Page written and resources collated by Andi Baker, Senior Wellbeing Practitioner
Psychosis is when you perceive reality in a different way from the people around you and 'lose touch' with your very day experiences. It can be very frightening for some people. You may experience:
- hallucinations - seeing things that others do not. Hearing voices or experiencing unusual physical sensations.
- delusions - having false beliefs about yourself or others.
- disorganised thinking or speaking - making it difficult for to understand what you are speaking about.
It can be an isolated episode or can develop into a more long-term problem.
Causes
Psychosis can be a symptom of many different mental health problems. It can also be the result of:
- physical illness
- using substances
- lack of sleep or food
- abuse or trauma
What you can do about it
- Speak to your GP who can refer you to specialist services as prompt treatment is important.
- Anti-psychotic medication can be prescribed by a psychiatrist.
- Reduce or stop using substances and reduce your alcohol intake.
- Recognise triggers that make you stressed and that lead to you becoming unwell.
- Contact Student Wellbeing who can refer you to the relevant services.
Note: we hope that resources below are useful but we do not endorse the opinions expressed by other parties.
