Psychosis
Schizophrenia
A condition involving episodes of psychosis, where thoughts and perceptions become disconnected from shared reality, often alongside withdrawal and reduced motivation.
What it can feel like
- Hearing voices or other hallucinations
- Fixed beliefs others do not share
- Disorganised thinking or speech
- Withdrawal, flat affect, low motivation
- Difficulty with daily functioning, especially early on
Not everyone has every symptom, and you do not need a label to deserve support.
Things that help
Stick with treatment, even when well
Relapse is far more likely when medication stops. Agree a plan with your team while you are well.
Build a relapse signature
Sleep loss, social withdrawal and unusual perceptions are common early signs. Write yours down and share them.
Keep structure and connection
Work, study, volunteering or a regular group protects recovery as much as medication does.
Want to actually do these? Save them to your practices and tick them off as you go.
Add to my practicesWhen to reach for more support
This needs a specialist mental health team. Seek urgent help for sudden changes, stopping medication, or risk to yourself or others.
Often looked at together
Delusional Disorder
One or more persistent false beliefs held with conviction, without the other features of schizophrenia, and often not obviously unusual from the outside.
Schizoaffective Disorder
Psychotic symptoms happening alongside significant mood episodes, where both are present and prominent over time.