Symptoms of psychosis

Psychosis changes how a person thinks, feels and perceives the world. Signs can develop slowly or appear suddenly.

Core symptoms

• Hallucinations: hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling or tasting things that others do not. Hearing voices is most common.
• Delusions: firmly held false beliefs, such as being watched, followed, poisoned or having special powers
• Disorganised thinking and speech: jumping between topics, speech that is hard to follow
• Disorganised or unusual behaviour: odd movements, agitation or staying fixed in one position

Early warning signs (prodrome)

• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Drop in school or work performance
• Poor sleep and concentration
• Suspiciousness or feeling that something is wrong
• Loss of interest in self-care
• Strange ideas or unusual perceptions

Other changes

• Flat or inappropriate emotion
• Low motivation
• Mood changes

Emergency signs: call 112 or take the person to a hospital

• Talk of harming themselves or others
• Command voices telling them to hurt someone
• Not eating, drinking or sleeping for days
• Severe agitation or violence
• New confusion with fever or head injury
• Postpartum: odd beliefs or behaviour in a new mother

In India, Tele-MANAS (14416 or 1800-891-4416) offers free mental health support.

Ayurvedic view (interpretive)

Disturbed thought and behaviour are described traditionally under Unmada. This does not replace psychiatric assessment.

When to get help

See a psychiatrist soon for any of the above. Early treatment gives better outcomes.

Remember

Psychosis is a medical condition, not a weakness or a lack of willpower. Treatment works.