Psychosis involves a breakdown in the ability to tell what is real and what isn’t. This often manifests as hallucinations or delusions, and the person experiencing them often doesn’t realize anything is wrong.
In many cases, psychosis is linked to other conditions, including serious mental health conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Approximately 1 in 25 U.S. adults have a major mental illness, and psychosis is often one symptom among many. Substance abuse can also cause psychosis.
It can be difficult to know how to help someone with psychosis, and the decision isn’t entirely in your hands when dealing with someone else’s mental illness. Only a mental health professional can diagnose and treat psychosis, but there are some things you can do to help when a loved one has a psychotic episode.
Supporting Someone With Psychosis
If someone you know is experiencing a psychotic episode, the most important thing to do is remain calm. Your loved one may be unable to communicate clearly or may become distracted by things that aren’t really there. Concentration and memory can be affected, and you might notice the person’s mood change.
Empathy goes a long way when dealing with a person who has psychosis. You can sympathize with how the person feels even if you don’t agree with their stated beliefs. Avoid appearing judgmental about the person’s claims or experiences, and don’t argue or try to explain the truth of a situation.
Many people don’t like being touched during a psychotic episode, so refrain from reaching out physically and give the person space. Intervene physically only if the person attempts to harm themselves or others.
If your loved one refers to their hallucinations in a specific way, frame your own responses the same way. This includes using names or titles the person uses. For example, if your loved one refers to an imagined conversation partner as Joe, you should also use that name when asking to describe their experience.
Dealing With Various Types of Psychosis
There are different forms of psychosis, and not everyone experiences episodes the same way. Hallucinations generally come in three forms: auditory, visual and tactile.
During a visual or auditory hallucination, the person may believe someone else is present. These hallucinations can also come in the form of random sounds or flashes of light.
Tactile hallucinations include feeling imaginary insects crawling across the skin and flashes of heat or cold. Some hallucinations involve multiple senses at once, and they can be extremely complex and long-lasting.
Whatever type of hallucination occurs, the goal should be to acknowledge what the person sees, hears or feels while reducing outside stimuli by moving to a quiet, comfortable room.
Delusions are false beliefs, such as the belief that you’re being followed or you have superpowers. Some delusions involve commonplace situations that simply aren’t true at the time, while other delusions may involve impossible scenarios.
To deal with a delusional person, you should focus on the emotions involved, not the actual delusion. Encourage the person to discuss how they feel by acknowledging that the imagined scenario must be scary or sad.
Psychosis Treatment Tips
Helping your loved one get treatment for psychosis is the best thing you can do for them. Treatment typically involves a combination of medication, cognitive behavioral therapy and treatment for underlying issues. During a severe episode, the person may need to be checked into a facility for inpatient therapy.
Avoid discussing treatment in the middle of an active psychotic episode. Instead, set aside time to discuss options when your loved one is calm and relaxed. Encouraging the person to get help for any underlying conditions could help reduce psychotic episodes.
If your loved one doesn’t want to discuss their psychosis and resists seeking help, don’t push the issue. Ultimately, the choice to access treatment is up to the individual. Simply provide information and remain available in case your loved one decides to seek help later.
Once your loved one chooses to seek help for psychosis, encourage the person to consistently follow treatment guidelines. One aspect of psychosis that makes it difficult to treat is that someone in a psychotic episode might think everything is fine or might believe the recommended treatment is dangerous. This disconnect from reality can be hard to overcome.
How to Help Someone With Psychosis
If you’re wondering how to help someone with psychosis, contact the Mental Health Hotline for a referral to a reputable mental health care provider near you. Someone is available to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
