Not Real, But Feels Real: Demystifying Psychosis & Delusions

What is psychosis like for the people who experience it? In this video I discuss the symptoms of psychosis. Psychosis is the inability to determine reality from non-reality. It is a set of symptoms that can appear in many different illnesses. In addition to being present in mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder, you can also become psychotic as a result of certain medication side effects (such as steroids), thyroid disease and during the post-partum period.

It can also happen when using other substances such as marijuana or LSD. Usually when it results from substance use, the effect is temporary.

[DrTraceyMarks]

LISTEN WITHOUT THE MUSIC
There are now two audio tracks. Go to the settings wheel on the right-hand side of the video player and choose the English (United States) track

[rubywine]

Antipsychotic medication saved my life. Psychosis is no joke.

[sifugurusensei]

Speaking from experience, psychosis is temporary insanity

[isaacinternet]

Psychosis is incredibly scary when it’s happening to you. Luckily with mine I was able to stay one foot, or maybe one...toe, in reality. I knew what I was experiencing was too weird to actually be real, but that didn’t make it any less frightening!

[toni]

I've had an episode of psychosis. It was so scary. I remember hearing voices that told me to rip my hair out or scratch my skin hard so I would bleed. I could see spiders all over my walls and furniture to the point the white walls looked crawling with black. I spent three or four days compulsively scrubbing my room clean. Instead of hoapitalizing me my mum was glad I was cleaning. I was delusional and believed people were trying to get to me to hurt me. I locked myself in the bathrooms at school and my guidance teacher couldn't convince me to come out. She had to bring my best friend from class because I wouldn't trust anyone else. This came after a major depression episode.

[taracmonroe]

You are a highly intelligent and warm-hearted person. The world needs more like you (especially working in psychiatry departments). Thank you.

[DrTraceyMarks]

Sorry about the loud background music. I've since stopped using background music. All of my videos are captioned and if you turn on the captions you can still see what I'm saying. Thanks for watching.🙂

[rachellindon]

This is the MOST accurate video I have ever seen involving psychosis. My mother was diagnosed with psychosis in late 2016 and it changed the lives of my family forever - it was the scariest time of her life and subsequently, I actually developed PTSD from the trauma I had witnessed her go through. It's one of the most scariest things for anyone to go through and even for those who have to care for a parent or family member with the illness.

[BrianPremo]

The more you acknowledge the psychosis, the stronger it gets. I have bouts of Derealization episodes and the worst thing I can do is stop to think about how messed up everything feels. I find ignoring it and just letting your autopilot carry you until you are free - is the best approach, for me. All that being said, I do believe the reality as we know it isn’t what we think it is. I think the derealization episodes are me seeing the gears of what makes this reality function, and the human brain wasn’t intended to see it.

[m.i.t.h.]

For me, Psychosis is either horrifically terrifying. Depressive Psychosis was like being a helpless mess in a horror movie with the worst possible villain and Manic Psychosis was like being the hero in a chaotic world disaster movie.

[SurfingTheMentawais]

I talked myself out of my psychotic symptoms. I experienced a persecutory delusion for 7 months. The 2 key factors that enabled me to self-abort were 1. Having family and friends tell me they were with me no matter what, and 2. Having a family member go through some of my fixed delusions with me and ASK me why this would happen (rather than TELLING me I needed a doctor). This logical, non-judgemental approach led me to reconsidered what was happening and eventually stumble upon a medical condition called 'auditory hallucination'. This was a 'eureka moment', and from then on the psychosis ended.

[brady]

Psychotic breakdowns are the greatest terror you'll feel to the point you fear for your own life its also dangerous to the people around you as you could hurt someone you believe have the intention to harm you

[karamorgan]

I went through psychosis back in February. I thought it would never happen to me. I was hospitalized for 2 weeks. I still haven’t gotten over the trauma of that episode and feel like I never will.

[BltSpdMaN]

I had a bad episode of psychosis last year that lasted several months. I was afraid to go outside in the dark, thought I was always being followed, thought everyone was always watching my every move. Luckily I turned my life to Christ, the symptoms started to slow down and things got back to normal. I’m grateful I don’t have to deal with that anymore.

[marybrasseale]

Usually, when I am about to have a psychotic episode, I start to have trouble reading, writing, and talking, but I talk to myself out loud. I also can't tolerate anything that tastes sweet, even fruit, without getting very sick. It's taken me years to learn these warning signs, and I truly believe in the mind and gut connection.

[nubajackson]

My uncle just took his life due to undiagnosed psychosis…Prayers up for anyone going through it hoping you get the help you need

[CherieDeDieu]

I have depression and at night, I can no longer sleep in total darkness as I always feel like someone is watching me. It's so bad I don't sleep much. Hope I will get better soon.

[xX_QuickScoperSwagMaster_xX]

I was diagnosed with schizophrenia after a psychotic episode that happened right when this video came out, all during the first semester of 2018.
I take schizophrenia pills everyday since 3 years now. I wish such an experience to anyone. No one deserves to live a psychosis. This is just pure chaos.

[jwill]

I love the videos but the happy music while discussing something dark or unfortunate makes me crazy, it's maddening

[rachelgonzales]

I would describe my breakdown five years ago as a psychotic episode, but I was never really sure that was what it was, and the doctors and therapists did not correct me. But this clarifies it for me: it was. From your explanation and the comments, l did have not one, but several over my lifetime. I’m 58 now. Thank you.