Find Answers About Psychosis

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Psychosis is not a disease or disorder.  Psychosis is a symptom or group of symptoms that can have many causes. Psychosis symptoms can last for a short time or a long time – sometimes they come and go, sometimes they stick around, and sometimes they go away.

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You are not alone, experiencing symptoms of psychosis is more common than some people may think.

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Psychosis does not mean that you are or will be violent or dangerous.  If you are feeling or worried that you may hurt yourself or have thoughts of hurting someone else, it is important to let someone know before acting on those feelings.

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Yes! With early care, help is available to create a personalized path to leading a full life. This path, often referred to as recovery, looks and means different things to different people.

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Getting help early on often means there is less disruption to your life than if you wait to connect to care (or treatment). Your life won’t be on hold while you seek treatment – the team at a PA First Episode Psychosis Center will encourage you to work towards personal goals and do things that make you feel fulfilled.

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We don’t know with certainty what causes psychosis.  It is important to know you have not done anything to cause these symptoms, and recovery is possible.

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It is easy to want to blame someone, even yourself.  You did nothing wrong.

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Psychosis symptoms are different for everyone, and it’s hard to know what they will be like for you over time. Connecting with care early gives you the best chance of avoiding future issues.

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You are not “crazy”.  Crazy is often used in a derogatory manner and should never be used to describe a person.  While some of your experiences may feel especially unusual and/or strange having them does not make you crazy.