How I understand Psychosis

[@wynniechan3366]

I have a sort of theory I guess, as to how psychosis is pathologized in the brain... I would love to see what you think about this idea! As you obviously know, schizophrenia is mainly controlled by dysfunction of the mesolimbic pathway in the brain. This circuit contains three important types of receptors, they manage dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate (with many subtypes for each receptor, this is a simplification). We also know that this disorder can be expressed many different ways, and there is no universal experience of it, only "common" symptoms. Due to the varying symptoms of the disorder, we've even gone as far as to identify "types" of schizophrenia. This would be where terms like "paranoid" or "disorganized" are used. This got me thinking that it's possible the different expressions of the disorder are caused by differing levels of dysfunction among the three types of receptors involved in the symptoms of the disorder. To explain; It could be something like dopamine dysfunction primarily causing hallucinations, while serotonin causes paranoia and delusions, and glutamate causes disorganized thinking. Of course, these symptoms are just random examples, I have no concrete reason to believe these are the actual symptoms caused by each of the three receptors, it was just an example to explain my idea. I'd love to hear some input on this theory I've developed after tons of reading and research! Edit: If this is true, it would help find the appropriate meds much quicker for psychotic patients. You would be able to infer which receptors are the most dysfunctional based on the symptoms, then target those specific receptors through medication!

[@wynniechan3366]

@SchizoAn0n I am well aware of the anti-psychotic induced dopamine supersensitivity, that can lead to permanent psychosis, and even treatment resistance psychosis (which can occur without anti-psychotic use). That does not take away from the fact that there are plenty of studies that do affirm this circuit of the brain is largely responsible for schizophrenia symptoms. There is a reason we have adapted research models of chronic use of LSD or other psychedelic like substances to induce schizophrenia in rat brain models, to then study the pathology of it.

[@la54578]

Wondering if MRI can show which receptors are most affected for pyshoisis symptoms, this way a doctor can know which medication would be more effective and which receptors to target most?

[@la54578]

@drSyl please do a video on this. 🥹🙏🏽

[@JamesRaymond-qw7yq]

I have worked in mental health support , non clinical, for 12 years. Mainly with people who live with the major psychoses . The aim in such work is to assist with recovery of function. All cases are different within broad categories of symptoms. People have a baseline functioning and can fluctuate around their baseline. I have many happy stories I could relate. I love being a small part of clients progress in life.

[@MichaelWilliamz]

I really like you. I think you’re probably a really good doctor. I can tell you’re pretty smart which is important but you’re also super passionate about this - which prob helps it not seems so much like work. And you seem to be a genuine good person that cares about others, especially sick people who are so sick they can’t necessarily help themselves. I trust you.

[@leahs.6087]

You are such a mental health nerd and it is adorable to watch you explain these things and refreshing to listen to such a soothing voice!! I love all things mental health because I have experienced and suffered from this you speak of once, and then twice in 1 year and hopefully never again! Its actually been several years of no serious symptoms and low-ish doses of 2 medications, it feels somewhat behind me now and I live really well. But I do get understandably anxious about the possibility of future relapse due to medications eventually failing or a possible life stressor happening...its just nice to know some people out there try to understand and be of help.

[@JeffreysDharma]

I have been unfortunate enough to experience a state of acute drug-induced psychosis requiring sedation and subsequent hospitalisation. Subjectively, I can remember a feeling of "everything making sense." I believed I was on the cusp of figuring out the universe, consciousness, meaning, etc... in a sense so profound and relevant to the narrative of my life leading up to that point that it is almost impossible to convey. There was this feeling of time and space ceasing to exist and just a constant presence, a place so familiar it's like I been there before an infinite number of times. The closest term I've found that describes the experience is "hyperreal" a state of experience that feels more real and familiar than reality itself. Simultaneously awe-inspiring and unimaginably terrifying. Thankfully emergency services intervened and administered sedatives before the situation became truly dangerous. One thing I gained for the experience is a greater understanding of the degree to which those suffering from psychosis are truly living in a seperate reality in the actual sense that their individual conscious experience is detached from normal day-to-day subjectivity.

[@Kanggaxx]

It sounds like some kind of conscious seizure where neurons are going into overdrive. The conscious monkey brain is then trying to make sense of it all, and the overstimulation leads to a sense of understanding and grandiosity, as if the brain has finally been unlocked to its true potential. Very interesting and eloquent description you gave, thank you.

[@sonnyobrien]

Are you on antipsychotics?

[@NeonCicada]

@@sonnyobrien Are you asking if they're still taking antipsychotics for their acute substance-induced psychotic episode?

[@sonnyobrien]

@@NeonCicada yes, because often thats what will happen. You will be involentarily taken to a mental ward and then placed on antipsychotics and mood stabilizers.

[@mentalitydesignvideo]

you could just do a massive dose of Lucy In the Sky (preferably in a controlled natural environment) and relive the experience, only this time with a modicum of control and detachment.

[@-lloygic-3565]

Congrats on buying the house, mate. Best purchase I ever made, as it helped me set down roots and take some cognitive load off of my latent mental loopiness.

[@kchardison9480]

Great to see you back! Even with lived experience, I haven't really understood psychosis. Thanks for taking the time to explain it and give it some depth. And congrats on the house!

[@DrSyl]

thank you!! it's so nice to hear from you and I really appreciate that you've been with the channel for soooo long

[@LatishaDawson]

Great video Dr. Syl! I'm currently studying to be a psychiatric nurse in Canada. I haven't touched base on any mental illnesses yet (still in my general medical semester), but I love how you talked about the complexity of the brain and how the tools we currently have are not fine tuned for the intricate work. How great is it to be a part of this vastly undiscovered side of health! I can only imagine the advancements that will be made in a few hundred years and how that will ultimately reduce stigma around mental illness.

[@saradonbailey1980]

Hi Dr. Syl! Thank you for making your videos. I am a marriage and family therapy student. Though we don’t focus as heavy on psychiatry, we do learn some of it. Your videos gave given me a more in depth understanding of the brain and psychiatric disorders. This information will come in so handy when working with clients- giving insight to their presenting problem but also and also discernment on my end of when to refer out. So helpful! Thank you! Congrats on your new home!! 🎉

[@danielthompson8306]

DOC...your presentation and cadence is superb! Thank you!

[@kimwalker8872]

Thank you for explaining this in the way that you have. I feel a lot of professionals think we won't understand but some of us have some understanding and wish to learn more.

[@BonGlitched]

Watching this after my New year's eve drug-induced psychosis. Thank you for the info, I now understand why I felt what I felt.

[@SwimDeeep]

Unfortunately I experienced paranoid delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations from drug withdraw. Scariest thing ever

[@APHHmeh]

Its called "dopamine induced super-sensitivity, No doctor will tell you about it. its not the illness making patient sick its usually the medication when one are talking about relapses. brain/body is just trying to maintain homeostasis/equilibrium, and then patients get sick again. : ( I have seen this happen to so many patient, I feel nothing but deep sorrow reading your post.

[@fransinclair3356]

Finally nice to see a mental health professional that understands mental health . How come most psychologists and doctors in Australia don’t know barely anything about psychosis or a lot of mental health issues. Most of them have a minimum understanding of just things like anxiety, depression I find people who have these disorders tend to know more about it than the health professionals

[@tcort]

how come command hallucinations are so negative? why are they never like “go volunteer at a soup kitchen” or “how about helping that old lady next door bring in her groceries”?

[@DrSyl]

I have NO IDEA. maybe something to do with the amygdala, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex activity that's causing a depressant effect on the brain. Often it's related to previous trauma too but this is such an interesting question I will ask around

[@misslightgirl]

Not a doctor lol but interestingly in native America they’ve described hallucinations and psychosis in literature for years! Those voices are mostly familiar ancestral spirits designed to help and guide the person, the west maybe due to TV and other media and lifestyle influences ( *cough* capitalism *cough* ) they’re always very negative voices heard! Love this kind of medical trivia 😅🌸

[@SwimDeeep]

I heard the craziest like devilish demonic songs/music (I was listening to regular music) but interrupting it as so negative. From organized gangs/ tribes from indigenous areas. Absolutely crazy

[@AgataMilewska-g8k]

I’ve had a short episode of psychosis in my life 25 years ago. I remember I’ve had very positive hallucination at the beginning. My guardian angel was with me telling me what I should do. It seemed to me that I had miraculous properties of recognizing diseases just by looking at a person and connecting with someone close at a distance. These were, of course, hallucinations. They never came back dospite I’ve not been on meds 25 years. It was probably manic episode because I had slept two-three hours and felt full of energy and had racing thoughts and was distracted.

[@BipolarPerson]

The last time I was hospitalized the voices told me the hospital janitor needed money so I took my diamond earrings and dropped them in the seat cover also some gold tiny hoops. I handed out money to everytime I was in psychosis I felt extreme empathy but I have B1 with psychotic features and mixed episodes so I also experienced all of the different types of delusions in psychosis. I was angry, sad and amped up the same time it's terrifying. Also believed I was living in an alternate universe, truman syndrom, people are trying to kill. Smelling gas. Litterally everything... I understand psychosis as a complete detatchment from reality. If it's partial I think that's more like you know a table is a table.

[@paulk8072]

From personal experience, the onset of delusions and paranoia are so subtle and progress so covertly that you do not even know you are becoming psychotic. It took the police to come to my home and seek acute mental health support before I became aware that I was mentally ill. That lasted 3 years before treatment.

[@curtisroberts503]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and these videos. As a father of a now 24 year old son who was diagnosed with schizophrenia around age 18 I am still trying to learn more about this horrid progressive disease of the brain. My son is on Invega Sustenna and has gained about 150 pounds over the past 3 years while on this drug though he is “stabilized” he seems to be less and less active and less interested in even simple fun activities that we’ve been able to share and experience with him during these past few years. I am hoping that there may be a breakthrough so that I may get my fun-loving, bright, athletic son back. I wouldn’t wish this disease on any person/parent.

[@rebeccascott6403]

Doctors aren’t concerned about that much weight gain?? Has he tried any other medications?? One of my best friends struggles with drugs as much as disease. 🙏🏽❤️🙏🏽❤️🙏🏽

[@beverlysettle8235]

So very sorry to hear your son is going thru such terrible side effects. Hope things change for him in the days to come.

[@fearloathing2447]

I was on Invega for some months when my psychosis was not in remission and it was my second time having to be back in the psych ward. It literally makes you feel like a zombie and SO tired. I got off that medication because the side effects were so bad and I was "stabilized". I'm now on abilify. Have you considered changing the medication to something like abilify?

[@curtisroberts503]

@@fearloathing2447 Based on my son’s doctor’s recommendation he was just switched to Abilify recently. Thanks.

[@peterhsu3817]

Very informative, Dr Syl. I am a nurse practitioner training to work in psychiatric and mental health. I throughly enjoy watching your videos. Could you go over the differences between psychosis induced by bipolar and one attributed to schizophrenia? Thank you so much. I look forward to your new videos.

[@TerryManlove1]

please keep teaching and producing information on treatment for schizophrenia. Thank you !

[@la54578]

Thank you so much, as I research for a dear loved one these videos provide so much language and understanding. 🙏🏽 curious what your go to medication is with patients that may have dementia 65 years plus with psychosis symptoms (visual hallucinations and delusions- feeling followed and others out to get them)? Also, curious what is the best way to begin the conversation with someone like that to get them to be receptive to take medication because they don’t believe they have an issue?

[@robinmezger2579]

My son has schizophrenia which emerged while he was away at university. He is currently taking clozapine and doing well. I was able to get him under the care of Dr. Robert Laitman, whose son is living with schizophrenia. As a result, he and his physician wife started a practice that focuses on using clozapine exclusively for the psychosis, but is augmented with companion meds to combat the myriad of side effects caused by clozapine such as metabolic syndrome and weight gain (Mounjaro and Synjardy XR), tachycardia (atenolol), seizure control (lamotrigine), etc. Dr. Laitman has explained all this to me, but your diagrams here are so helpful. So often, our prodromal kids are dx'd incorrectly with ADHD and prescribed stimulants as a result, which is such a disastrous error. Thank you for your videos!

[@davidhislop2470]

Wonderful talk.

[@shieh.4743]

During my worst anxiety/depression breakdown, I experienced auditory hallucinations when I was falling asleep or waking up. I always (not seriously) say that I got cheated because my hallucinations were sooo boring. Bells. A cough once. 🤷‍♀️ What was weird was that I knew it was a hallucination.

[@Kanggaxx]

That double sucks. I hope your next breakdown is more fun!

[@sharonthompson672]

I remember experiencing one auditory hallucination as a child. I came in from playing in the backyard, and the house was empty. No mom, no sister. I didn't panic immediately. I went from room to room calling, then looking out the window to see if they were in the front yard. Nope. THEN I started to panic. Didn't cry, just started going from room to room and feeling confused and increasingly scared. THEN I distinctly heard my mother say my name. As if she were right in the room with me. But I knew I was alone. But I answered "yes?" anyway, wishful thinking. And then my mom and sister walked in the front door, they'd gone to the neighbors and didn't think I'd notice as I was playing in the back yard. 😬 That's it. I thought I was nuts, but apparently it's pretty common in children under stress.

[@snigdhabhattacharya1690]

I heard bells too! And the occasional hello. I knew it was a hallucination because my fathers voice is not that deep lol

[@HughBond-kx7ly]

That's interesting to me because once I had auditory hallucinations when going to sleep .

[@CentredTraining]

I just found your channel, subscribed. Your empathetic, animated nature is genuine, and the delivery of concise and thoughtful points is ✅️ It's easy to see why you chose the profession, and surely you will make an excellent doctor and clinician 😊 I highly appreciate your conceptualization of psychosis in this video. I personally enjoy researching and contemplating psychology and mental health.. I have many topics I have been ruminating for many years, and trying to meld own personal perception with scientific fact can be difficult. I have a 1gen relative with schizophrenia.. it caused some anxiety in my youth to have genetic predisposition so I gathered a lot of information early on. I grew from that knowledge & thankfully I don't have the illness. I DO see expressions of symptoms in genetic relatives, but much milder.. like an unofficial spectrum? if that makes sense. I feel like you articulated your thoughts well. I would love to see more of this type of content!! 😁

[@carllisamclawrence9947]

I must say you do explain this things very well.

[@shalacarter6658]

Every time someone speaks of positive and negative symptoms; they should assume the person does not know the definition. Positive symptoms does NOT mean they are "good." It means "added on." Negative symptoms means "taken away."

[@corenpulleyblank5303]

Love the perspective of the elegant brain. It’s amazing and a real gift how much the group of elegant brains that are people who care about seeking to understand keep going. The evolution of scientific tools is astounding even if still a bit too clunky.

[@maureencunningham9995]

Very interesting video. You explain things very well.

[@melonetankberry5211]

since i was a stationary patient in a few different mental institutions for about 8 years, i have encountered plenty of psychotic patients. sure one could agitate their triggers but it did not really help me understanding how it works. to me my primary indicator (to spot) for psychosis is a sudden change in character or lifestyle (outside the loonbin) selling all your stuff and moving countries as most recent encounter. but not every mental breakdown is psychosis so it still is murky waters. psychosis was still the second most common thing after borderline personality disorder i encountered. most of the time psychotic people are strange but not really dangerous. they still put one at unease, since if your mind has an out of norm "normality of correlations" they are taxing to interact with. the mildest form i encountered was a former prof poker player (it is a thing apparently) who had a jesus complex (not sure if called same outside of germany). his delusion was simply his believe to be able to read others emotions and tried to help them. the most annoying one was a paranoid shizo with the delusion that everyone was treating him poorly because of the color of his skin. he was treated poorly by the fact that he was a loon who ran around calling everyone racist. the saddest one was a frightful lady who saw herself hunted by demons (like FOR REAL) and fled herself into relgion aka jehovas witnesses; a weird thing as a side effect was her loss of balance she needed therapy to relearn walking decently well again with physical therapy. there were a few violent ones but it was only around 1 in 10 i encountered and their violence was more to the demise of stuff/themselves than other people. now i live by myself again and am glad to have no need to interact with any of them. oh only about 1 in 10 of my encounters of psychosis breakouts were drug related. 2 in 10 were just sudden seemingly unpromted breakouts in the age range 17-19. 1 in 10 seemed to be related to trauma/abuse. the rest were hen and egg situations were it was difficult to tell if the disease or the psychosis came first. one can not be certain but at least i have not been diagnosed to have it have happend. closing thought. in my time i have not seen it get "cured" it gets less pronounced with medication or with social reintegration efforts. but the change in personality remains. but my experiences are not up to date since i have not held any contact since i left 3 years ago. no i did not encounter 10 people it is just a guesstimate of ratio. not sure if any of this was of help but i felt the need to spell it out. have a nice day and thank you for your efforts.

[@BipolarPerson]

You are correct about a change in personality. A "loon" is hurtful language. We have a chronic lifelong incurable diagnosis we are not a loon because our brain is an organ in the body like any other and it's fractured sometime. Mental illness is a diagnosis not an adjective. All of our delusions are rooted in trauma or fantasy, do you think it is easy for a black man in America especially when experiencing paranoia and delusions. There are statistics galor showing the discrepancies in opportunities in the Black community. I hope this helps kzbin.info/www/bejne/hInbqqeca9CZhq8

[@melonetankberry5211]

@@BipolarPerson if you are hurt by a tool to express ones thought properly, that is on you. psychotic is an adjective, psychosis is a noun. the black man in question is german with no relevant ties to america. loon is an abbreviation for lunatic; definition: a person who is mentally ill. but of course you are welcome to fight any straw man or windmill you wish to, don quijote.

[@sharonthompson672]

What is it with Jehovah's witnesses and DEMONS???!!! I know one of those people too. Her own worst enemy, but blames all the negative stuff that happens to her on DEMONS! 😳🤦

[@sleepondirt498]

extremely surprised dr syl liked your comment because youre so ... insensitive and uninsightful ...?

[@Livvisaurus88]

I suffered from psychosis 1 year after bariatric surgery so I'm interested in the link you mentioned to famine. I have now gained 50kg on antipsychotics. I wonder if maybe this can be explained by the drugs doing things to my dopamine pathways? Interesting. I'm grateful there was a drug to save me from psychosis but also so sad about the weight gain after working so hard to lose it 😢 I also experienced severe akathisia on risperidome. What causes this? I hope they develop better drugs in the future.

[@Ehecatl1111]

Please make a video like this for DPDR, I would love to know more about the neurochemistry/biology

[@berf9445]

i have this sort of reoccuring delusion that there is a man living in my basement. At one point it was really bad, I was terrified to even go on the first floor of the house because of its proximity to the basement door. Now I'm mostly only afraid of him at night. I'm bipolar, but I've had episodes "with psychotic features" tagged on. I don't remember much, but I was in the hospital.

[@missied2090]

i was told i was hallucinating ppl in my house for over a year. until i got a security cam and have pics and figured out 1 was sleeping in a closet and 1 was in a cubby under the stairs on the closed porch. i even was told i hallucinated or had a seizure after being dragged out of bed and hit even tho i took a pic of my split lip and black eye and finger shaped bruised and scratches on my arms. id buy food then wake up and a half gallon of milk is empty. i dont do well with lactose unless cooked so if i chugged it in my sleep my guts would def be pissed. i was told i was sleep eating. had to stop buying junk food cause it would all be gone. 1 is in jail rn and idk the other but the court was sure a girl was released from jail to my address and even checked after calling repeatedly asking for her and thought i was lying. my clothes and license disappeared and cards were opened in my name afterwards. i had 2 keys and figured i'd just lost 1 and ended up finding 2 more after the locks were changed so copied my keys and came out after i went to sleep. id hear the toilet flush and smell weed every night and dishes piled in the sink in the am. but i was crazy....nope also has anyone else watched some of the ppls videos with headphones when they r actively hallucinating? am i the only 1 that can hear what they say isnt real?

[@sollasemusic8322]

Thanks for the explanation about dopamine's relationship to psychosis, that was really easy to understand. I was diagnosed with ADHD a couple years ago and my doctor always asks at every checkup if I'm experiencing any delusions or hallucinations. My problem is obviously too little dopamine activity, but it makes sense that my medication could accidentally go too far the other way and push me into psychosis rather than just getting me to the baseline most people are at. Edit: By the way, if you take requests for topics, I'd love to hear what you think of the preliminary studies on the relationship between childhood brain trauma and ADHD. I sustained a severe accidental head/facial injury when I was two years old, and I wonder if it may have contributed to my various mental health issues later on.

[@RoyceRippere]

How do you relate with someone coming out of psychosis? Are they a different person before and after? Is there any reliable continuity in the current thought process and the historic thought? Do we depart from the past and assume a new start with the new person revealed and uncovered through the psychotic break?

[@legit1237]

Great content thanks! Really helpful

[@lindastilley212]

My daughter has bipolar disorder, with psychosis and persistent delusions. When she is having an episode she will hear voices telling her terrible things. Also hears her brother that passed away screaming, or babies screaming and crying. She doesn’t understand why others don’t hear them. She thinks the tv is talking about her. She also always believes the family implanted something into her and is controlling and monitoring her. Thinks I am keeping the truth from her. Once she goes into the hospital she improves. But when it comes back she will have the same false beliefs as before

[@la54578]

Our strength is with you. I’ve seen similar delusions with those I know are affected, something controlling them and something implanted 😢also belief others are surveilling too and all this is inside. Hopeful there is treatment and I just try to enjoy the moments where they are themselves. ❤

[@margueritebeson8498]

I had that too with the tv ..only now I cant exactely remember ..whát..I think it was very hypnotising and yes ..talking to me ...I all forgot about thát

[@sharonthompson672]

Ah! I just watched the video on hebaphrenic schizophrenia and requested something similar to this! (Differentiating between the different types of psychosis) 👍🖐️ PS You may still be in training Dr Syl, but you will be a most excellent psychiatrist. 👍🙂🍀

[@noreenquinn3844]

Thanks for this background information, and congratulations on moving into your new house. My questions are: How do you distinguish negative anhydonia symptoms from the parkinsonism type side effects ( slow, stiff movement, straight face, lack of conversation) that patients can get from over prescribing of anti psychotics ? In the case of poly pharmacy, if a prescriber stops one anti psychotic such as aripiprazole and continues with the other e.g., olanzapine can patients get more tired rather than less tired? If yes, why and for how long approximately? What does this signify? Why do so many patients with schizophrenia on anti psychotics get spontaneous increased heart rate even in the absence of perceived anxiety. Many also seem to have a high resting heart rate. This high heart rate can make patients very tired. Always, having a high heart rate is akin running a marathon constantly...Is it possible that the anti psychotics turn off the neuro transmitters affecting anxiety, in the brain but not elsewhere, like in the heart, the sweating etc..? The adrenaline effects? I understand that aripiprazole should be started at 2.5mg and increased slowly to decrease the possibility of akathisia side effects. Is this done in practice? I realise that my questions are complex, and that you may not be able to answer me. They, however, reflect the reality that I have come across and hopefully provoke thought about solutions and best practices??? Many thanks again.

[@kimwalker8872]

Please please do a video in the format explaining what we know about the brain in Bipolar hypomania, mania and mixed states 🙏🙏🙏

[@graphicsnerd8963]

You seem very empathetic. Such people are needed in hospitals. My experience in the Hospital was Like: stuff the Patient full of medication and wait till its over

[@neallcalvert]

Please, Dr. Syl and listeners, beside the use of drugs, also study the work of Dr. Danielle Knafo and Dr. Peter Breggin (both have books out).

[@gwennyrj]

I hope everyone is now aware of the autoimmune cause of psychosis like in autoimmune encephalitis.

[@Foxiz]

I have had hearing hallucinations when in specific situations, but I could always (I think) distinguish those sounds from real sounds, because when I have heard voices that simply aren't there, they kind of only came from the sides, if that makes sense. - No "Dolby Surround", so to speak. -:] Murmurs or clocks have always given me a sensation of people whispering, but I'm so used to it that I now use veeery low sound on the TV, so that it sounds like people speaking gibberish, as a sleeping aid. Interesting topic!

[@techsavytronicstechsavytro528]

I smoked THC and my mind and thinking hasnt been the same for the past 2 years, im always paranoid and think im the worst person and people are always talking bad about me non stop and have non stop intrusive thoughts. Ive been self treating it as anxiety/OCD but dont know if its something like a psychotic break after long term THC. any advice?

[@kasie680]

My sister ended up in the psych ward with psychosis that developed over days of not sleeping she got worse and worse, she was 30, had no previous mental illness or psychosis before and no matter what the doctors did, nothing worked, it got to the point that they were considering shock treatments, everyone was confused, there was one doctor who just couldn’t settle and knew there was something else going on he ordered so many tests and spoke to so many other psychiatrists then a test result they were waiting for come back, NMDA Receptor Encephalitis the day before the shock treatment was due to begin, it all changed, she was moved to the stroke/brain ward but she still had all the symptoms of psychosis so it was difficult to navigate, she couldn’t be left alone obviously so she had a carer who was with her 24/7 in the hospital, once they started the medication she slowly began to improve but it was such a long process, she was in hospital for weeks then sent to Royal Talbort rehabilitation in melb, she was there for months, we are so lucky she has recovered but it was so traumatic for everyone

[@Kanggaxx]

Putting very low volume music in the background is very very mean. Anyway the hypothesis of delusions being tied to (childhood) memories is very interesting. If you consider dementia, somehow it seems that the earlier memories are the strongest. There could be some connection there.

[@middleofnowhere1313]

Dude, what music?

[@jakubwyszynski3686]

Dear Dr. Syl, this is another very informative video. Thank you! One of the most fascinating and equally terrifying portaits of psychosis and schizophrenia I read was book by Lori Shiller&Amanda Bennett "The Quiet Room." I can highly recommend for you to read, if you haven't already. Also, congrats on your new house! 🎉

[@AboMajd-s2s]

fluphenazine decanoate needles and Quetiapine taplets how to take off or cut those medications safly without getting relapsed . I have shizophrenia but dont have any helucinations or dilusions . Any how to start those medications again also safly when having a shizophrenic episode and how to know if i am having an episode.??? Thanks alot

[@leam1425]

Im still not as sharp as i was before psychosis. So frustrating when you cant find the words to express yourself even after the delusions and hallucinations stop. Oh well was an interesting ride.

[@alrighttumbleweed4782]

Do you have a video that goes in depth about "illusions" where the stimulus is misinterpreted? You mentioned them as a symptom if other illnesses and I would be really interested to hear about those

[@nimimerkillinen]

would be very interest about your thoughts on jungian shadows relation to psychosis

[@fleurboisvert8816]

I know of videos archetypes and psychosis generally.

[@openmindead1610]

What an amazing man. 👏

[@myrawest]

I'm just going to say it.... Since my brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia, I've been so incredibly terrified of developing psychosis. I've had so many freinds and friends of friends who have gone into psychosis. And watching my brother.... It is horrifying. I hope to god I never experience this.

[@magneticmoonstone]

I’ve experienced psychosis that led to derealisation recently. It lasted for a week and I hardly remember how that week went. It all started from the belief that I was getting telepathic messages from some kind of the common “Source”, then I believed I was one with the Universe and all the other people. I felt like I woke up from the Matrix. Then all the existential thoughts turned that experience into a severe derealisation where I thought the reality was just a simulation and no one besides me was real. I’m now genuinely afraid of going crazy because all of that was so uncalled, I still don’t know what the trigger was. It was my first experience like that. However, I have a question. I got out of it by myself. I was working out in the gym as usual and just suddenly started feeling real. I guess neurobiology can explain why it happened while lifting weights? May physical activity have any positive effect in such states?

[@CaliGeexotic]

Hmm it probably does have a positive effect Im not sure if theres any studies on it but if your interested thats a good place to start! and Hm well i hope you dont ever find yourself in a place like that again ive become so obsessed with mental health n what triggers it, because ive had my own experiences and its led me to try n become a psychiatrist or something in this nature but anaywtas anyways Please beleive that your good! always believe that and keep yourslef strong Stay healthy keep yourself grounded in reality

[@magneticmoonstone]

@@CaliGeexotic thank you!

[@Catherine-el9bv]

Hi Dr Syl, do you ever talk about post-ictal psychosis? I'm epileptic and experience this at times. The first time was terrifying, I have film footage of me kneeing , rocking and screaming on the sofa whilst my partner rings A and E. Because I wasn't seizuring they wouldn't send anyone out. It was terrifying for me and my partner. Now we know what it is and have the right medication we're ok.

[@sarcasmagasm]

Hi Dr. Syl, I have a family member with schizoaffective disorder and I have been wondering, as I understand it, schizoaffective disorder is like having both a major mood disorder and schizophrenia. What is the reason for having a separate diagnosis for schizoaffective disorder rather than a dual diagnosis of schizophrenia and a major mood disorder ?

[@Kanggaxx]

I believe because they are tied together, and not independant of eachother. The mood swings are what cause the psychosis. Not an expert though sorry.

[@SouledOutToChrist]

@@Kanggaxx that would be diagnosed as bipolar or psychotic depression. If the mood disorder was causing the schizophrenia.

[@francesbale1409]

this is helpful. Can you talk about delusions for longer at some point? i have bipolar and experience psychosis sometimes. This usually only comes in the form of delusions and i'd like to understand it more and also is it normal to only have delusions and no hallucinations? I guess i do sometimes have tactile hallucinations more than anything else.

[@alistairmurray626]

Very informative video thank you. It made me wonder if excess smoking of cannabis during your formative years prevents synaptic pruning? If true would the brain start to prune itself if you stopped smoking after your formative years have passed?

[@rebeccascott6403]

Could it be like dreaming while awake?? If people don’t get enough sleep they get hallucinations. Instead of memory storage issues. What happens when you watch activity in a brain while psychosis is happening.

[@FindandFlip]

HI Dr Syl they say that you can have a psychosis for a long time, such as 2 - 3 years. Can you explain how this is possible and how it is not noticed?

[@Doug-w2i]

Heyo, I'm a schizo affective diagnosed 34 year old male. What really helped me the most was going on a keto diet. Obviously antipsychotic meds over the years.....but keto helped the most.

[@SmearCampaignsAreEvil]

I had a breakdown triggered by bullying and i still dont know if its real or delusion - i know they lied and gaslit me and i know they turned people against me, i just dont know how widespread. Is it delusional or defensive to distrust everyone if i dont know who is involved?

[@ccalex8548]

why usage of some drugs have some symptoms of psycosis? Do we know what is the anatomy of delusions vs paranoia vs hallucinations on the level of brain chemistry

[@This-thing-here]

How do you differentiate GAD, SAD, Autism, ADHD and psychosis and others if someone doesn't experience hallucinations? Because it looks like some symptoms cross over. The negative symptoms in particular seem very similar to Autism.

[@gillianhamilton6581]

It may be that the symptoms of psychosis stem from a disturbed relation between the individual and his or her conscience. The brain may engage in frantic scénarios to deny any behaviour contrary to a healthy and loving conscience. It would seem that using drugs to soothe distress is a palliative, in this case, whereas a thorough self analysis, on a spiritual basis, would actually be a healing practice.

[@Stpakos]

I had a psychotic episode 2 years ago,but with paliperidone i am good and i dont have symptoms.3 more years to go :D

[@scscyou]

Do you have a plan to get off the meds? Afaik there is no way to taper off Paliperidone due to the mechanism of the pill. I'm thinking of switching to Risperidone and taking a few years, slowly reducing the dose, especially towards the end where the biggest jump between % of blocked D2 receptors is. Based on what I found, staying medicated causes you to grow more receptors, adding 4%/year probability of psychosis, which doctors don't tell us; same as they don't confess that most of the relapses that they threaten us with are due to stopping drug abruptly. Also do you treat the underlying causes? Do you think you've mentally grown your resistance towards delusions? Have you handled your stressors? Do you take omega-3s and other popular causes of psychosis? Have you gone Keto and improved nutrition in general? Do you have backup plans for prodromes, like temporarily increasing dosage, and alternatives like CBD oil? (Though what I've read, therapeutic doses can easily get to 70$/day.) Has your episode been something very stereotypical, or was it combined with existential problems like spiritual beliefs and depression/anxiety? :)

[@nfs45xc]

I m just following my doctor's instructions and slowly reducing the dose.I won't do anything on my own,cause the last time i stopped on my own risperdal,i got a 2nd psychotic episode.

[@scscyou]

@@nfs45xc Are you at higher than minimum dose? What I'm saying is that once you want to slowly reduce the dose further, there are no pills available below 3mg, and this pill cannot be split without breaking its function. So I wonder if you'll also go back to Risperidone. How long do you plan to taper off, 1-3 years?

[@KuruContinuum]

I had drug induced psychosis four years ago. I still hear voices but my symptoms have greatly reduced due to antipsychotics.

[@storydates]

Ooof. I have my share of mental health challenges... but that's so hard. :(

[@Mithras444]

I've had seizures and hallucinations of a guy dancing with a cane. Turns out I am a diabetic. I also have been in two comas. Finally my blood sugar is under control but I didn't have insurance in the past. Is it common to have this from blood sugar or should I still be concerned???

[@Bu.T.F.I]

wonderful video!

[@Ash-kf1zc]

what is the difference between psychosis, delirium and mania?

[@DennisBolanos]

Hi Dr. Syl. Can a patient with schizophrenia take psychostimulants?

[@goldenlamb777]

I had it. After the second baby. You are welcome to ask any questions. ❤😊

[@Bri-tf6eu]

can you explain how you felt during the psychosis?

[@Livvisaurus88]

I remember hearing this quote back at uni... "will the human brain ever be fully capable of comprehending its own complexity"... that diagram brings that quote to mind for some reason 😅 Do you think loneliness is a stressor that can cause psychosis?

[@CaliGeexotic]

Hmm so ik im not him but I think loneliness can definitey Add in as a factor I dont really think just lonlieness itselff or maybe its how you take on loneliness ive Usually always been alone and im okay with it But I started realizing how weird and. unsual i am sometimes and its almost like episodes im not surr whats going on but im in a clear mindstate rn nd im feeling alot better so Im trying to learn Alot about the brain n me tal health since im bery interedted. but Anyways sorry for getting sode tracked. I think loneliness does contribute if your more of a i dont like being alone person and i can see how being alone On a usual basis can deteriorate you and your mental health but i think it has to have more factors Like stress or anxiety or Paranoia or maybe Its something completely different but im not sure im not really educated when it comes to this topic but im very very interested in Lots so im studying . Anyways! That quote has me thinking and its crazy cause im just sitting here rereading it over and ofer tryint to understand like Hm i get it but holy ! it leads to so much more information idek where to begin

[@theresaelalam8979]

Would you see changes in movement as a result of increased stimulation by dopamine

[@mentalhealthwithalana]

Could you make a video just on delusions

[@magicsinglez]

When does the video start

[@nimimerkillinen]

is there study about hearing voices relation to recordable voice in throat. andrew huberman says when you read texts there is noticeable voice in throat

[@nimimerkillinen]

would be interesting to know about the brain stuff spoke to layman because besides dopamine and serotonin it is hard to understand for me

[@nimimerkillinen]

effects on dopamine detox on psychotic states?

[@mapleleaf902]

Remember to hit the like

[@emer7925]

Trauma I imagine is huge in schizophrenia I have been labelled and I have experienced such trauma in life I feel all "psychotic illnesses" are meaning and purposeful and are there the symptoms to flag unresolved trauma that need to be healed n addressed

[@hayleyprice8345]

Psychotic illness is different for everyone

[@deborahbasel184]

You talk about Psychosis in association with Schitzophrenia a lot. But people can experience Psychosis in Bipolar or major Depression or even on its own. Please don't only focus on Schitzophrenia unless you are doing a video on that Illness. Not all Psychosis is Schitzophrenic.

[@terenzo50]

The Dickensian view would be "A bit of underdone potato."

[@sarahbutler7992]

Why don't you talk about visual hallucinations?

[@giuseppeLizzi-rj3er]

I used to smoke weed when I was younger I hated it I have had many mental breakdowns in my life I couldn’t make sense of my life or something

[@deborahbasel184]

Can you have Delusions without having Hallucinations?

[@Velvet_Wings9]

There is so much to discover around neurotransmitters! I am exited about what the developement of medicine will bring in the future.

[@sonnyobrien]

Probably more involuntary, nonconsensual confinement! And thanks to the graces of social media, people are self diagnosing themselves and diagnosing others left right and centre. Who knows, maybe even you have ADD, autism, bipolar or ready to have your psychotic episode just around the corner! Be skeptical. These institutions have a history.

[@KimAdams-sx7yv]

Fascinating about that the dopamine. Gabor mate references the low incident of dopamine as the hereditary content in addiction in Realm of the Hungry Ghosts. I would be curious to understand the difference between production of dopamine and the number of receptors present (or not damaged) and other disorders that are related to this.

[@JulianaAndersson]

Does anyone study people with developmental disabilities and trauma and mental illness like psychosis? My sister is retarded (developmental disability) is close to 60 and has been having psychosis. She and I both grew up with early childhood trauma

[@SentaBrothers]

I think it's sensory issues your listening to your breath your not breathing through your skull bones but nostrils and basically making up the sounds that are close to your face

[@SentaBrothers]

I wouldnt try to like fix it but understand

[@baciliorochajr_schizophrenia]

Is psychosis a symptom of schizophrenia? It’s nearly impossible to describe psychosis!

[@bethdouty4591]

If a person hasn't had a delusion or psychosis for 23 years, but still medicated, does that mean their brain structure improved?

[@marciavoe7150]

I think it would be more suppressed?

[@sonnyobrien]

The studies have shown that the shrinkage in the brain associated with psychosis is actually caused by the antipsychotic medication. The medicated is destructive to the nervous system.

[@scscyou]

I believe their brain compensated by growing more D2 receptors, so if they ever stop the drug abruptly, it's most likely it'll cause psychosis during first 1-3 years. Maybe the fact that the drug worked so well is because that person didn't need it in the first place, other than during the acute phase...

[@ashtongrist]

Whats positive about hallucinating?

[@SomeoneBeginingWithI]

in scizofrenia, the "positive symptoms" are extra things that happen in additon to the person's normal experiance, like a + sign in maths, it's an extra thing added on. Hallucinations are an extra thing people don't normally experiance. the "negative" symptoms are things that would normally be present that go away, for example people stop talking, they move less, they have less motivation.

[@mymothersdaughter1265]

What is psychosis … hell. It is hell

[@ellenstn4188]

My father is schizoaffective. I have been trying to find a resource regarding losing “functional IQ” and the effects of psychosis on the brain. He has found that his prescribed medication is actually “neurotoxic” in addition to having a lot of side effects. So we have this discussion about the severity of the consequences of his untreated psychosis vs the effects of the medication.

[@ellenstn4188]

I will say he is recently willing to do talk therapy to gain insight to his disease and some psycho education. So that’s a win on those fronts, but we feel like it’s just a ticking time bomb waiting for mania/psychosis to return.

[@Kanggaxx]

@@ellenstn4188 The problem is that just getting psychosis is also bad for the brain. It is a degenerative disease that gets worse if untreated. That also affects functional IQ. Mania can cause severe problems in the short term, so maybe you want to look at things as more of a Quality Of Life question. Ofcourse, no medicines would be the best in a perfect world, and I cannot say if it's the right time yet. Persue his attempts to gain insight and Check Reality with you, keep an open mind but also be critical, and good luck.

[@kirstenbassett3826]

Congratulations on buying your house!

[@EddieGillies-lj8dp]

According to a clinical psychologist of 20 years, Prof. John Read every person experiences psychosis through their own personal lens and to suggest otherwise is false. So please don't tell my wife what her psychosis is like. You are arrogant, which is typical of the medical profession.

[@timinri]

As someone who has endured it repeatedly and spoke with other patients on their level. Your understanding of psychosis is far from reality. AKA your delusions pioneered by the institution of healthcare has been so distanced from the reality of psychosis. I have talked someone out of a psychotic break without consulting the police.