Psychosis and the Brain
Making a daily routine can assist in improving what skills that are affected by psychosis?
What are critical-thinking skills?
*People who have trouble with critical-thinking skills often have trouble with goal-directed behavior. (ex: getting tasks started, coming up with plans or dealing with problems that arise)
You should begin with ______ changes to improve someone's psychosis.
What are small or few?
*Make positive progress on small changes first before moving on to additional changes (many changes at once, or changes that are too large can be overwhelming rather than helpful)
Death of a loved one, moving to a new country, taking on a new job, breaking up with someone, people being critical or hostile toward you, changing schools are all examples of what factor of psychosis?
What is a situation?
*Psychosis can begin with a situation that is stressful.
Everyone experiences psychosis the same.
Fiction!
Everyone is different!
"Good" treatment consists of what three things:
Support, skills and medication
Becoming easily distracted, unable to concentrate for long periods of time and unable to multitask are examples of what kind of problems?
What are attention problems?
Getting enough _____ helps reduce stress and contributes to general well-being.
What is sleep?
Disconnecting from other people or having a lack of motivation are examples of what risk factor?
The use of substances such as drugs and alcohol can lead to psychosis.
FACT!
Many drugs can cause changes in the brain increasing the risk of psychosis.
What are reasons someone may not get help?
Stigma, lack of awareness of a problem
Psychosis is associated with other mental illnesses such as:
Schizophrenia (always includes symptoms of psychosis), major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder (can include symptoms of psychosis at times)
Understanding psychosis and being able to recognize _________ of it is the first step to not being afraid of it.
What are signs/warning signs?
People suffering from psychosis may hear, smell, taste, feel or see things that others do not. This experience is called what?
What is a hallucination?
Psychosis is not treatable.
Fiction!
Watching TV, listening to music, reading, talking to a friend, doing something active are examples of what kind of coping strategy?
What is distracting yourself?
*Useful for when you hear an imaginary voice, or an unusual thought is not easy (Distraction may only reduce symptoms)
Learning and ________ are closely connected. This is when you store knowledge and skills to recall them later.
What is memory?
* People with psychosis have memory difficulties. Verbal or visual memory is affected (ex: having difficulty remembering directions being explained to you)
Reducing ______ through relaxation, problem solving and preparation can assist in reducing symptoms of psychosis.
What is stress?
What is physical state?
*If a relative experienced psychosis, your risk is somewhat increased due to genetics. (other factors also need to be present)
Having unusual thoughts from time to time means you are experiencing psychosis.
FICTION!
Having unusual thoughts is not psychosis, when these thoughts occur but can be put out of one's mind easily.
Challenging unrealistic thinking should only be used when?
What is when psychosis is well-controlled, or when psychosis is coming back and you are trying to prevent it from worsening.
*Support person can assist in replacing unrealistic thoughts with realistic ones.
Give 3 examples of ways to improve critical-thinking skills... (critical-thinking includes a range of abilities such as reasoning, problem-solving and planning)
______ are firmly held beliefs that seem very real to the person struggling with psychosis. (ex: people listening to your thoughts, believing you're superhuman)
What are Delusions?
Distorted thinking can take what four forms?
What is:
1. You cannot make sense of current situation
2. Your situation seems dangerous (paranoia that other people are against you or planning to harm you)
3. The belief you have special powers or abilities, or that you have an exceptionally special role in the world far beyond almost anyone.
4. Thoughts that ordinary events have more personal meaning to you than to others. [ex: the news is speaking directly to you with their announcement]
Problem solving skills can assist individuals to solve problems with less stress and minimizing symptoms of psychosis.
FACT!
Studies have shown that it is common for a person to have psychotic symptoms for how long before receiving treatment?
What is more than a year?