Dr. Yashsvidevi Jadeja

Psychosis refers to a collection of symptoms that affect the mind, where there has been some loss of contact with reality. During an episode of psychosis, a person’s thoughts and perceptions are disrupted and they may have difficulty recognizing what is real and what is not.

People with psychosis typically experience delusions (false beliefs, for example, that people on television are sending them special messages or that others are trying to hurt them) and hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that others do not, such as hearing voices telling them to do something or criticizing them). Other symptoms can include incoherent or nonsense speech and behavior that is inappropriate for the situation.

However, a person will often show changes in their behavior before psychosis develops.Behavioral warning signs for psychosis include:

• Suspiciousness, paranoid ideas, or uneasiness with others
• Trouble thinking clearly and logically
• Withdrawing socially and spending a lot more time alone
• Unusual or overly intense ideas, strange feelings, or a lack of feelings
• Decline in self-care or personal hygiene
• Disruption of sleep, including difficulty falling asleep and reduced sleep time
• Difficulty telling reality from fantasy
• Confused speech or trouble communicating
• Sudden drop in grades or job performance

Alongside these symptoms, a person with psychosis may also experience more general changes in behavior that include:

• Emotional disruption
• Anxiety
• Lack of motivation
• Difficulty functioning overall

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. The risk of violence and suicide decreases with treatment for psychosis, so it is important to seek help. If you find that you are experiencing these changes in behavior or notice them in a friend or family member and they begin to intensify or do not go away, reach out to a health care provider.