Research by Kings College in London and Duke University defines a psychotic experience as “… anything from hearing voices to experiencing psychosis,” which is a mental disorder in which contact with reality is lost or highly impaired.
Psychotic episodes are more common than many people realize. The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) has found that about three in 100 people will experience a psychotic episode in their lifetimes.
Having a psychotic experience, hearing voices, or experiencing delusions or psychosis doesn’t mean that someone is “insane” or “threatening,” as is often implied in movies and on television. Psychotic episodes are a symptom of mental illness, and they can, and should, be treated as such.
Unless you have experienced a psychotic episode yourself, trying to understand what one is like is extremely difficult. Individuals who have experienced a psychotic episode report symptoms such as hearing voices, even up to 50 at a time, that can be loud and harassing; extreme paranoia; chaotic sensory perceptions, including being overwhelmed by sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch; and racing or slowly creeping thoughts.
Other people who have suffered from psychotic episodes have described the experience as feeling as though they were watching a movie that was actually their life, while some others describe the feeling as suddenly becoming your own worst enemy, then growing to love yourself again when the episode is over.
NAMI provides descriptions of several early warning signs of an episode of psychosis, including:
- Hearing, seeing, tasting or believing things that others don’t
- Persistent, unusual thoughts or beliefs that can’t be set aside regardless of what others believe
- Strong and inappropriate emotions or no emotions at all
- Withdrawing from family or friends
- A sudden decline in self-care
- Trouble thinking clearly or concentrating
These warning signs should be made known to a person’s doctor in order to determine whether they are indeed symptoms of mental illness. These symptoms often precede more severe episodes of psychosis, making it imperative that the patient and his or her family pay the necessary attention to them.
If you have experienced an episode of psychosis, or if you have experienced one of the early warning signs of psychosis, do not hesitate to reach out. We are here to support you in taking back control of your mental health.