Take to your health care provider to see what’s right for you
Safety First
- emergency services required if urgent suicidal or aggressive/violent thinking/behaviour or if person unable to safely care for themselves re; clothing, food, elements
- emergency room, police, crisis phone line, justice system intervention, if required
- hospitalization may be required, sometimes involuntary
Substance Use/Abuse
- can cause or worsen psychosis/hallucinations/delusions/odd behaviour
- ideally stop or limit – LSD, mushrooms, cocaine, ecstacy, crystal-meth, marijuana
- review supplements, herbal products, and medications that may cause psychosis
Get a good Assessment- to figure out the diagnosis and direct treatment
- a skilled mental status examination, general medical history, physical examination, lab tests, toxicology, neurologic, cognitive exam may be indicated
- severe mood disorders like Major Depression or Bipolar Mania can cause psychotic symptoms as a secondary feature – need to treat the mood disorder
- family or primary care physician, psychiatrist, psychologist emergency room is a good place to start
Anti-psychotic Medication Treatment
- antipsychotic medications are almost always required to control symptoms
- can often prevent further episodes of psychosis with maintenance treatment
- can be given as pills, melt in your mouth, liquid or injection
- have possible physical and metabolic side effects that must be monitored with physical and lab tests – glucose, cholesterol, lipids, prolactin, – ask your provider
- antidepressants and mood stabilizers may also be used or combined
- sometimes medications for side effects are required
Counseling and Talk Treatment
- education about treatment helps you understand the benefits and risks of taking medication regularly to improve functioning, quality of life and reduce relapses
- build a good, collaborative, participatory relationship with you care providers
- for families and caregivers – education and support about course of illness and ways to reduce relapse, develop a crisis plan – and support to be heard, prevent caregiver burnout, and a realistically hopeful attitude for the future
- employment, vocational, skills interventions – forming goals and supported employment helps
- peer support, self help and recovery oriented programs – for hope and know how
Accessing and understanding Services – Housing/Finances
- continuity of care – a provider to oversee your care – safety, medication, physical and lab tests, family counseling, information, crisis and community referrals
- ACT – assertive community treatment programs
- case management, day hospitals, and mobile crisis services may be helpful