Treatment for Psychosis Altamonte Springs, FL

Early Signs

The mild early symptoms might include:

• General anxiety
• Depression
• Social isolation
• Problems focusing
• Mild or moderate disturbances in language, energy levels, and thinking
• Difficulty taking initiative
• Lower tolerance to stress
• Sleep problems
• Neglecting self-care
• Feelings of suspicion
• Thoughts and ideas that seem strange to others

Hallucinations can affect any of the senses — sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch — in the person with psychosis.

Auditory hallucinations appear to be the types of hallucinations for people with schizophrenia. The person hears things and believes them to be real when they do not exist.

Often, the person hears voices. The voices may:

• be recognizable, nonspecific, or of someone who has died
• sound either clear or like mumbling in the background
• give instructions or criticize the person
• be intermittent or constant

Hearing voices can be very confusing, and it can affect a person’s actions. It can lead to the individual harming themselves or, less often, others.

Treatment can manage or prevent psychosis, but it can return if the person stops taking their medication.

There may also be a risk of suicide.

Suicide prevention

If you know someone at immediate risk of self-harm, suicide, or hurting another person:

• Ask the tough question: “Are you considering suicide?”
• Listen to the person without judgment.
• Call 911 or the local emergency number, or text TALK to 741741 to communicate with a trained crisis counselor.
• Stay with the person until professional help arrives.
• Try to remove any weapons, medications, or other potentially harmful objects.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, a prevention hotline can help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours per day at 800-273-8255. During a crisis, people who are hard of hearing can use their preferred relay service or dial 711 then 800-273-8255

Delusions during psychosis

During a psychotic episode, a person may experience paranoid delusions which can cause a person to be suspicious, believing them to be plotting to cause the person harm.

Delusions of grandeur involve a strong belief that the person has a special power or authority. For instance, they may believe that they are a political leader.

Diagnosis of psychosis

Anyone who is experiencing psychosis should receive urgent medical attention. Treatment can provide both short- and long-term help.

At Florida Psychiatric Associates, we recommend considering the possibility of a psychotic disorder in a young person if they show signs of:

• increased social withdrawal
• changes in mood
• reduced focus or performance at school or work
• distress or agitation without being able to explain why

There is no biological test for psychosis, but laboratory tests can rule out other medical problems that might explain the symptoms.

Diagnostic tests

To diagnose psychosis, Dr. Mian will carry out a clinical examination and evaluation and recommend treatment and may also do tests to rule out other factors:

• the use of drugs or other substances
• a head injury
• other medical conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or a brain tumor

Possible tests include:

• blood tests
• urinalysis
• an electroencephalogram (EEG), which records brain activity