Psychosis

[shannon]

I was hospitalized for psychosis about seven months ago.  It does not seem as if anyone can tell me what happened to me.  I have been trying to figure it out myself.  I had a normal childhood.  I don't know of anyone in my family who has had any type of mental illness.  Sometimes I think there was some purpose of it.  Maybe my brain was telling me to change something.  I just feel so confused and alone when I think about it because no one seems to understand what I went through and I can't explain it myself.  I wonder if people think I am a crazy person and if they are afraid of me.

[HFHS.MD-AJ]

Psychotic illnesses (such as schizophrenia, e.t.c.) can occur in people with normal childhood, and in people with no family history of mental illness. For more information on psychosis, please refer to the post titled "What is this" by Raina, posted on 5/30/00, with my reply posted on 6/1/00. You may find it helpful to discuss your concerns further with the physician/psychiatrist who treated you during your hospitalization seven months ago.

[Doggies4]

Did you know you had a psychosis at the time?  I have had that too and I KIND OF thought the things I was thinking MIGHT not be real but they still felt real all the same.

It is disturbing to be told you have psychotic features and although I have been told that several times and take medication for it, I still question whether it is true or not.  Do you feel that way, too?

I have totally held down a full time job all this time (although I have had periodic stays in the hospital).  I get along well with everyone and the people I share that with cannot even tell that something is wrong.

I think anyone with a lick of sense would not be afraid of you or think you are crazy.  Believe me, I have been to hell and back and I understand the suffering individuals have to endure at times.

I have been told it is a chemical imbalance.  Apparently I have had it many years off and on.  

Good luck to you.

[From Shannon to Susan]

Susan,

Thanks for your comment.  To answer your question, no. I had no idea the things I was thinking were not real.  In my case, I had about a week prior to my being hospitalized where I would space out and "think stuff."  Then I just snapped.  I was convinced I knew what I was talking about, even though I would change opinions from one minute to the next.  If my husband would have not been there, I would have never made it to the hospital and God only knows what would have happened to me.  I am not on medication anymore.  They just gave me some pills to calm my anxieties and to help me sleep, but they didn't want me to get hooked on them so they took me off.

Thanks again for your comment!

[Doggies4]

Do you realize now that what you were thinking was psychotic?  I have been on an antipsychotic for fifteen years and my doctor does not want me to go off it.  I don't understand!

You sound perfectly normal to me.  I know extreme stress can make a person do that and I have heard of people just taking an antipsychotic for a short period of time.

Is everything OK now?

Good luck to you.

[From Shannon to Susan]

Susan,

Thanks for writing again.  It is nice to talk to someone who can relate to me.  You mentioned stress-that's what the doctors told me it probably was.  I guess I realize now that my thoughts were psychotic-even though it's kind of hard to realize.  It's almost like when you wake up from a nightmare and even though you know it wasn't real you still feel afraid.  If you would like to email me so we can discuss this further, my address is ***@****

Good luck to you, also!

Shannon