Psychosis

Hi All,

I am new to this but would like to share some of my experiences with psychosis.

One of my adult children is suffering with psychosis. At first I think it started from drug related sleep deprivation about ten years ago and would happen after he had been awake for a long time.

He would have a panic attack which then got worse. He would then be in his own world, like a character in a movie. It has gotten progressively worse over the years and is now not from drugs and can happen anytime. It is now affecting his whole life.

At the start of the episodes he can tell it's going to happen and be his normal self. Then things start to change.

He is never trying to harm me or himself, but in his episodes he has believed he is law enforcement and has tried to arrest me or detain me under such and such drug act of whatever year. A lot of times there is a common theme to the psychosis.

Sometimes law enforcement, sometimes confessing certain things and wanting to repent, apologise or be punished somehow. Never violent or self harmful, but always with an inner voice controlling the narrative and or script of his character at the time.

After a while it will pass and he will be normal and know that it has happened. Sometimes it ends in a stay in the public mental health ward or sometimes I can ride out the episode and then discuss it with him.

His episodes often involve a voice in his head that he believes is telling him what to do and say. The psychosis voice often threatens him not to talk about it to health professionals and tells him that there will be negative consequences.

In the episodes I find it easier to go along with his "script". One time I had to pretend the ambulance I called for him was a police vehicle so he could put me under arrest and then we could convince him to go to hospital.

Sometimes he admits himself as well. It's now affecting his life in all ways. Becoming more reclusive, having time off work because of episodes and struggles with relationships with family, friends and colleagues. He is still able to live independently for now.

It is very hard to watch this happen to my child who is intelligent, insightful and hard working.

I believe he needs to apply for disability as its now affecting his livelihood which then affects his choices financially, such as don't buy meds, go without food, or lose his independence.

Apply for disability is very hard and psychosis and schizophrenia are things that the public mental health ward professionals skip around and are unwilling or unable to diagnose definitively in regards to disability support requirements.

I am unsure why I want to share my thoughts... Maybe to help me, help someone else. Or maybe just to explain it to me?

If anyone would like to comment or share that would be great.

To be continued...