For Individuals Experiencing Psychosis | Early Psychosis Interventions of North Carolina (EPI- NC)

What is Psychosis?

Psychosis is a set of experiences that makes it difficult to figure out what is real and what is not real. It can feel like your mind is playing tricks on you. The experiences include hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there), delusions (false beliefs), and disorganized thinking and/or behavior.

Changes to Thinking and Beliefs

Worried that people are out to harm you
Believing you have new, special powers
Believing an outside force is controlling your thoughts and/or actions

New Sensory Experiences

Hearing Voices or noises that others cannot hear
Seeing images or figures that others cannot see

Difficulty with Communication and/or Behavior

More difficulty sharing your thoughts
People telling you they are having trouble understanding you or that what you are saying or doing does not make sense.

Early Warning Signs

Early signs of someone experiencing psychosis can be non-specific and difficult to identify. This may include changes to mood and behavior like withdrawing from friends and family. You may notice not performing as well at school or work.
Explore the Psychosis Screening site for more information

The good news is that psychosis is treatable. Psychosis is not anyone’s fault, and it can happen to anyone.

There are many reasons one can experience psychosis like medical illness, substance use, and mental illness. It is important for psychosis to be evaluated by a health care professional to understand the cause and to receive the right treatment.

See this helpful video to understand psychosis: Understanding “Psychosis” A guide for young people and their supporters

Early evaluation and treatment are key to the best outcomes!

Steps to Getting Help

An evaluation by a medical practitioner will be important to evaluate the health of both the body and the mind.

Make an appointment with their pediatrician or primary care provider.
If they are already connected to mental health treatment, ask you loved ones to let them know about your concerns.
If there are more urgent concerns, like you’re worried about safety, seek help in an emergency department or call 988 or 911 in a mental health crisis situation.
A mental health specialist will be best equipped to evaluate for signs of psychosis
Links for more information:

Resources

Our team members understand the confusion that can come from navigating psychosis and a new diagnosis. We have created a list of resources that others who are diagnosed with psychosis have found helpful. As you explore these resources, if you believe that our services would help you, please visit our ‘Clinic Locations‘ page to find a Coordinated Specialty Care clinic near you.