1. Understanding Psychotic Symptoms

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  Psychosis Definition: Includes hallucinations (seeing/hearing things not present) and delusions (firmly held false beliefs).


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  Associated Disorders: Present in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and more.

2. Common Triggers and Causes of Psychotic Episodes

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  Stress: A major factor that can trigger or exacerbate symptoms.


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  Medication Compliance: Non-adherence or imbalance can lead to breakthrough symptoms.


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  Physical Conditions: Conditions like diabetes, sleep deprivation, and traumatic brain injuries may contribute to psychosis.

3. Strategies to Support Someone with Psychosis

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  Create a Safe Environment: Focus on safety and security rather than challenging their reality.


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  Reduce Stress: Identify and mitigate stressors (emotional, physical, or environmental).


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  Develop an Emergency Plan: Be prepared with a relapse or prodromal symptom plan.

4. Managing Symptoms in Acute Episodes

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  Join Their Reality: Instead of arguing, acknowledge their experience and work on creating a sense of safety.


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  Behavioral Observations: Examine behavior as a form of communication to understand underlying needs.

5. Long-Term Interventions

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  CBT for Psychosis (CBTp): Effective in residual symptoms or remission but not during acute episodes.


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  Motivation and Scaffolding: Help individuals develop motivation for self-care tasks using step-by-step guidance and rewards.

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