Symptoms Of Psychosis

Severe episodes of mania or depression can cause psychotic symptoms. Psychotic symptoms are hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations are hearing, seeing, smelling, or otherwise sensing the presence of things not actually there. Delusions are false, strongly held beliefs, such as paranoid thoughts or believing something about themselves that isn’t true. During a psychotic episode, the person fully believes that these hallucinations or delusions are real. Psychotic episodes are extremely distressful to the person after they realize that they have experienced one.

Psychotic episodes are usually associated with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a mental illness that often causes severe breaks with reality. Sometimes, a person with bipolar disorder who experiences psychotic episodes will be incorrectly diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder tend to reflect the extreme mood state the person is experiencing at the time. Delusions during a manic episode often reflect the euphoria and self-confidence accompanying the mania. They may have beliefs of having special powers, such as mental telepathy. They may have delusions of being a leader or being wealthy. They may feel that they have been "chosen" by God or aliens as superior to other humans. They may feel that they have been selected to have some special understanding of life or the world that most people do not possess.

Delusions during a depressive episode mirror the feelings of guilt or worthlessness that the depression causes. They may have delusions that they are financially ruined and penniless. They may strongly, yet falsely believe that they have committed some terrible crime. Someone experiencing severe depression symptoms may have hallucinations focusing on death and suicide. They may hear demons speak to them telling them to commit suicide.

Psychotic symptoms must often be treated independently of the mood disturbances of bipolar disorder at least until the person’s mood has been stabilized. Anti-psychotic medication, such as Haldol, may be prescribed. Haldol can be administered in the form of a monthly injection. The injections can be beneficial in that it the person is not responsible for taking anti-psychotic medications daily. Sometimes, a person in a manic state with delusions of special powers will resist treatment. They may view the medication as interference to their superhuman powers.

Most people with bipolar disorder will never experience psychotic symptoms. Psychotic symptoms are especially distressful. After someone experiences a psychotic episode, they may feel crippling despair and have alarming self-doubt. It is difficult to cope with not being able to trust your own mind. Remember that psychotic symptoms are treatable and you can reclaim your life. Once the bipolar disorder has responded to treatment, the psychotic symptoms may disappear. Some people with bipolar disorder experience psychotic symptoms whenever they have a severe episode of mania or depression. For some patients who have had a psychotic episode, once treated, the psychotic symptoms may never recur.

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