing and unpredictable ways and may harm themselves or become threatening or violent toward others.
Recovery: The last stage of psychosis is recovery. During this stage, the symptoms of psychosis will lessen and the person will be able to return to a normal routine. This phase usually occurs after the person receives treatment for their mental health disorder or stops using the substance that induced psychosis.
Brain changes can happen in people whose psychosis goes untreated. "The more relapses and episodes a person has, the more we see that it can permanently change their brain function and structure," says Tso.
Such changes may include a stronger sense of self, a greater appre- ciation for life, greater spirituality, and better relationships (8–10). There have also been reports of positive changes among individuals who have had psychosis for many years and their families or caregivers (11,12).
But in general, 3 main symptoms are associated with a psychotic episode: hallucinations. delusions. confused and disturbed thoughts.
Need to have a lot of quiet, alone time. Be slower and not feel able to do much. Slowing down and resting is part of allowing the brain to heal. Each person will recover at their own pace, and it could take up to a year of this type of rest for someone to recover.
First-episode psychosis (FEP) can result in a loss of up to 1% of total brain volume and up to 3% of cortical gray matter. When FEP goes untreated, approximately 10 to 12 cc of brain tissue—basically a tablespoon of cells and myelin—could be permanently damaged.
Recovery from a first episode of psychosis varies from person to person. Sometimes symptoms go away quickly and people are able to resume their regular life right away. Other people may need several weeks or months to recover, and they may need support over a longer period of time.
For people who don't have schizophrenia, psychosis may last only a few days. If it was caused by alcohol or a drug, it will fade once the substance leaves their system, and if it was caused by an acute medical condition like high fever, it will fade once the condition is resolved.
It is suggested that psychosis is due to an affection of the supplementary motor area (SMA), located at the centre of the Medial Frontal Lobe network.
Remembering psychotic experiences
Andrew X said, “I struggle to remember things from my psychotic experiences… like my brain has blocked them out deliberately – which I'm cool with”. However, psychotic experiences could also feel so much like reality that some people had vivid memories of them.
What is the evidence for psychotic relapse? Moderate quality evidence suggests the rates of relapse following a first-episode of psychosis are around 28% at one year post-treatment and up to 54% at three years post-treatment.
Psychotic disorders are a group of serious illnesses that affect the mind. They make it hard for someone to think clearly, make good judgments, respond emotionally, communicate effectively, understand reality, and behave appropriately.
not argue, confront or challenge someone about their beliefs or experiences. accept if they don't want to talk to you, but be available if they change their mind. treat the person with respect. be mindful that the person may be fearful of what they are experiencing.
And it's common for one's quality of life to get progressively worse with untreated psychosis. Without a diagnosis, it may be very difficult for you to know the cause of your loved one's psychotic episode or episodes.
The good news is that psychosis is a treatable condition.
Treatment for psychosis is provided by health professionals and involves a number of different approaches, including medication.
Psychotic symptoms, difficulty expressing emotions and making social connections, a tendency to be isolated, and other issues get in the way of meeting friends and establishing relationships. Finding love while living with schizophrenia, however, is far from impossible.
Psychosis is characterized as disruptions to a person's thoughts and perceptions that make it difficult for them to recognize what is real and what isn't. These disruptions are often experienced as seeing, hearing and believing things that aren't real or having strange, persistent thoughts, behaviors and emotions.
Your brain does eventually heal itself. This neuroplasticity or “brain plasticity” is the more recent discovery that gray matter can actually shrink or thicken; neural connections can be forged and refined or weakened and severed. Changes in the physical brain manifest as changes in our abilities.