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Psychosis content why?

Psychosis content why?

Hi I'm new to this site, and came here to get some insight into ptsd and psychosis. Both of which I have experienced. The majority of psychosis events were directly following drug use, where I had voices chanting at me telling me to do things, telling me that "they" were coming to get me, telling me all sorts of terrible things that "they" would do to me and my kids. also I had hallucinations of unspeakable horror, which I won't mention. At the time I thought that an individual who I was in a relationship with was some how telepathically communicating with me and putting these voices in my head, trying to extort me through threats to my family, children and self. Also during these events I experienced, olfactory hallucinations, could smell poo, and then roses, visual hallucinations, could see smoke coming from the walls, and tactile hallucinations, could feel pressure in my back, at my temple, on other ares of my body, my mind assigning meaning to that. I experienced in an 18month period, whilst with that abusive partner over 20 psychotic episodes, the content of which I realise now that he had seeded, then once I was drugged the psychosis would explode and steam roll in catostrophic proportions. On top of all that which has contributed to ptsd, I was also subjected to a near on constant amount of psychological trauma by him and his friends that was malicious, mean and evil.The worst episodes of psychosis happened 4 months after I got away from that monster. I was working in a restaurant kitchen doing kitchen hand work, over a 3 day period I had escalating psychosis that went from anxity causing horror to complete panic attack hyperventilation, struggled to servive those nights. The content of the psychosis was ridiculous extreme, worse than the concentration camps, just utter madness. All of it being this dark foreboding threat, and was extortionate in nature, I had voices chanting at me, I felt like something "him" was trying to get the name of a person from my mind, as though I was under psychic attack, (I used intense mindfulness and positive affirmations to get through my shifts and get home) I had hallucinations of terrible things happening to my loved ones... The thing is I had not drunk or used drugs for 4 months, and suspected that I had my drink spiked from a new person working those nights . I'm so paranoid about new unknowns in my space. In hind site (that was 2 years ago) is that i most likely had a flash back, bought on by the stress of that environment. The last major psychotic episode happened two months later, I stupidly had a drink to celebrate something, and was spending the evening with a drug user, my resolve dropped with the wine's and I was happy relaxed and felt like celebrating my recovery. So so so stupid to think that having drugs would be nice and relaxing. Big big huge lapse in judgement. I used, and then spent the following 42 hours with voices screaming in my head to do horrible things, that "they" will do worst things to me and my kids if I didn't do what they told me. I had utter horror going through my mind, just when I had the worst thought and threats enter my head , another even worse threat would be there, in total I reckon over 20 extreme threats and ideation's came into my head space that are unspeakable . In hind site I can rationalise where that content came from. He had put the seeds of all of it in my head in those 18 months with him, I can see parallels to it all. So since then I am dry, and straight. Am surrounded by good people, and keep my life very simple, I use mindfulness, gratitude, and I vounter, I have a new puppy, and do knitting and painting, the only psychosis I have now is on the occasions when I get anxious and start having tramatic memories and feel vulnerable that people are out to kidnap me and my kids, ( as that was what he threatened me with ) I tell myself that he was f**king with me, so it's just a threat. And not real, then my nose will itch, which I observe as a message from him that means no he is serious... Any way. I've had full blown schizophrenia psychosis, prior to him I was diagnosed with bpd, pnd. I have a family history of mi, my brother was schizophrenic in the 70's and died whilst institutionalised, my other brother, committed suicide 6months before that monster tried to get my complete control. I have had times when I saw things in colours, that certain colours ment certain things, when I felt compelled to notice every license plate on every car, then make a sentence from the letters that was a message to me. Where everything in my environment had a secret message for me built into it. Like a picture, or the words in a news paper, or songs on the radio, post's on facebook, or emails in my inbox, even birds outside my window tweeting, or the fly that was buzzing around was a spy camara. I went through a phase where all I could do was limit all stimulus so I would not get those damn messages, I went offline for over a year and still refuse to use facebook, I would drive down the street with blinkers on, like concisely apply tunnel vision to my sight to limit input to my mind. I could not look at text, listen to music, watch TV, I was too paranoid to go outside incase the spies and kidnappers were out there stalking me (he used the term "gang stalking"), I struggled to eat, because of the content from the psychosis. I practised meditation and mindfulness. And lived cognitively. Just to type this is healing because rembering me then and seeing me now is a miracle. The only hugely depressing thing that is real for me is the nightmares which fall into PTSD. Every night since I walked out of his life, I have had nightmares often multiple nightmares. And no 2 the same. Every single one unique. The theme though is the same, the story he's put in there, the trauma from him and the psychosis. Some of them are that bad that I'm getting ptsd from my sleep. I once thought that the psychotic nightmares i was having, was him threating me psychicly in my sleep. As i heal more though I realize that i have PTSD, and that it is absolutly no wonder that I have nightmare's, the psychosis was utterly terrifing. His treatment tramatic. I'm sad, angry, frustrated, disappointed that I chose drugs as a form of self medicating, when I was dealing with stress. I'm all those things again for being so vulnerable when he came in my life, I'm angry that he chose to abuse and manipulate me I'm angry that he tried to addict me to his drug, and that when he knew I was under the influence that he put a mountain of horror in my head. I'm furious he threated my children and family in so many ways and so many times (i think i was tramatised so deeply that I could not process what he was doing and saying, and my mind buried it at the time, for it only to surface months later...) I would like to know about other survivors of psychosis especally if they had someone being nefarious, and what the content is like? I witnessed my mother in psychosis from Alzheimer's, that was between my 2 biggest psychosis episodes that I mentioned here. I could relate to her experience, I felt very worried for her in that as an elderly, under educated person she could not grasp that she was psychotic, she had God talking to her, and the devil, she had her mother talking to her, and the content and tone of her psychosis was mainly based around her abandonment as a child, and her guilt around certain tramatic events in her life, themes of not being good and having the devil in her, ( mums deeply religious). <As for my psychosis content, it's all extortion based, demands or else. I never acted on any of the demands the voices made, I kept focusing on white light and held myself anchored in the belief that to my heart I am a good person. I now manage every aspect of my life, I acknowledge i have PTSD, and had severe psychosis, and still mild psychosis. I know my triggers to recalls, I'm slowly beginning to process the trauma, as I think that now that I'm stronger, healther, and further away from that time, that that might be the way to stop the nightmares. On a positive note, the good from this is that, I have self forgivness, forgivness to my parents, (mine was a void on many levels upbringing, I grew up scared).and an understanding of the borderline personality disorder, which i was diagnosed with in that 18 months. I've finally grown up, am responsible for my self, and my behaviour, have a transparent life, (ie i will only do things i'm proud of) no more running around doing shameful things im not proud of. I am clean, teatotal, and best of all, back for my kids and better then I was before. Before all this I was an exceptional mum. I love my kids so much, and am devistated that my envolvment with that monster, might have put them in harms way. That they had such a wonderful vibrant vital mum in me, then see me crash so hard. I think back to that time, such a f**ing nightmare. I get depressed some times, and anxious from his threats, I remind myself that I'm here, in my space, away from him and all the abuse, i understand why I am worried. And try so hard to remain present. because if I let the worry envelope me and my mind run, then he's winning again.

19 replies

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In response to: Psychosis content why?

Re: Psychosis content why?

Hello @Sheybridge

A very big welcome to the forum,

I hope too that you will find some amazing stories and i know theres lots of good people in here who are brave and strong just like you obviously are that are good for a supportive informative chat.

Theres so many stories in here about peoples journeys and experiences- i can just sit here and read all night.

Your story amazed me- and gave me such wonderful hope. Its inspiring when you learn about some peoples ex[periences and yet they have found some strong smart ways on how to manage their symptoms and their past history. Mindfulness can be a hard thing to master.

I myself have not experienced psychosis but i have been protected by some one who thought there was a monster trying to harm us both- this person was so concerned for my safety and blocked me from it with their body- so i have that kind of understanding on how real it can be at the time.

Welcome again- im looking forward to reading other forum members replies. i have a feeling that your story and wisdom will help so many others too 🙂

Baboo

In response to: Psychosis content why?

Re: Psychosis content why?

Thank you, it's been a huge struggle. I've been to scared to even seek help in this kind of forum. Last week I got quite depressed with strong feelings of isolation, feeling like I'm the only person I know that has had such an experience, no one really understands, and that I don't want to trauma any one with my experience. That's when I thought to look for support here, and to also help others if there are any out there. So hopefully another positive can come from such a train wreck, and other survivors and those still struggling can relate share and heal. And not feel so alone.
I have used many methods to get where I am today. I'm happy to help others by sharing.

In response to: Re: Psychosis content why?

Re: Psychosis content why?

The forums closing for tonight im sorry @Sheybridge, ill get to respond to you properly tomorrow.

Ring Lifeline for a chat if you need to 13 11 14 ive found them to be very useful myself.

Goodnight for now.

Baboo

In response to: Re: Psychosis content why?

Re: Psychosis content why?

@Sheybridge

Topic Tuesday is on tonight and their discussing psychosis- i thought this might be relevant to you- or that you could add in if you like- short cut here

Baboo

In response to: Re: Psychosis content why?

Re: Psychosis content why?

Hi @Sheybridge

Welcome to the Forums *waves*! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story with us... It was amazing to read about the ups and downs of your experience living with psychosis, anxiety and PTSD. It sounds like you're doing much better now, so well done for pushing through those tough times... living with mental illness certainly isn't an easy journey. I am sure several of our Forum members could relate to your story in different ways.

@Sheybridge it is great you have so much insight around your experience. When it comes to living with mental illness, I firmly believe that knowledge is power! @soul has a partner living with psychosis and has mentioned before how education is an important key to moving forward. @soul , I wonder whether there are any aspects of @Sheybridge's story that might resonate with you?

@kenny66 has a lived experiece of psychosis. @kenny66 , last might on Topic Tuesday, you mentioned experiencing obsessive thoughts as a part of your lived experience. It might look a little different for you, but I wonder if you could relate in any way to this aspect of @Sheybridge 's story?

@Louise and @Linmerc - I thought you both might find @Sheybridge's story a worthwhile read - feel free jump in and let us know your thoughts.

Again, welcome to the Forums @Sheybridge and thank you for sharing your story. It has been a great source of inspiration for me this morning!

In response to: Re: Psychosis content why?

Re: Psychosis content why?

the paranoia is a product of the psychosis and @Sheybridgeseems to have all the symptoms in spades.

I can relate to to the delusion of people spying on you and all the rest.

I still have periods where I see grey people just out of vision who I think are talking to anyone in the street about me.

I have never found an effective way of dealing with this but to just tolerate it, as everyone will know, no matter what evidence is produced to prove a certain delusion is false is irrelevant because your belief is that it is real.

Also there is no way of telling what is a delusion or not so it is just another experience in life.

Its hard to explain but it becomes a life experience just like any other real experience and you just don't think to yourself "oh, that must have been a delusion"

Amongst my Friends they re remarkably tolerant of this behaviour even when i lecture them about me being controlled by unseen forces.

Psychosis is be definition a disjoint from reality and there is no way of comparing the two to determine a real experience or not. So when I become obsessed with something then I don't see it as an obsession.

Obsession can be anything, the guy on television reading the news-someone hiding in my garage- FBI in my roof-numbers, particularly 6, booby traps in the yard etc etc etc.

Mine are usually accompanied by hallucinations, which seems to go with the schizoA, like a rug morphing into a person or animal, hands coming out of the wall or turning on a light and the full range of stuff that goes with it.

The psychosis drives the delusion which drives the hallucinations. Someone asked if you remember the episode the next day. Well you can sometimes. Like I was convinced there was a pit in the middle of my floor.

Next day I still walked around the edge of the room because I thought I would fall in. Sometimes not, it becomes your past.

@Sheybridge will know its more about juggling the various illusory experiences, the full range of them in the least damaging way.

In response to: Re: Psychosis content why?

Re: Psychosis content why?

Hi Kenny66

It's very interesting to read of your experiences. I can relate, and that gives me some comfort that yes in deed I suffered psychosis. and that it was/is a normal experience as far as psychosis goes. I am wondering though as to what shaped your psychosis experience?, in my case mine was shaped by the abusive situation i was in. In my mums psychosis, it was childhood trauma, and deep held religous beliefs and feelings of guilt and bad in the eyes of god. My psychiatrist said that psychosis can go either way, delusions of grandure, and delusions of terror. where your inner most fears are magnified expodentially. another person supported this, in his words, take your biggest fear and x it by 10 and again by 10. I know i'm paraniod, and ptsd, and when i get a delusional, and triggers where my mind starts to recall, or cascade into fear, i try hard to acknowledge, where i'm at and for me at that present moment it is a normal reaction given my past. sometimes though i just want to get home and not be near anyone.

In response to: Re: Psychosis content why?

Re: Psychosis content why?

@Sheybridge

My MI was brought on by an extended period of childhood sexual and physical abuse. It was probably about as bad as you could get. Anyway i never go into it but it was pretty terrible.

I sort of had a transitional journey to a Schizoaffective diagnosis-DID with OCD-BPD-schizophrenia the schizoaffective disorder.

The components of my psychosis are multi faceted-hallucinations, delusions , cognitive disruption, the usual drill. The delusions are only one part of a psychotic condition.

I don't find that my psychotic episodes necessarily always involve fear or terror, some can be quite ecstatic, depending on experience.

My paranoid thoughts may also involve non threatening stimuli.

In my case the psychosis is a feature of the underlying mental illness, not the totality of it.

I guess the best way is to describe it as a swirl of all the thought disorders described, driven by mania,depression or a combination of both with attendant triggers

No two cases of psychotic episodes are the same nor is the combination of things that create it the same. Recognising psychotic episodes is a must for of effective treatment, either by yourself or or other people.

I cant say that episodic psychotic behaviour in myself is always perceived by me as a negative but as a somewhat unusual variant of usual brain functioning. Depending on circumstance, every event is not frightening.

Its very much and issue for those around me such as friends and acquaintances and my health care team as usually I am unaware of the psychotic event.

In response to: Psychosis content why?

Re: Psychosis content why?

Hi @Sheybridge
Well what a story and what experiences you have been through. I was unable to read your post without crying half way through. I am glad you were strong enough to leave that 'monster' for your own peace of mind and for the safety of your kids. At least you have now acknowledged and accepted what drugs and alcohol do to your mind and they must be avoided at all costs.
My husband also suffers psychosis but he has found a great support group, GROW. We were both made to feel very welcome and he feels very reassured that other members of his group can understand the thoughts and feelings he experienced. Please google the GROW group for a group meeting located close to you. They are non-judgemental and a great place to vent, cry and laugh about your MI.
I was filled with hope and believe you are on the right path to recovery as you have shown such strength and courage to overcome your past experiences. Never let 'him' win.
Stay safe and strong and remember 'feelings are not facts'.

In response to: Re: Psychosis content why?

Re: Psychosis content why?

Hi @kenny66
It's always enjoyable to read your posts.

I am very sorry to read that your MI was brought on by childhood abuse. As these early years are supposed to be the best years of your life.

My husband could really relate to your description of your delusions or hallucinations as his were very similar but different, if that makes sense. He also saw 'grey' people and his psychotic episodes were not always terrifying but sometimes quite euphoric. It all depends on which way the brain wants to go as he is unaware of when he is having a psychotic event. Thank goodness with the right medication he has not experienced an episode for many months.

I agree that the psychosis is only a part of the whole mental illness.

Stay strong

Linmerc
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