What Does Psychosis Look Like?

During an episode of psychosis, an individual’s thoughts, emotions, and perceptions may be so altered that it becomes hard to tell what is real and what is not. Common core symptoms include:

• Hallucinations: Sensing things that others do not, such as hearing voices or seeing images that aren’t present.
• Delusions: Strong beliefs that are not shared by others and don’t change even when evidence contradicts them.
• Disorganized Thinking:  Thoughts or speech that seem fragmented, tangential, or hard to follow.
• Disorganized or Erratic Behavior: Actions that appear unusual, unpredictable, or inappropriate for the situation.
• Social Withdrawal and Emotional Changes: Pulling away from others, loss of motivation, changes in mood, or flattened affect.

Psychosis can begin gradually or emerge abruptly, and the intensity and combination of symptoms vary from person to person. Early signs sometimes include subtle changes in thought patterns, mood disturbances, sleep disruption, or difficulty concentrating before full psychotic symptoms appear.