Are you feeling alternately sad or inordinately happy? Do you find that your mood swings take you by surprise and leave you unable to function at  work or in  social interactions? Do you find yourself bursting with unconnected thoughts and ideas one minute and unable to focus or concentrate on your tasks? Do you feel disconnected from your daily life and activities? Do you sometimes hear voices or see things which are actually not there? You may be having Bipolar Disorder Psychosis or Manic Depressive Psychosis. Getting yourself diagnosed is extremely important! Read on to understand your illness better.

Psychosis is a state of disturbed reality wherein persons are disconnected from what is actually happening around them. They may have hallucinations or delusions, i.e. see or hear things that do not exist or are not real. Psychosis in bipolar disorder occurs commonly in the manic phase. Individuals may have a heightened sense of perception and may see vivid colors or hear ringing noises or other non-existent sounds and may feel threatened or overly suspicious. This may occur during the manic phase which is simply a state where the individual feels superhuman or invincible, talks rapidly, brimming with ideas and thoughts none of which he/she can concentrate on. Impulsiveness is also a trait where they act without thinking of consequences or reason. This may be followed by what is called the depressive phase wherein the individual experiences sadness and lack of purpose, overwhelming sense of defeat and withdrawal from people and the environment.

If you are suffering from psychosis with bipolar disorder do not fear - you are not alone. Statistics show that one in ten people suffer from the illness and are taking medication and/ or in therapy. It is possible to have a healthy life!

Here are some things you can do to help your loved ones or yourself:

• Stay around familiar surroundings and people who know and understand what you’re going through and will not ask too much of you.

• Continue with daily activities, try not to shut yourself out, the sense of familiarity and routine will give you relief rather than giving in to your mood swings

• Pay attention to early symptoms so you can identify the onset and keep yourself knowledgeable about your illness so you know what you’re dealing with.

• Look for self-help groups that you can participate in. Therapy can also do wonders, find yourself a good therapist who can help you understand and deal with your condition better.

• Identify past conflicts or previous medical history to see if anything could contribute to understanding your illness.

• If you are taking medication, know that it is not a quick fix and it will take some time before you can ascertain the right quantity and dosage that works best for you. Work with your doctor to ascertain this.

 Bipolar disorder with psychosis can be caused by a variety of environmental, genetic and biological factors. It is important not to lose hope and give in to the condition. Educate yourself and your close friends and relatives and work towards achieving your victory over this condition. It can be done and you can be free to live life to the fullest!

Sources

1)http://www.psychosis-bipolar.com/understanding-psychoses-05.html

2) Text book of Abnormal Psychology- Carson, Bucher and Mineka