What are Depression and Bipolar with Psychotic Features?

Depression with psychotic features, also called psychotic depression, and bipolar with psychotic features are subtypes of major depression and of bipolar disorder respectively. They occur when a severe depressive or manic episode includes some form of psychosis.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, someone who is psychotic is out of touch with reality. Psychosis could include hallucinations (such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not really there), delusions (which are essentially false beliefs not grounded in reality or false perceptions), or some other break with reality.

In this video, I go into further detail about what a diagnosis of major depression or bipolar disorder with psychotic features means.

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SOCIALS

#depression #bipolar #psychosis #psychoticfeatures #mentalhealth #mentalillness

[LivingWellwithSchizophrenia]

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[pinkbird]

I have bipolar disorder with psychotic features (during downs) and it was difficult to diagnose but I am on the right path! Don’t give up! Everything is temporary. ❤️

[orangepulp]

When I was manic I thought I was a saint I went around blessing people

[jimmythesaint]

We're still human. This channel hopefully reminds people of that.

[freezeblizz]

I have bipolar, and when I hit the bottom (depression) I felt like the police officers are out to get me, it’s just a matter of time when I actually did nothing wrong at all, I was scared shitless that everyone’s mad at me & will come and get me. I turned of my phone for days and stayed in a dark room crying. I quit my job too because I thought if I went out then someone will catch me.

It was a very dark moment.

On the other side, when mania kicks in.. I thought I was more than God lol

What a life.

[meda_cat]

Thank you for making this video. I don’t usually hear people talk about depression or bipolar with psychotic features. I have struggled with depression for most of my adult life but earlier this year I experienced my first psychotic break. It was a terrifying experience where I heard voices, saw “secret messages” everywhere and became convinced that the TV was talking to me directly. I ended up being involuntarily admitted to a psych hospital where my delusions only worsened. I didn’t trust the nurses or the food or the medication and I didn’t want to shower because I thought I would get electrocuted. I became paranoid that we were being experimented on or that cops were going to arrest me even if I haven’t done anything. The psychiatrist initially diagnosed me with schizoaffective disorder but it was later changed to depression with psychotic features. I was discharged after 11 days and I haven’t had an episode to this degree since. But this experienced left a permanent scar on my mental health and i worry it can happen again.

[SchizophrenicCathy]

I was diagnosed with bipolar 1 with psychotic features before I was diagnosed with bipolar schizoaffective disorder (which was later changed AGAIN to depressive type schizoaffective disorder after we determined that I haven't had a manic episode in several years). I've noticed this pattern a lot in people I've met with schizoaffective disorder.

[alienreggaeradio]

I had voices for 18 years and then I decided my voices aren't people. For the past 2 years this November. Im easier to talk to me now. I was before but now I can be myself. New meds and prayer did this. I hear them here and there but not like before.

[halgaucher]

I have been diagnosed with DID which is a “logical disorder” (meaning that it functions structurally, and usually doesn’t feature disorganized thought or psychosis) but parts of us experienced transient childhood psychosis in the past and drug-induced psychosis as an adult. I’ve described the ambiguity of voices as knowing the difference between “outside” and “inside” voices. We still experience passive auditory hallucinations and paranoia, but thankfully are no longer prone to delusions/“true” hallucinations (true meaning the medical distinction where they are indistinguishable from reality rather than understood to be hallucinations.) I say all this bc psychosis and hallucinations come in so many forms and gradients and I feel like people don’t really consider them on a spectrum, or it’s comorbidity.

[tamarabradberry]

I had a very short psychotic moment during my depression 32 years ago as well as a moment of, I guess delusion. It only happened once and never returned. I remember it well. I never told anyone....

[RaysDad]

Psychosis can also be experienced by people with personality disorders. When my friend with Borderline Disorder and I tried dating, her anxiety over being in a serious relationship brought on psychosis.

[foxwoodjones]

Lauren, I just wanted to tell you that your videos have made me decide to go back to seeing my therapist on a regular basis to deal with my depression. I’ve kind of just let the treatments for all of my illnesses (physical & mental) go lax for too long. After 17 years, I was just over it all. But I’m determined to keep putting in the time and effort to get better. Thank you for being you and offering these videos to others. I also very much enjoyed the “day in the life” video of yours and getting to see more of your silly side. Take care!❤️

[manicantsettleonausername]

It's amazing how you are able to explain such a complicated topic in such an accessible, succinct and clear way. Thank you!

[MegaBait]

A person I love has this and it tears me up seeing them like be well.

[IlaughedIcried]

I typed "depression with psychotic features" in the Youtube search bar because I've been a tiny bit worried lately that I might be experiencing this, and wanted more information. When a LAUREN VIDEO popped up, I was so excited!!! I love your channel SO MUCH, and seeing that you'd actually addressed this was like discovering that the local ice cream parlor has my favorite flavor back in the case. :) You are just the best, as always. So honoring, calm, informative and accessible. Thanks!

[SofiHowie]

I have major depressive disorder with psychotic features (psychotic depression) I hadn't heard of it before the doctor told me about it. Thanks for posting

[rebecataufner]

My OCD's obsessional intrusive thinking got so stuck during a crisis that I started having lack of insight, very high magical thinking, high ideia of reference and temporary delusinal beliefs.

[JAKBBBBB]

I’ve been watching your videos since my daughter’s admission to a hospital with an acute psychosis 😔Your videos gave me hope for my daughter’s future !
Keep doing what you’re doing Lauren
You’re amazing ♥️

[XenoTranceR]

I really appreciate you making this video, genuinely. All of my psychiatrists that I have gone through have never explained my diagnosis to me properly and it's always been really difficult for me to depict what it is I am feeling, or whether or not the things that I think, say, or do, are normal or not and ultimately, I end up feeling ashamed of myself or think that I am going insane.
Most points in my life I'd end up masking a lot of what I was enduring in my head because I was told by one of my psychiatrists that what I go through is all in my head and that I'm just crazy, which resulted in me just staying quiet during evaluations and being automatically embarrassed of all my manic episodes and the thoughts I'd have.

Thank you so much for sharing all of this info, and most importantly, thank you for helping me realize that I am a human being that just needed reassurance.

[mentalhealthwithalana]

I have Bipolar and have hallucinations with both my Depressive episodes and Manic, this video explains it so clearly and accurately, thank you so much