Psychosis a “severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality”. A person that has psychosis actually feels like that “external reality” is real. They do not know that they are having a psychosis episode. If there is a hallucination or delusion occurring, a person with psychosis will not know. They genuinely believe it is there. They may not feel like they have a double, just because their brain blocks out the fact of reality. However, the people close to them will maybe feel as though a person struggling with psychosis has a double. The individual who is in a sane moment and the individual who is having an episode of psychosis. Having a mental health disorder is not only hard on the person with said mental health disorder but also for the people who care and love them, friends and family. They feel hurt or saddened because this person can’t thrive in their true form constantly. Not only does having psychosis affects a person with its own symptoms but also may cause other mental health disorders. Such as depression and anxiety. Psychosis is one of the more costly mental health disorders, so much so that even death may occur. Psychosis is harmful to the brain, it creates a toxic place for a brain to function. Without treatment, a person with psychosis may only live with to 15-20 years. They would never get to dump the double and carry on.
Though their isn’t much treatment available for the mental health disorder psychosis, there is hope. A person might go about seeking help for psychosis through various therapy. Therapy such as: group therapy, family therapy, and individual therapy. The first recommended option for psychosis is a medication, which can block the effects of psychosis for a period of time. The worst case scenario of treatment is hospitalization. There is always a brighter side with the support of a person. Maybe there is hope to dump the double.
Week 11 Blog Post: October 2, 2022