What is a Psychotic Break?

I know someone who was very depressed in their bipolar cycle & has recenlty been traumatized, then had a complete meltdown which the docs called a Psychotic Break? They are hospitalized for being a danger to themselves & others. I don't have much more info than that. What does this mean? Is it temporary? How long can it last & does anyone know how long you can be held by law? Or is that a state by state issue?
Thanks for your help.
Erin

[sunflwr925]

My husband had to be hospitalized with that. That means that he fell into a depression with hallucinations, and delusions and suicidal urges. He will probably will be held for a week-thats how long it will probably take to get him stable. It is temporary but can come back if he does not take his BP meds or if he has severe stress again.

Thank goodness it is temporary.

[triedeverymed]

Thanks, I got the feeling it was temporary. I hope the treatment works!!
Thank You.
Erin

[billgonz1]

I'm 43 man who is term. i'll .And bipolar had a 6 day break last week ! I'm very scared. it was bad i thought i was on fire! Any info would help!

[LeftCoastChick]

Yikes! I would definitely see your psychiatrist, you probably need a med change. Psychotic breaks can be very dangerous for yourself, you wouldn't want to harm yourself in anyway because you're not feeling well. They usually are temporary, but I don't think you would want to deal with the aftermath of it, it's better to be pro-active so it won't happen, or not happen as harshly. Hang in there!

[billgonz1]

This Was My first break. Scared to even cycle now. cought myself pacing so i tried to clean house insted . Ended up crying in bed . having problems remenbering how happy i use to be! I am down to 123 pounds i'm 5' 6 .The begain of manic i throw up for day's .I think its killing me I also have HIV . But It is in control .But what a place to stress on !

[LeftCoastChick]

What you're describing sounds like hypo/mania not a psychotic break, which is when you lose touch with reality and having delusions and severe paranoid behaviour. . I've had hypomanic episodes where I've cleaned obsessively, can't sit still and talked really fast among other things. I would then "crash" and go into a depression and cry a lot. Those are the mood swings, sometimes you can have both at the same time which is called mixed states.

I'm not sure how difficult it is to get on meds for your BP with HIV going on as well, but it would be a good idea. I know that when my osteoarthritis really acts up, my depression kicks in like it's doing now, because I'm in so much pain.  For your own health, please check with your doctor or if you have a psychiatrist, make an appointment.

[billgonz1]

Who would had thought this is really happening to me!

[billgonz1]

I had my 1st pyscotic break .lasting 6 days . i'm 43 just had spine surgery neck fused ,lowest disc removed. In cronic (chronic) pain HIV pos. ,Bipolar With a long history therapy. Have had a pys. break . I have been waiting for soc. security appeal  21 months.Recently I tested pos. for coke and pot. A one time thing. Think I should be worried. I have 6 days till hearing .Driving myself nuts worried . I really need it can't work        Billgonz1

[billgonz1]

P.S. Just recieved certifid letter i'm S.M.I.     BillGonz1

[billgonz1]

I'm Bipolar with hep c . Need interferon which causes depession and suicidal thoughts. I would be on it for 6 months to a year . I'm very scared . I have just had a psycotic break a month ago first one ! It lasted 10 days . What can I do ?

[edge_walker]

I just had my first psychotic break.  At least that's what the diagnosis was.  I was afraid of "I don't know what", when a train was coming, I ran for it.  There was a fence in between or I'd be a gonner.  I wandered around town at around 11 pm hoping someone would kill me.  I couldn't get my thoughts straight no matter what happened.  I was wishing i was a serial killer so I could kill myself over and over.  It started 5 days ago because of Prednisone.  I was definately a danger to myself and almost got in a physical fight with a person I love a lot.  Words I hardly even ever think were coming out of my mouth.  I did not recognise myself.  Terrifying!  Also so emotionally PAINFUL.  I have been off Prednisone for 3 days and still have like a residue of the psychotic break.  Right now I feel like I am grieving something my heart lost, but I don't know what it is.  Today I went to the store (shopping therapy )  and I am a shopaholic...I couldn't organize my thoughts enough to know what to buy.  You know the saying "I'm dressed and in my right mind?"  Well, at least I am dressed.

[ILADVOCATE]

If you encountered a side effect that severe from Prednisone speak to your doctor about it right away so they can find another medication to help you instead and also monitor the after effects of it. Also they should note that down so you are not prescribed that medication again. If you have bipolar perhaps it worsened moodswings as that class of medications can do that. What was it there to treat to begin with?

[yourfriend390]

I have recently had a psychotic break. I went to a therapist and to a reiki specialist. I got put on prozac and adovan. Both have helped greatly with the fear and anxiety. I thought it was never going to end, but it did, and now I'm doing fine. It's tough to cope with the changes life brought me, but I feel like it's positive now that a couple months has passed. Seek help is my main advice. Seek help in whatever capacity you can.

DO

[atg1965]

All my life in my head I lived another life other than the one I was living.  Im 44 now but ever since I could remember everyone would say to me you're off in the distance or stop daydreaming or where are you because you are not here with us.  I was molested over a long period of time when I was 3-10yrs old.  I saw my mom try to commit suicide many times as a child.  I watched her boyfriends be violent with her or me and my siblings.  My way of dealing with it was to pretend I was somewhere else.  I still find myself doing the very same thing I did as a child.  When I was 5 in kindergarden I put a plastic bag over my head to see if life would be better on the other side.  My teacher stopped me after I turned blue.  Then when I was 7 I knew when I got home from school my mom would be drunk and her boyfriend would beat me or abuse me.  So I called my mom from a pay phone and told her that I was kidnapped then hung up.  I took the train to Coney Island and went out on the pier and thought if I jumped I would be missed and wanted, something I never got growing up at the time.  Needless to say the police saw me and took me home.  When life gets difficult I paint an image in my mind and live there.  Its so real to me that Id rather live there than face reality.  Now Im a father of 3 kids.  I love then dearly and would die for them.  My daughter was molested by my ex-wife's uncle and every time I think of it I think of what happened to me and I find myself going deeper and deeper into the place I live most, in my mind. I know something is wrong with me but I dont know what it is.  Every time I think of what happened to my daughter it gets hard for me to breathe and I get tired and dont want to wake up.  Now I feel like being violent to those who brought that upon my daughter and the only thing that stops me is my kids need me not watch me waste away in prison for killing the people responsible for what happened to my daughter.  I don't know the difference between what happened to me and my daughter.  They both feel the same to me.  Where do I start in getting help or am I beyond that?  Ive never gotten help and noone knows the anguish, pain, anger & rage I live with.  I pretend to be what other people want me to be.  I lived this way ever since I could remember.  The real me lives in a place inside my head where he's safe from the **** that life repeatedly gives me.  The only peace of mind I ever get is when Im with my kids because I know they love me for me no matter what!  Now that Im divorced it get harder and harder to live without my kids.  I find when Im not around themI dont want to be in reality.  I live with them in my mind and Im so happy there.  When I have to deal with real life I get depressed and cry because I feel Im leaving my kids even though they are just in my mind.  I know that they are not here but I feel they are in my mind.  Is there anything that can help me live in the now and stop the Rumination I CONSTANTLY do!  Ive been accused of being Pschotic but Im not sure what that truly means?!  Thanks for your input.  My name is Tony

[ILADVOCATE]

  Psychosis is a complex because it means the person's reality testing has lessened and they have in some way a break from reality or lack of understanding of the world. Often people who experience it are not aware of it as it can affect judgment and self awareness. It depends on how much a person experiences it and when as to how it is classified within a psychiatrist's discretion. I experienced it before my current recovery from schizoaffective disorder and certainly before treatment. If this was in any way triggered by a traumatic event in your life such as being abused a child you might want to find out more about post traumatic stress disorder and discuss this with a psychiatrist as it might be one thing that could be occurring but only a psychiatrist could provide a diagnosis.

[atg1965]

I talk to myself aloud alot everyday.  It's getting worse as time passes.  The other day I was stressed out with my kids mom and when I was walking with my daughter in the park, in my mind I was having a conversation I wanted to have with my kids mom.  I didnt realize I was speaking out loud!  My daughter asked my why I was talking to myself.  I dont imagine people, I just have the conversation with the people I want to have it with in my head.  I find comfort in that and it brings me peace for a short time.  If I had to be truthful about myself then I would say by definition I live in some form of Psychosis everyday of my life.  I have lived this way ever since I could remember.  To me it's normal way of living.  I'm not sure what normal is anymore?!    

[run4you]

I agree with ILADVOCATE on the post-traumatic stress disorder. Going through all that as a child definitely caused issues. It's really common (at least among the PTSD'ers I've met) to dissociate or disengage (which I believe is what you're describing in going to imaginary places, and it sounds like you're disengaging more frequently).

PTSD is treatable with therapy and sometimes medication... and really, you need to see a mental health specialist no matter what exactly is going on. They can set you up to get past all this and start living, rather than just surviving.

Good luck, and I am so sorry for everything you've been through. My early years caused me a lot of pain, and I was in therapy for a long time because of it. Find the right therapist and doctor, and things will get better.

[haha22]

To whoever posted saying they have imaginary conversations - don't worry I do this all the time but it has roots in OCD not psychosis - you are quite aware that the other person isn't actually there.

It is quite common and I do it a lot when a situation is out of my control or I can't get to have the conversation with that person - i guess it gives me some temporary control over the situation and soothes me for a while. I try and catch myself whenever I am doing it though but sometimes it becomes addictive - after all, you can make up whatever outcome you want in your head!!

I think the thing for me was realising that these imaginary conversations with people who had hurt me did nothing to actually sort out the situation - so I would rather have an imperfect reality that a perfect unreality, and I would rather DO something to help the situation.

[HealingPrincess]

I suffered from an episode when I found out that the abusive people (violent physical & sexual abuse) who raised me were not my biological parents.
At the time I was dealing with an abusive marriage, boss whose abusive due to borderline personality disorder, and adult children going away to college.  My mind snapped. I sought therapy on my own during the episode and was under the care of therapist.  The therapist diagnosed me and with years of talk therapy and antidepressant I'm finally starting to feel I'm in control of my life and God is now becoming a part of it. Lost the job & got a divorce.  Now looking for employment and cautious with relationships of the opposite gender.