Psychosis is a term used to describe a mental health condition characterized by a loss of contact with reality. People experiencing psychosis may have difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is not. This condition is usually associated with psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder.
Psychosis can be a distressing and disruptive condition, not only for the person experiencing it but also for their family and friends. It is important to seek professional help via mental health treatment if you or someone you know is showing signs of psychosis. Treatment options typically include a combination of antipsychotic medications, psycho therapy, and support services to help manage symptoms and improve overall functioning.
False beliefs that are not based on reality. Delusions can be paranoid, grandiose, or referential. For example, a person may believe that they are being followed, that they have special powers, or that certain events or objects have personal significance to them. Treatment and therapy is proven beneficial in these situations.
Sensory experiences that are not based on external stimuli. The most common type of hallucination in psychosis is auditory hallucinations, where individuals hear voices that others cannot hear. However, hallucinations can also involve seeing, smelling, tasting, or feeling things that are not there.
Individuals with psychosis may have difficulty organizing their thoughts and expressing themselves coherently. Their speech may be incoherent or illogical, making it challenging to follow their conversation.
This can manifest as agitation, repetitive movements, or unusual postures.
Some individuals with psychosis may experience a decrease in motivation, lack of emotional expression, social withdrawal, and reduced ability to carry out daily activities.
Education, working with the family, psychopharmacology, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are the theoretical and evidenced based treatments for psychotic disorders. This combination of approaches allows the client’s to learn about how to cope with their disorder while also informing them about what is actually occurring in the brain. Working with the family on managing the client’s level of stress is an integral part of relapse prevention. The treatment for psychosis typically involves a combination of medication, therapy, and support services.
Antipsychotic medications are commonly prescribed to reduce or eliminate psychotic symptoms. These medications work by balancing brain chemicals, such as dopamine, that are associated with psychosis. It’s important to work closely with a psychiatrist to find the right medication and dosage that effectively manages symptoms while minimizing side effects.
Therapy, specifically cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), can be beneficial for treatment of individuals with psychosis. CBT helps individuals identify and challenge distorted thoughts and beliefs, develop coping strategies, and improve problem-solving skills. It can also address co-occurring conditions like anxiety or depression.
DBT is often used to treat borderline personality disorder and other conditions involving emotional dysregulation. It combines elements of CBT with mindfulness techniques, helping individuals develop emotion regulation skills and improve interpersonal relationships.
Psychosocial treatment interventions focus on improving social and occupational functioning. These can include vocational training, educational support, and social skills training to enhance daily life skills, promote independence, and facilitate reintegration into the community.
In severe cases of psychosis where the person poses a risk to themselves or others, hospitalization may be necessary for stabilization and ensuring safety. Inpatient treatment provides intensive care, medication management, and a structured environment.
Peer support groups, community mental health services, and case management can provide ongoing support and assistance with various aspects of life, such as housing, employment, and accessing resources. It’s important to note that treatment approaches may vary depending on the underlying cause of psychosis and individual needs.
Early intervention and ongoing treatment are crucial for managing symptoms, reducing relapses, and improving overall quality of life. If you or someone you know is experiencing psychosis, it’s essential to consult with a mental health treatment professional.
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Studies have shown that patients with schizophrenia often have specific attitudes and beliefs that determine their perception of themselves, other people and the world around them and affect the level of distress such as “I am bad… different… not loved… others can not be trusted… the world is dangerous.” Under the influence of these beliefs, patients experience a decrease of self-esteem, which in turn contributes to their even greater alienation from society, which in itself is a chronic stress effect. (Muzaffar, 2022)
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Sean Leonard is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner. He received his master’s degree in adult geriatric primary care nurse practitioner from Walden University and a second postmaster specialty in psychiatry mental health nurse practitioner from Rocky Mountain University. Sean has experience working in various diverse settings, including an outpatient clinic, inpatient detox and rehab, psychiatric emergency, and dual diagnosis programs. His specialty areas include substance abuse, depression, anxiety, mood disorders, PTSD, ADHD, and OCD.
Sean Leonard works primarily with adult populations but has been trained across the lifespan, from children/adolescents to geriatric. He offers medication management, crisis management, and psychotherapy with extensive experience in anxiety/OCD, depression, mood disorders, attention deficit disorders, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders. He believes that “everyone can benefit from therapy and that many may find great benefit from medicine. Therapy is cornerstone to my practice, medicine or not.”
Dr. Andrea M. Wagner, Psy.D., is the backbone of Redeemed Mental Health. With a wealth of experience across various settings, Dr. Wagner brings a unique perspective to mental health treatment. She is passionate about making complex therapeutic issues easily understandable and provides a roadmap to mental well-being that is tailored to each individual’s unique journey.
Dr. Wagner strives to provide an easily understandable approach to difficult and complex therapeutic issues. She will translate complicated concepts related to mental health concerns into basic and simplistic strategies aimed to achieve the results you desire based on your individual needs.
She currently practices at Department of State Hospitals (California in-patient forensic psychiatric hospital) as an active member on multiple committees. She earned a Doctorate of Psychology in Clinical Forensic Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She has experience in various settings including the United States Army, UCI Medical Center (Partial Hospitalization Program; Adolescent), Juvenile Recovery Court (Substance and Behavioral Treatment), and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. She specializes in a broad range of psychiatric arenas in evaluations and treatment of multiple major mental illnesses.
Dr. Wagner specializes in treating adults struggling with the more severe ramifications their major mental health issue causes in their daily lives. She has extensive experience in psychological assessment to include personality, intelligence, developmental, and assessment of learning disabilities. She has the ability to treat an array of mental health issues ranging from Schizophrenia to codependency and coaching through life difficulties. She has specialty with psychotic disorders, personality disorders, and mood disorders.
Kaylee brings a gentle approach to Redeemed Mental Health. She incorporates kindness and a soft approach to those suffering in the grips of mental illness. She acknowledges that, for most people, they are coping in the most difficult period of their lives and should be treated with respect.
Kaylee Crafton earned a Master’s degree in social work from University of Southern California. She achieved a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Michigan State University where she trained with social, emotional needs, and justice involved clients.
As the Director of Admissions and Marketing for Redeemed Mental Health, she oversees social media content and marketing strategies to provide a seamless experience for clients and their families from visibility to initial communications.
Lee Breitenbach is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who enjoys providing interventions in a warm, relatable manner to others. He will breakdown the goals of therapy through education while building rapport and engaging individuals in the present moment.
He currently practices at the Department of State Hospitals as the program assistant to the Trauma Informed Care (TIC) program. He is heavily involved in culturally based committees/workgroups, program development, intervention implementation, and trauma research. He attended California State University, Fullerton to earn a BA in Psychology followed by a Master’s in Social Work from California State University, Long Beach. He individually possesses over 20 years of experience practicing in the field of mental health. His skills range from his experience providing therapy in Group home settings, substance abuse programs, trauma groups for Veteran’s Affairs, Long Beach, hospice settings, and currently in-patient mental health care. He specializes in trauma recovery and group dynamics.
Dr. Habermehl (“Dr. Dee”) earned her medical degree at New York University. She then completed an internship at Brown University, followed by a residency at Stanford University, in Palo Alto, California. She also earned her MBA with a Healthcare Focus at Yale University School of Management.
Dr. Habermehl is a specialist in Addiction Medicine and is Board Certified in Addiction Medicine and Gynecology and Obstetrics. She is a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine as well as the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
