Mental Illness
Understanding Mental Illness
Imagine your brain as a super complex computer. Just like any other organ in your body, it needs to work properly to keep you feeling your best. When something goes off-balance in this "computer," it can affect how you think, feel, and act. Mental illness, like any physical illness, is a real and serious condition that impacts both your brain and your overall well-being.
Experiencing mental illness isn't just about having a bad day, occasional mood swings, or feeling down. It often stems from chemical imbalances and altered neural connections in the brain, which can disrupt how you perceive the world and process emotions. These disruptions can physically and cognitively influence your behavior, thoughts, and interactions, similar to how a physical illness affects different parts of your body.
Mental illnesses come in many forms, each impacting different aspects of your life. Conditions range from mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety, which affect your emotional responses and stress management, to more complex disorders, like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, which impact your thoughts, perceptions, and overall sense of reality.
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Just as we prioritize maintaining good physical health and addressing physical illness, we believe that understanding the importance of maintaining good mental health and addressing mental health conditions is crucial as well.
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Many people incorporate spiritual practices into maintaining their mental health. As Christians, we believe that prayer, obedience to and faith in God are important, and when needed, they should go hand in hand with professional help. Suffering from a mental illness is not a character flaw, and it's not something that one can wish away. Just as we wouldn't delay treatment for a physical disease like cancer, we should not overlook or stigmatize mental health conditions.
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For families and loved ones, learning the signs and symptoms of mental illness is essential. Educating ourselves helps create a more compassionate environment. And it increases the likelihood that they will receive support, resources, and the appropriate treatment they need.
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Everyone deserves the opportunity to be helped, find healing, and lead a healthy, balanced, and purposeful life.
“You are not your illness. You have an individual story to tell.
You have a name, a history, a personality.
Staying yourself is part of the battle.”
Julian Seifter
Psychosis: A Mental Illness
What Is Psychosis?
Psychosis is a mental health condition where a person loses touch with reality. It affects how someone thinks, perceives, and interprets the world around them, making it difficult to distinguish what is real from what is not. Watch this video of dr. Weiss from CALM to learn more about psychosis and how it affects those who live with it.
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When experiencing psychosis, individuals may encounter symptoms like hallucinations, where they see or hear things that aren't there, and delusions, which are strong, false beliefs held firmly despite evidence to the contrary. These symptoms can significantly impact a person's ability to function in daily life and maintain relationships.
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Psychosis is a clear illustration of how mental illness can profoundly affect a person's reality, underscoring the seriousness of such conditions.
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It often emerges during adolescence or early adulthood, a critical period of brain development and life transition. Approximately 3% of people in the U.S. will experience psychosis at some point in their lives, illustrating its impact on a significant number of individuals.
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Understanding psychosis involves recognizing its potential to alter perceptions and affect how one engages with the world, emphasizing the need for appropriate care and support.
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For more information and a deeper understanding of psychosis, we encourage you to read the following article on the website of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), a reputable organization dedicated to advancing research and providing reliable resources on mental health.
Early Warning Signs
Noticing the early warning signs of psychosis can be crucial for timely intervention and professional assistance. These signs often emerge gradually and can affect how someone thinks, feels, and interacts with the world. Here are some key indicators to watch for:
Subtle Changes: Early signs may include unusual or paranoid thoughts, where someone begins to distrust others without clear cause, or noticeable shifts in mood. Withdrawal from social activities, such as spending more time alone than usual or avoiding friends and family, can also signal the onset of psychosis. A decline in academic or job performance or trouble with concentration and clear thinking could also be early indications.
Cognitive Shifts: Difficulty concentrating, memory issues, or confused thinking are common early indicators. These mental changes might make it hard to focus on daily tasks and lead to fragmented or disorganized thoughts.
Mood Changes: Significant mood swings, increased irritability, or extreme emotional responses - whether too intense or completely absent - can be early signs of psychosis. These mood changes might not seem to match the situation, or they might involve a lack of emotional expression altogether.
Behavioral Changes: Other early signs include a noticeable decline in self-care or hygiene and an overall sense of suspiciousness or unease around others.
Recognizing and acting on early warning signs can make a significant difference in managing and addressing potential psychotic symptoms effectively.
If you or someone you care about notices these changes, seeking professional advice promptly is crucial for obtaining the right support and treatment.
Symptoms
Psychosis can show through a variety of symptoms, which may sometimes be challenging to recognize at first. Being aware of these signs can help you seek timely help for yourself or a loved one.
Hallucinations: Auditory hallucinations are the most common, where individuals hear voices or sounds that others do not. Visual (seeing things that aren't there), tactile (feeling sensations with no physical cause), and olfactory (smelling things that aren't present) hallucinations can also occur.
Delusions: These are strong, false beliefs that don't align with reality. Examples include paranoia, where someone believes others are conspiring against them, or grandiosity, where they might think they have extraordinary powers or abilities.
Disorganized Thinking: Individuals may experience fragmented thoughts and have trouble organizing them logically, leading to incoherent speech and difficulty following conversations.
Behavioral Changes: Noticeable changes such as neglecting personal hygiene, acting unusually agitated or withdrawn, and struggling with social or work tasks are also common.
Recognizing these symptoms early is crucial for getting the proper support. If you or someone you know is showing these signs, seeking professional help can make a significant difference.
Causes And Triggers
Understanding the causes and triggers of psychosis is crucial for preventing and dealing with it. Here's what you should know about the factors contributing to psychosis:
Biological Factors:
Genetics can contribute to the risk of psychosis. Individuals with a family history of psychotic disorders are more likely to develop similar conditions. Imbalances in brain chemistry, particularly involving neurotransmitters like dopamine, are also linked to psychosis. These chemical imbalances can affect how the brain processes information and responds to stimuli and contribute to symptoms like hallucinations and delusions.
Environmental Factors:
Significant life stressors, such as the death of a loved one, loss of a job, or severe trauma, can act as triggers for psychosis in individuals who are already at risk. Stress can aggravate underlying vulnerabilities, leading to the onset of psychotic symptoms.
Substance Abuse:
The use of substances like alcohol and drugs can both induce or worsen psychosis by affecting brain chemistry. Among these, Delta-9 THC (Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the main psychoactive component of cannabis, is a notable contributor.
Research indicates that cannabis, particularly high-potency varieties rich in Delta-9 THC, is linked to an increased risk of psychotic symptoms.
Users with a genetic predisposition or preexisting vulnerabilities are especially at risk, as regular use of high-THC cannabis can trigger or worsen psychotic episodes.
Other Conditions:
Psychosis can also be a symptom of various mental health disorders and medical conditions. In mental health disorders, psychosis is a central feature of schizophrenia, while in bipolar disorder, it may occur during severe mood episodes, whether manic or depressive. Additionally, certain medical and neurological conditions can contribute to the development of psychotic symptoms.
These factors often interact in complex ways, with the onset of psychosis typically influenced by a mix of genetic predisposition, environmental stressors, and other contributing conditions. Understanding these factors can help you recognize if you or your loved ones might be at risk, make informed decisions, and give you the courage to seek professional help.
Click below to download a psychosis risk factor checklist from calmnola.org:
"Psychosis is a word that describes an experience in which
our mind plays tricks on us and makes it hard
to distinguish what is real."
Treatments
Medication
Medical professionals commonly prescribe antipsychotic medications to treat psychosis by adjusting neurotransmitter activity in the brain, mainly focusing on dopamine and serotonin systems.
These medications restore balance, significantly easing symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking while enhancing overall mental clarity and stability.
They also improve mood and help people experiencing psychosis achieve a better quality of life.
Therapy
Therapy is a widely recognized and effective approach to treating psychosis. It aims to identify and change distorted thinking patterns and behaviors contributing to an individual’s distress.
Among the various types of therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective methods, specifically targeting symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. CBT helps individuals develop coping strategies, improve their overall functioning, and reduce distress from symptoms, making it a key component in the treatment of psychosis.
For more information about different mental illness treatments, we encourage you to consult the website of the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), the largest grassroots mental health organization in the U.S., dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by mental illness:
How to Help Yourself or a Loved One
Finding support when dealing with psychosis or mental illness can be challenging, but there are valuable resources (hyperlink to the below section with resources) available to help you or a loved one through this difficult time. Here’s what you should know about seeking help and accessing support:
1. Reach Out for Professional Help:
Consult a mental health professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or licensed therapist. They can provide a proper diagnosis, offer treatment options, and guide you through dealing with symptoms.
If you’re looking for a therapist within the U.S., you can find one by issue, demographics, treatment, modalities, etc. on the following website:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists
For immediate assistance, crisis hotlines are available 24/7.
In crisis? Call or text 988, or chat here. You can also find help and resources through SAMSHA
2. Explore Support Groups:
Connecting with support groups can be incredibly beneficial. These groups provide a space to share experiences, gain insights, and receive encouragement from others facing similar challenges. Many organizations offer both in-person and online support groups.
3. Utilize Mental Health Organizations:
Numerous organizations offer resources, guidance, and support for mental health issues. Look for national and local organizations dedicated to mental health that provide information, advocacy, and various types of assistance. One of these organizations is NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness).
4. Educate Yourself and Others:
Understanding mental health conditions and treatment options can empower you to support yourself or a loved one more effectively. Educational resources, workshops, and informational materials can enhance your knowledge and help you approach the situation with greater empathy and understanding.
5. Seek Help for Caregivers:
If you’re supporting someone with mental illness, it’s essential to take care of your own well-being as well. Many organizations offer resources specifically for caregivers, including counseling and self-care strategies.
Remember, navigating mental health challenges can be complex, but accessing the right support and resources can make a significant difference. You don’t have to face it alone - help is available to guide you through the process and provide the support needed to manage and overcome these difficulties. And you don’t need to carry the weight of shame or embarrassment when asking for help with mental illness.
Know that reaching out is an act of strength and is the first step toward finding comfort and healing.
Familiarity with a Loved
One Can Cause Blind Spots
When someone you love is struggling with mental health issues, such as psychosis, your deep affection for them can make it challenging to fully understand what they are going through. It's natural to want to believe that everything is okay, as it can be hard to accept that a loved one might be dealing with something as overwhelming as mental illness.
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Being close to someone can make it difficult to see when something is truly wrong, especially if you're unfamiliar with the warning signs. It can be hard to recognize something that you've never seen or experienced. And this makes it easy to overlook the signs, even when they're right in front of us.
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Understanding that a person's mind may not function normally can make it difficult to reason with them. They might not see things clearly, and our own feelings, hopes and fears can cloud our judgment.
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If you notice that your loved one is suffering or exhibiting unusual behaviors, such as those associated with psychosis, it's essential to look deeper. Educating yourself about mental illness can provide clarity and help you recognize the signs faster.
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By gaining these insights, you can ‘see with your heart’ - acknowledging that your loved one needs help, even when it's difficult to accept. Your informed support can be a crucial step in guiding them toward the appropriate help and resources they need to start their journey toward healing.
Mental Health Care
When you need it most
NAMI Southeast Louisiana is a leading family-based, grassroots support and advocacy organization dedicated to improving the lives
of individuals affected by
mental illness.
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is the largest grassroots mental health organization in the U.S., working to support
and advocate for
those affected
by mental illness.
'Clear Answers to Louisiana Mental Health' provides accurate information about psychosis and promotes early intervention. They educate communities and healthcare systems to expedite care for those in need.