Psychosis is a condition that affects the way your brain processes information. It causes you to lose touch with reality. You might see, hear, or believe things that aren’t real. It can be triggered by a mental illness, a physical injury or illness, substance abuse, or extreme stress or trauma.
Young people are especially likely to get it, but doctors don’t know why. Even before what doctors call the first episode of psychosis (FEP), you may show slight changes in the way you act or think. This is called the prodromal period and could last days, weeks, months, or even years. Sometimes you can lose touch with reality even when you don’t have a primary psychotic illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. When this happens, it’s called secondary psychosis.
Typically, a person will show changes in his or her behavior before psychosis develops. Behavioral warning signs for psychosis include:
Doctors don’t know exactly what causes psychosis, but some known risk factors include:
Counseling, along with medicines, can also help manage psychosis.
Experiencing psychosis can be extremely frightening, but many people who experience it don’t always talk about it initially. If you feel unsure or nervous about their behavior or what they might do, get a professional involved as soon as you can.
Getting professional help does not mean you are weak or broken. It’s choosing to get better and take care of yourself. CBT-Kenya (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Kenya) counseling center offers counseling and therapy sessions for persons from all walks of life. We focus on helping clients gain insight into themselves by going through a healing process. Our purpose is to help you to achieve your therapeutic and life goals, to improve the quality of your life and to help you to build strong relationships in your life. Get in touch or book an appointment on +254 739 935 333, +254 756 454 585 or info@cbtkenya.org.