{"id":3814,"date":"2025-12-19T14:34:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T19:34:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/epi-nc\/?page_id=3814"},"modified":"2026-01-29T15:14:41","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T20:14:41","slug":"for-individuals-experiencing-psychosis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.med.unc.edu\/psych\/epi-nc\/for-individuals-experiencing-psychosis\/","title":{"rendered":"For Individuals Experiencing Psychosis"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

What is Psychosis?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0hallucinations (seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there), delusions (false beliefs), and disorganized thinking and\/or behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Changes to Thinking and Beliefs<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Worried that people are out to harm you<\/li>\n
  • Believing you have new, special powers<\/li>\n
  • Believing an outside force is controlling your thoughts and\/or actions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n
\n

New Sensory Experiences<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Hearing Voices or noises that others cannot hear<\/li>\n
  • Seeing images or figures that others cannot see<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n
\n

Difficulty with Communication and\/or Behavior<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • More difficulty sharing your thoughts<\/li>\n
  • People telling you they are having trouble understanding you or that what you are saying or doing does not make sense.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n
\n

Early Warning Signs<\/h3>\n