Psychosis is a general term that describes a mental health problem in which a person has lost some contact with reality. These include severe disturbances in thinking, emotions and behaviour. Psychosis can severely disrupt a person’s life. Relationships, work and activities, as well as self-care can be difficult to initiate or maintain.

Psychotic disorders are less common than other mental disorders, with psychotic symptoms affecting between 5% and 8% of the general public. There are many disorders in which a person can experience psychotic symptoms including schizophrenia, psychotic depression, bipolar disorder (which can involve psychotic depression or psychotic mania), schizoaffective disorders and/or drug-induced psychosis.

Common signs and symptoms during the development of psychosis:

• Changes in emotions and motivation

These changes include depression; anxiety; irritability; suspiciousness; blunted, flat or inappropriate emotions; changes in appetite; less energy and motivation.

• Changes in thinking and perception

Some examples of these changes are difficulties with concentration or attention; sense of alteration of self, others and the world around (for example, the feeling that self or others have changed or are acting differently); odd ideas; unusual perceptual experiences (e.g. a reduction or greater intensity of smell, sounds or colours).

• Changes in behaviour

Behavioural changes comprise sleep disturbance; social isolation or withdrawal; reduced ability to carry out work or social roles.

If you or someone you know are experiencing any of these symptoms, speak to a mental health professional. Our professionals are available to help you 24/7.

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Il-psikosi hija terminu ġenerali li jiddeskrivi problema mentali fejn il-persuna titlef il- kuntatt mar-realtà. Din tikkawża disturbi severi fil-ħsieb, l-emozzjonijiet, kif ukoll l-imġiba. Persuna li qed tbati bil-psikosi tista’ ssibha diffiċli biex tieħu ħsieb tagħha nfisha, tibda/tmantni r-relazzjonijiet, ix-xogħol, u attivitajiet oħrajn ta’ kuljum.

Id-disturbi psikotiċi huma inqas komuni minn disturbi mentali oħrajn u jaffettwaw madwar 5% sa 8% tal-pubbliku ġenerali. Jeżistu bosta disturbi fejn persuna tista’ tesperjenza l-psikosi, inkluż l-iskiżofrenija, id-dipressjoni psikotika, il-bipolar disorder (li tista’ tinvolvi d-dipressjoni psikotika jew il-manija psikotika), disturbi skiżoaffettivi, u l-psikosi kkawżata mid-drogi. Is-soltu, in-nies jesperjenzaw il-psikosi f ’episodji fejn kull episodju jista’ jinvolvi l-fażijiet li ġejjin, li jvarjaw fit-tul tagħhom minn persuna għal oħra.

Sinjali u sintomi komuni waqt l-iżvilupp tal-psikosi:

• Bidliet fl-emozzjonijiet u l-motivazzjoni. Dawn il-bidliet jinkludu d-dipressjoni, l-ansjetà, l-irritabbiltà, is-suspett, nuqqas ta’ emozzjonijiet jew emozzjonijiet mhux xierqa, bidliet fl-aptit, inqas enerġija, u motivazzjoni.
• Bidliet fil-ħsieb u l-perċezzjoni. Xi eżempji ta’ dawn il-bidliet huma diffikultajiet fil-konċentrazzjoni jew l-attenzjoni, sens ta’ bidla fil-persuna nfisha, f ’oħrajn u fid-dinja ta’ madwar (per eżempju, is-sensazzjoni li l-persuna nfisha jew li n-nies l-oħrajn inbidlu jew li b’xi mod qed iġibu ruħhom differenti), ideat strambi, u esperjenzi ta’ perċezzjoni mhux komuni (eżempju tnaqqis jew intensità ikbar fix-xamm, ħsejjes jew kuluri).
• Bidliet fl-imġiba. Fosthom, disturbi fl-irqad, l-iżolazzjoni soċjali jew li wieħed jinqata’ għalih, tnaqqis fl-abbiltà tax-xogħol jew fi rwoli soċjali.

Jekk int jew xi ħadd li taf qed tesperjenzaw xi wħud minn dawn is-sintomi, kellem professjonist. Il-professjonisti tagħna qegħdin hawnhekk 24/7 biex jgħinuk.