Psychosis Overview
Psychosis is a mental health condition that causes people to lose touch with reality. During a psychotic episode, teenagers may experience hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there) and delusions (false beliefs that are not based on reality). Psychosis can be very frightening and disruptive, and it’s crucial to seek professional help if a teenager is showing signs of psychosis.
Signs & Symptoms
- Auditory: Hearing voices or sounds that aren’t real.
- Visual: Seeing things that aren’t there.
- Tactile: Feeling sensations on the skin that aren’t real.
- Olfactory: Smelling odors that aren’t there.
- Gustatory: Tasting things that aren’t there.
- Persecutory: Believing that someone is trying to harm them.
- Grandiose: Believing they have special powers or abilities.
- Referential: Believing that everyday events have special meaning for them.
- Erotomanic: Believing that someone is in love with them.
- Somatic: Believing that something is wrong with their body.
Difficulty thinking clearly and logically. Speech may be jumbled or incoherent.
Loss of motivation, social withdrawal, flat affect (reduced emotional expression).
Causes & Risk Factors
Psychosis can be a symptom of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and severe depression.
Certain drugs, like marijuana, LSD, and amphetamines, can trigger psychosis.
Some medical conditions, like brain tumors or infections, can cause psychosis.
Traumatic experiences can sometimes trigger psychotic symptoms.
A family history of psychotic disorders can increase the risk.
Addressing Teen Psychosis
- Seek professional help immediately: If a teenager is showing signs of psychosis, it’s crucial to seek help from a mental health professional.
- Early intervention: Early intervention and treatment can significantly improve outcomes.
- Medication: Antipsychotic medications can help manage psychotic symptoms.
- Therapy: Therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), can help teens understand and manage their condition.
- Family support: Family involvement and support are crucial for recovery.
- Reduce stress: Help teens manage stress and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
A List of Teen Mental Health Issues We Treat at Sullivan & Associates
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Learn More About Emotion RegulationLearn About AngerLearn About Behavioural IssuesLearn About Self-Harm
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Psychosis is a mental health condition that causes people to lose touch with reality. During a psychotic episode, teenagers may experience hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there) and delusions (false beliefs that are not based on reality). Psychosis can be very frightening and disruptive, and it’s crucial to seek professional help if a teenager is showing signs of psychosis.
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Learn More About Relationship IssuesLearn About Family IssuesLearn About Teasing and Bullying
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