Psychosis

I'm so sorry this has happened to your son and you. While my daughter's mental health difficulties have mostly not involved psychosis, I understand the fear and despair that a parent feels when a beloved child has an acute mental health episode.

Your son is in the right place to get help. Don't feel guilty - you could not have seen this coming, and nothing in a parent's experience equips us to manage a psychotic episode.

With ongoing support from you and mental health professionals, this may never happen again (and 48 hours without sleep would send anyone into a bad spiral). Encourage him to accept help and advice, stay close to him, let him know you are his biggest fan. If he is willing, go with him on the journey of learning what he can do to look after his mental health. You can help him - healthy eating and keeping mentally and physical active really do make a big difference to mental health.

Be prepared to experiment - if medication is prescribed, it may take some time to get the type and dose right for him, and he needs to be honest with the professionals about what works and doesn't work.

Be prepared for setbacks but do stay hopeful - because that will help both you and him.
Wishing you all the best.

Thank you for your kind words.

I have visited my son this morning, he is way better. Looks like himself again. The nurses are so compassionate and caring.

He still needs help with social anxiety, but I am hopeful.

Can't wait to get him back.

Thank you for your support.

A friend of mine had a similar experience, with no history of schizophrenia in her family. It felt like it came out of nowhere and can be very worrying. I can only imagine how much more difficult it is for you when you care deeply about your son. I think you are already helping him by seeking support for yourself. I am wondering if maybe the hospital may also be able to link you up to further services for yourself to understand more, perhaps through one of the social workers?

How it was explained to me at the time, a first episode psychosis can have many underlying causes, and I only found this out after her hospital stay. For e.g. it can be caused by the use of psychoactive drugs or bipolar affective disorder during a manic phase or even a brief psychosis due to borderline personality disorder. Hopefully the clinicians will be able to give you some further answers once they have seen him for a bit longer.

Hey @AU , the post above from @balance37 might be helpful for you.

Hello @balance37

Thank you for your message.

@LondonCalling glad to hear that your soon is looking and feeling a bit better.

I can see that my own mother is really struggling with what I am going through as is my wife, I would encourage if possible to talk to someone yourself in person if possible as I know this can be an incredible burden on you and everyone needs help in situations like this.