How to Recover from Psychosis

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Recovering from psychosis is about more than just eliminating its symptoms; it also involves healing in other vital areas of a person's life. [1] Psychosis can have detrimental impacts on the most critical aspects of your life, recovery focuses on healing in all these aspects. [2] This process of getting well can take months or years, so exerting patience is crucial in psychosis recovery. Working with professionals and on yourself makes recovery possible, especially if this is your first episode. [3]

Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Seeking professional support and treatment

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  1. Working on psychosis requires medical support typically, so try to find a psychiatrist or therapist who specialises in psychotic disorders. A psychiatrist can provide prescriptions, whereas a therapist will focus on treating your symptoms by offering support.
    • It's a good idea to have both in your support team after or during an episode of psychosis.
    • You can get your diagnosis from a qualified psychologist or psychiatrist, which is crucial for them to provide the proper support.
  2. You will likely be prescribed an antipsychotic [4] and possibly mood stabilisers. [5] [6] Take your prescribed medications consistently, and report side effects to your doctor or psychiatrist.
    • Medication is not one-size-fits-all, so work with your team to find the correct medication for you that effectively hinders your symptoms and doesn't cause too many undesired side effects.
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  3. Attend regular therapy appointments with your therapist or psychologist to increase your likelihood of recovery. [7] You will most likely need at least weekly support when in acute psychosis and thereafter. Follow their recommendations, and be honest about your symptoms.
  4. When in acute psychosis, one may need to be admitted to a psychiatric care unit. If thoughts of hurting oneself or others are present, this is critical. Get immediately to an emergency department, which can then admit you to a facility.
    • If your thoughts are dangerous or intense, this is vital. Do not attempt to treat it by yourself.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Gaining insight

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  1. During psychosis, you may experience many unpleasant symptoms such as hallucinations, paranoia and delusions. [8] It may help to keep a journal to identify which thoughts and experiences are a part of your psychosis. [9] This can help you track symptoms, which you can later bring up with your support team.
  2. Remind yourself that your thoughts don't necessarily reflect reality during this process; to reality check them, you should try saying them aloud, either on your own or with a professional or trusted friend/family member. This can help you to identify paranoid or delusional thought patterns. [10]
  3. Notice the ways your thoughts typically go when entering a psychotic episode. Recognise that your symptoms may always come on after specific triggers that occur externally.
    • Risk factors:
      • Lack of sleep.
      • Drug usage.
      • Exposure to stressors.
      • Severe depression or anxiety. [11]
    • Warning signs:
      • Trouble thinking clearly and logically.
      • Withdrawing socially; spending more time alone.
      • Decline in self-care or personal hygiene.
      • Suspiciousness or paranoid ideas. [12]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Establishing a support network

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  1. Communicating with friends and family is essential to keep your mental health in good shape. [13] Talking about your experiences to trusted friends and family members is also an important part of your recovery process, as they can give you feedback on how you seem to be doing and assess if your thoughts seem logical.
  2. Participating in peer support groups can help with the isolation [14] that psychosis typically causes. As such groups tend to increase your quality of life, they tend to positively increase your chances of recovery. They also help you to feel more understood, as you can discuss similar experiences and issues with the other members.
  3. 3
    Work with a case manager or social worker. A case manager will help coordinate your support after an episode of acute psychosis. [15] Having more members of your support team greatly increases your outlook on recovery and allows you to share your experiences with more professionals who deal with psychosis daily.
    • Social workers are skilled in facilitating successful referrals, making them extremely useful to have on your team. [16]
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Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Developing a healthy lifestyle

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  1. A lack of sleep is proven to be a key factor in increasing psychotic symptoms. [17] [18] Getting a good night's rest is vital to recovering successfully from an episode of psychosis.
    • Consider taking melatonin regularly, after discussing it with a member of your support team or your GP.
  2. Making sure to include fiber, omega 3 and micronutrients in your diet is associated with a reduction in psychotic symptoms. [19] Limiting saturated fats, refined carbohydrates, sodium and highly processed food is also a beneficial idea in your recovery, as these foods are associated with higher symptoms of psychotic disorders.
    • Supplement your omega 3, as most people don't consume enough of it. It is shown to increase brain health, vital for your recovery. [20]
  3. The more vigorous and longer exercise you can incorporate into your day, the better the outlook on your recovery becomes. [21] Exercise is proven to aid in mental wellbeing and decrease symptoms of psychosis. [22] Here are some exercises you may want to try out:
    • Jogging
    • Martial arts
    • Aerobic activities
    • Weight lifting
  4. Alcohol, tobacco and other substances can exacerbate your psychotic symptoms. [23] The two worst substances for psychosis are cannabis and methamphetamine, [24] so be sure to avoid those at all costs. Substances bring on a lot of psychotic episodes in the first place, [25] if substances brought on your psychosis, this makes you especially vulnerable to substance-induced psychotic symptoms.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Practising self-care

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  1. Avoid triggering events and people who you know stress you out, especially in the early stages of recovery. Steer clear of placing pressure on yourself during schooling or work, as it is associated with a higher risk of your symptoms continuing. [26]
  2. Having a routine is crucial in early stages of recovery. This is why being hospitalised for your acute psychosis is a brilliant idea, as the structured approach to recovery hospitals implement is great for easing the mind after the intensity of your psychotic symptoms. [27]
  3. Set yourself goals every week or so, and celebrate your successes. These can be related to self-care, reductions in symptoms, and other similar issues you should discuss with your care team. Having little goals will make the recovery process seem more achievable, as you can map out your successes and improvements.
  4. Continue to track your symptoms in a journal or phone app so you can look back and see your progress as time goes on. This step can not be reiterated enough. Having a log of your symptoms helps you communicate them to others and remember them yourself.
    • Journaling, in general, is associated with increased understanding of your symptoms. [28]
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      Warnings

      • If you or a loved one are experiencing thoughts of harming yourself or others, call an emergency number or go to an emergency department.
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      Tips

      • If someone you know is going through psychosis, avoid patronising them and allow them to explain their worries and theories to you without making them feel stupid. Don't affirm their delusions; offer them support through kind words and honesty.
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      • Minimise overstimulation. Higher stimulus causes more stress to a person in psychosis, so the hospital is an ideal location to recover without outside stimulus.
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      • Develop a crisis plan with your support team.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.orygen.org.au/Training/Resources/Psychosis/Fact-sheets/recovering-psychosis-yp/recovering-psychosis-factsheet?ext= .
      2. ↑ https://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/what-is-psychosis
      3. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2659307
      4. ↑ https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/treatment-care/mental-health-gap-action-programme/evidence-centre/psychosis-and-bipolar-disorders/antipsychotic-medicines-for-psychotic-disorders
      5. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9953951
      6. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36065482/
      7. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24525715/
      8. ↑ https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/understanding-psychosis
      9. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9121631/
      1. ↑ https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/topics/psychotic-illness/what-you-can-do-right-now-for-psychosis
      2. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/psychosis/causes/
      3. ↑ https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/understanding-psychosis
      4. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/friendships/art-20044860
      5. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4601716/
      6. ↑ https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/topics/psychotic-illness/support-services-for-psychosis
      7. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8668167
      8. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6048360/
      9. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30042701/
      10. ↑ https://www.healthline.com/health/schizophrenia/schizophrenia-foods-to-avoid#professional-help
      11. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9641984/
      12. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5636011/
      13. ↑ https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/exercise-and-mental-health
      14. ↑ https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/ndarc/resources/NDARC_PYCHOSIS_FINAL.pdf
      15. ↑ https://www.unsw.edu.au/research/ndarc/resources/the-contribution-of-cannabis-use-to-psychotic-symptoms-among-met
      16. ↑ https://www.nature.com/articles/s44220-024-00261-x
      17. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6998263/
      18. ↑ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7683525/
      19. ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2207510/

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