Psychosis: Bending Reality to See Around the Corners | Paul Fletcher | TEDxCambridgeUniversity

Psychosis is a highly misunderstood condition. In this talk, Paul illustrates the condition's complexity, taking apart how our brains perceive reality by reinventing illusions around us. If perception is just a form of controlled hallucination, what does that make hallucination?
Paul Fletcher is the Bernard Wolfe Professor of Health Neuroscience at the Department of Psychiatry in Cambridge, and works at the Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@knottyinks1]

“We inhabit the same world but have different realities” I love that!

[@hugoq2511]

I have had one episode of psychosis. It lasted about a month, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. One interesting thing that I experienced during that horrible time that I would like to share is how your brain interprets everything different. Your perception of reality literally does a 180 turn. I remember watching sitcoms such as that 70's show and HIMYM and I couldn't grasp the humor, the conversations, and jokes of the shows. It all became alien and foreign.

[@kylescott169]

After coming out did your sense of humour and perception change? Was it just a period of sensitivity and change ?

[@aperson9245]

I must be in a perpetual state of psychosis where HIMYM is concerned.

[@nicoletirado178]

How did it go away?

[@murraybalkwell9579]

@@nicoletirado178 with medications the delusions fade from super intense to less and less intense same with what he is describing, I believed under my phycosis everything I watched was people trying to mess with me.

[@hugoq2511]

@@kylescott169 never thought of it as a period of sensitivity and change, that's a very interesting perspective.

[@jenniferrossiter7072]

What if your "psychosis" brings a healthy and positive message? I got locked in two different mental hospitals. Both times I had come to realize that I had a bad outlook on life and tried to be more positive. I was taking walks, drinking water, reading philosophy, and writing creatively. Psychosis is when my hallucination doesn't match your hallucination. The more common hallucination isn't necessarily the better one.

[@Jerusha.b_creations]

Hmm that's interesting. I always noticed before I would have my psychosis episodes I would have a change in my mindset( positive mindset) and it went downhill from there.

[@fanOM1000]

sounds like ur not accepting its not a good thing ^^ would u prefer to imagine a pink world full of unicorns to reality? its ur choice but chose wisely

[@mileslandry5359]

It's not about our hallucinations not matching up its our perspective of reality the way you're brain communicates with itself is different from people without psychosis

[@tomwright9904]

@@Jerusha.b_creations Hmm, might that be mania or hypomania.

[@tomwright9904]

Hmm, so you could define psychosis in terms of the quality of thought processes rather than their validity.

[@lunamoran2463]

I wouldn’t wish psychosis on anyone. It is the most terrifying and confusing thing I have ever been through in my life. It is sheer terror to not know what is happening to your mind. I just remember at one point while being in a locked room after being taken to the hospital by the police that I was watching Modern Family in my hospital room and at one point I had like 2 minutes of relief and I now love that show because I remember when it gave me a few minutes of peace when I was out of my mind. After my first episode of psychosis I never went back to normal. My baseline changed and now I have to work with a new me. It’s very depressing but that’s life and it isn’t fair but oh well.

[@gemg5871]

It gets better bro... Trust me.

[@Jabafish]

Do you still take medication?

[@dean7301]

The camera and editing team need to take a chill pill. It's a TedTalk, not an art film, guys.

[@shikamarunara8920]

Yup

[@lesliegrimes5136]

Yah!

[@FromTheHealingWellSomatics]

Stanley Kubrick!

[@dulcejocelyn7102]

😂😂😂😂

[@theprettiestfnord2399]

Maybe it's a subtle joke, along with the slight "offness" of some of the letters in Cambridge. I bet it's Tim and Eric

[@christoskalisperatis4808]

There is nothing wrong with creating your own explanation for the world. Everyone does it. The problem is that when you're in this kind of states you can't get out. I've had three psychotic episodes. You can't sleep. You can't think rationally to feed yourself. You can't focus and talk to the ones you love that are right next you but you do see them and see the distress you create to yourself and them. You are lost in that world all because it is too satisfying to connect dots as you believe and it doesn't stop until you get medication for it.

[@brianmcnary3960]

I had psychosis and was both the best time of my life and the worst . I still believe I was seeing another realm . I was just able to tap in .

[@howsway2790]

I still feel like some things were real. It had to have been.

[@brianmcnary3960]

@@howsway2790 totally.

[@brianmcnary3960]

@Christine - Flylike92 so cool , hard to handle for most . It’s an amazing ride .

[@markusmeyer6391]

No, Brian. It was all delusions.

[@Naveed123abc]

How did your psychosis end? I’d love to learn about your experience.

[@DdotTindall]

I think the camera man is trying to give me psychosis

[@coprographia]

Shanghai Qatar EXACTLY what the hell

[@Sanela1]

:D

[@dodoburner]

hahahaha bože

[@judygrey3024]

Shanghai Qatar youre a dork lol

[@nigelbiney2742]

Sukyo Deekmane in context to the talk, maybe that is the point of the camera work. It's an object lesson, seeing something through the prism of your brain. As the camera changes angle and perspective, what does your brain do with the auditory input? Not everything said is spoken, watch it again.

[@michael_se_music]

What's with the camera angles and shots.. "zoom in, zoom out, get those blurry lights in there again, yea yea good... now get a shot of his feet on the red carpet... perfect..."

[@dannygoldsmithmagic]

Kelowna Busker this made me laugh :)

[@otisobl]

Thanks, I thought I was hallucinating for a moment.

[@alainbos717]

fok, I stopped paying attention to his life-less babbel and paying more attention to the rapid changing camera because of your comment.... I bet you most people will have forgotten a word he said which is a good thing because I assure you big pharmaceuticals would have lost millions if people listened and understood the implications of what this speaker (Paul Fletcher) wants to share.... I've pause to get rid of your noticeable notable post and will start this video again because I do want to hear what he is sharing.... (I mean it's a goddamn TED-talk, right ?)

[@mikeyoutube9233]

The backstage feet shot gave off a stalking serial killer feeling.

[@justineelectra]

maybe the film editor was having a psychosis

[@EmmettDerplin]

as someone who is recovering from my own psychosis, i think everyone should really focus on the auditory and visual examples he gave with the photo and the sentence. When u are amidst psychosis u subconsciously interpret everything (what people say, how people act, what media u ingest, [everything in ur visual/auditorial field of view]) as something with specific/great meaning. this can vary from person to person, but i can confidently say that your perception is completely warped because your "muscle memory" that helps u make sense of things (create ur perceptions) has been completely changed. some of the best insight i've seen on youtube about the subject, thanks!

[@mxbj4364]

Did you eventually have the need to take medication or is it all mental recovery?

[@EmmettDerplin]

@@mxbj4364 still not over and ive been medicated for most of these 6 months

[@TheBatmanNerd]

This is very true to my experience with psychosis. It made every little thing very meaningful. I compare it to an almost spiritual experience.

[@rb26s15]

From a Celtic artist that suffered from psychosis my words on the game are short and sweet “ paranoid over previous attacks, losing his mind over unhealed wounds and trauma, but there was brightness ahead, the universe was testing him to see what kind of character he was or what kind of character he’ll become”! That’s my perception but everyone looks at the world through a different lense 👁️🇮🇪👊🏻☘️

[@ngdukic]

Nooo, that lecture didn't go nearly long enough. It was just an introduction. It was the most "rational" information on psychosis I've ever heard. Perhaps I need to consult a Neuro Scientist rather than a psychiatrist or neurologist for dealing with the psychosis, schizophrenia and temporal lobe epilepsy I live with. The most disenabling aspect of these conditions is coping with the stigma, prejudice and ignorance of others. This man is brilliant at what he does. Why do Poms make such good public speakers? I've been on a Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hutchins binge. I will have to watch this again to get this man's name to research his work to learn more from him. This would be the best TED presentation I've seen so far. Excellent!

[@rangerkush7526]

Your years of drug abuse coming to an end. Druggy

[@andrewringo6794]

fake comment lmao

[@anomalousoddity]

Love this and completely agree. Also love how you call us poms lol

[@ayushro4]

I'd love to know more about how you're dealing with the above!

[@101quote]

Had a psychotic episode years ago... had basically delusions. Can only describe it as a illness like in any other organ, where the brain malfunctioned and i was misinterpreting everything with uncontrolled imagination during that time.

[@HighestNumberZero]

What led you to have an episode?

[@101quote]

The exact cause is unknown. I was working as an internal medicine doctor at the time. I can only guess at the cause, a combination of high demanding job, emotional turmoil I was going through due to some personal issues and my brain's predisposition to the illness.

[@leniamarkou3406]

@@101quote Did you smoke weed?

[@101quote]

@@leniamarkou3406 no, never used any drugs

[@nataashakhan2165]

Please can you elaborate as my loved one is experiencing that now.

[@hannahmerchant7268]

as a person with much who has lived through 3 psychosis experiences -- I can say this is very encouraging research. I'm looking forward to the development of such games to come more into the mainstream. I believe it encourages normalization of the psychotic experience and can help to create a bridge in understanding. Thank you for sharing

[@austinkuipers6087]

David Bowie's long lost brother took a drastically different career path.

[@nameohnezahlen]

Austin Kuipers spot on haha

[@ACEshredZ]

came right to the comment section to look for "David Bowie"... of course I was not let down

[@Israel_will_prevail]

I was looking for this comment😂

[@allloren7277]

Funny this is brought up when his brother was lost to psychosis

[@rosebulley4438]

He looks like the goblin from the original live action spiderman movies

[@locallion1218]

4:19 Horror film angle

[@TheRealDahli]

LMFAO

[@user-gw1vi8cg6w]

My mans about to get his cheeks clapped

[@finngrant234]

Haha

[@professionalname5298]

LMFAOO

[@Soarinsky]

Aahahahahhahaha xD

[@hssu9076]

Omg is that what it feels like to have auditory hallucinations (a clip from the game at the end of the talk) ??? That is terrifying. I'm so sorry for anyone who has experienced that 😢

[@MegaInfowars]

It's not as accurate, I would say its weak compared to what it really is like

[@loganconnally4361]

It was more of a whisper for me, like someone didn't want to be heard but I could hear them, and always just missed finding them.

[@B.M.1976]

@@loganconnally4361 same here.

[@voice_from_pizza]

Great basic communication on the concept of psychosis. It is also wonderful to see a TED talk on schizophrenia from the perspective of one who experiences its symptoms. I have suffered through months of a manic-psychotic state, and one day I would like to give my perspective on what the experience of full-blown mania, coupled with psychosis, is like.

[@xJassix3]

I also had month of a manic psychosis and I would love to hear your perspective on what it was like for you

[@INFINITESYKOSIS]

I can't say nothing cuz I will have the swat teams/bomb squads and Exorcists at my door

[@dakotabusch7371]

would you message me? I am nearing the end of my 2nd year in medical school and I am quite intrigued by both bipolar disorder and psychosis. It would be great to learn about your experience.

[@mxbj4364]

Did you eventually have to take medication?

[@voice_from_pizza]

@@dakotabusch7371 send me a message with your email, sure let’s talk

[@bloodfluke7530]

This is an excellent video, Paul. Should have at least 500k views and growing. For me, you delivered the content in a confident yet relaxed manner that made the video a compelling and gripping watch. Informative and insightful stuff. Nice one, fella.

[@selinafin]

As a person who has suffered multiple episodes that last clip it quite accurate but also imagine it in a real life setting day in and out with no sleep. It's exhaustive and traumatic.

[@joshuaamy3010]

Fantastic talk, and tbh I liked the camera angles. Far more interesting than focusing on one person lecturing on-stage. In particular, I like the shot at 7:00 of the random dude passed out in the audience

[@jenss.3613]

I laughed 😀

[@simengeorg]

I personally have experienced multiple psychoses. And found this video very reassuring and affirmative around the evidence around the evolvement of psychosis. Without going in on my personal story I agree that the game they are making CAN be triggering and should be observed with great caution for people that have been through these experiences. I've actually wanted to make a game myself to visually describe the experience so others could get a hint of how it was.But I did not have the resources to make that possible. Glad someone is making it happens. Tho it can be misleading since every psychosis is different from person to person. So I hope they are interviewing a broad spectrum of brave individuals to cover as much as possible. Personally, I found the little video he ended with triggering myself, so I'm ambivalently curious about the final product. All in all, Grateful for this progress we as a collective consciousness are making when it comes to psychology. And also grateful for my personal experience with psychosis - in retrospective tho. Would not give my worst enemy a psychosis if I could... Bless!

[@SBecktacular]

Thank you- I hope things are going well for you.. If only more people could have your strength- I think this world could be a better place.. Peace

[@Yotaciv]

Jung had it all figured out when he spoke of the anima possession. Seems you've clued into that though.

[@vaporosoez]

I agree with you. I have the same concerns regarding the game or how the knowledge is used.

[@sharonannebrowning1942]

I am someone who has suffered from serve drug phychosis self inflicted by on own doing, however I believe I should mention it was my own way of healing after a serve domestic violence relationship that left me with undigionesed ptsd . having now coming out the other side I truely appreciated your genuine and exceptional empathy approach to what is becoming a un digeniosed and deeply misunderstood way of society.. Thank you this exact presentation is what helps me see hope within my boundaries of a brighter happier and more forfulied life.

[@Twirble]

Reminds me of when I worked in a psychiatric facility. A patient with late stafe dementia kept saying the exact words Iwas thinking.

[@MulhollandDr]

What? Are you serious?

[@roneckert9363]

Telepathy

[@maxfilippini4288]

this needs to be understood around the world i feel this man will change the world

[@SBecktacular]

This was really good and it brought to the awareness how tentative reality is.. And how I think most people take their brain’s Ability to make sense of Information coming in for granted. I have the utmost respect for people who deal with Psychosis on a day to day basis... I can only try to imagine the horror, fear, uncertainty and isolation.. But these people live with it everyday- never REALLY knowing or secure in their understanding of existence.. My heart breaks for them.

[@USN23]

Gee thx!

[@johnpfmcguire]

I too can summarize this in three seconds. "Perceptions aren't reality and neither are words." Thank you very much.

[@jason4547]

One of the few people i have listened to in this world whom doesn't try to impose a false sense of perception in order to receive validation from those around them... I could learn something from this guy

[@speculesgorgoth4055]

Excellent talk really have to hand it to you this man should be heard far and wide.

[@clivecarter2833]

A great TED Talk... extremely well thought out.

[@carfincap]

This is the best speech/Ted Talk/whatever 2022 🤔…. and most articulate (non diagnostic/stigmatizing) explanation of the complex and COMMON condition that is mental illness I have ever heard. I scrolled to educate myself on something tonight - but my story is irrelevant isn’t it? Thank you sir. Let’s look at the pain we hold inside from the outside world *first.* It is only then, that we can apply that experience to the inside being trying to conform and diagnose him or her. This I believe is the the base theorem you mention. Society is kinder to kittens no? Why can’t we be as kindly aware of humans, born as kittens without choice, who, tragically, but by the will of creation perceive the world in terrifying ways? Are we terrified of these “other” people or are we terrified if the possibility that what they see might mean affect us? Most humans, to me, are “insane” for having literally having no compassion for this PHYSICAL issue affecting our own kind. We must, and I mean must, accept that we are all born human and no one chooses pain and mental illness. Lastly, after years of education, practice, and my own human experience, I know that what is heard and seen by those who see the terrifying is more valuable than you or your neighbor acting properly-with silent dismissal and a rush to meds and judgment. It is a way for us evolve emotionally, scientifically and as a race of beings. Best

[@literaljones6712]

I love this so much! I was just thinking that spirituality and psychosis were one in the same, but this is taking it one step further, and I love it!

[@brianmcnary3960]

Agree , we have the capability to tap into other realms. Some just have abilities to do so . I had died before and after that experience I was able to do so . I could play the drums and was never able to do so before. I could predict things too . It faded after time .

[@sutapagoswami116]

@@brianmcnary3960 In the non-western world, you would be called to have the gifts of shamanism. I would say look into the ted talk 'psychosis or spiritual awakening' by Phil Borges.

[@shawnmartin4514]

Listen to his presentation... Spot ON!

[@TommyThor9909]

I was diagnosed with bipolar in my senior year of high school. The key to full recovery is finding the right combination of medicines and not giving up until you do. My psychosis was caused by a chemical imbalance and my healing was a miracle of science. I have a good therapist. I go to AA three nights a week. I run four miles every morning. And I meditate every night. But without my medicine I get hospitalized four times a year. With it I never get hospitalized at all.

[@DeeKz777]

im glad you are coping, but that is not a full recovery. Your meds are stopping the process from completing. Try tapering off the meds and ramping up the meditiation? :)

[@ravensteiner671]

@@DeeKz777 DO NOT ever recommend someone go off their meds. This can lead to relapse and potentially life threatening resurgences of awful symptoms. THIS IS DANGEROUS. Do not go off any medications without pre planning with the trained professional who is providing them. If your provider is not listening to you are refusing to address your issues with your meds, seek a different health care provider.

[@lbe]

@@DeeKz777 OMG! This is such a dangerous piece of advice! Please remove it :( I know you might mean well, but for people with bipolar with psychosis or a schizophrenic disorder - this is the WORST and most dangerous advice you could give. Someone who has a mental illness with psychosis, diagnosis in early stages, who is resistant to medication or coming to terms with it and is experiencing side effects... this is the most dangerous advice for them to read. Certain mental illnesses are not like a common cold you can try treat with honey and lemon and a week of antibiotics! PLEASE BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WRITE IN PUBLIC VIEW... you are potentially endangering people's lives, including caregivers. Please take it from a primary caregiver like me, who has a sibling with bipolar. It's a lifelong ailment - not a common cold. Sorry, but your advice is just so wreckless :(

[@lbe]

@@ravensteiner671 Thank you so very much for making your comment. Every bit of help is needed to educate the masses on mental illness and why medication is sometimes critical - especially for lifelong mental illness with psychosis. When my brother tried to take himself off meds, his psychosis was terrifying and horribly traumatic.

[@finngrant234]

Chemical imbalance...😂

[@kookykreek]

My gosh that video was terrifying! My sister has been in psychosis for a few months now and that video crushed me. Though her voices don’t seem mean at all. Mostly helpful in nature. My voice is the predominant voice she hears. Sometimes that voice tells her silly things like turn the A/C on or off or tells her she has to eat more. I just want her back to normal and I hope that happens some day.

[@playerj8574]

that bit with the game, hits the nail on the head.

[@johnshrader1655]

I liked the camera work. And the ideas were very important to me. Well said, well done.

[@sprklsht5488]

That's a really nice carpet

[@fenlabyrinth]

As a person disabled with schizophrenia, I say that the video game footage at the end disappointed me but the talk itself was phenomenal and extremely extremely vitally important.

[@fiatlux8792]

fen labyrinth I also have scizophrenia I relate quite well to the game footage.

[@user-bl9cz5fd2b]

In altered consciousness i go to a different place entirely, i see thru the matrix, i see thru the lie that holds the masses in submission, in oppression, in fear and self hatred

[@marciemartin5518]

Exactly, that’s why they want to label it as mental illness - you are actually going sane and see the truth. Psychosis has very thin or any veils. It’s usually an awakening of sorts. It’s beautiful

[@dwasd6951]

Yep it’s the devils design only way outta this bs is through the Lord Jesus Christ

[@dasociety129113]

this lecture i believe relates deeply to the camera men & the editors haha

[@alainbos717]

Very observant of you, perhaps you can see what's around the corner when you 'follow the money', hm ? TED has banned multiple TED-talks that speak out against what society perceives as normal..... (yes, there are a whole lot of people living on this pancake ;-)

[@devontecaples1993]

+Alain Bos (albo) damn

[@jessstanford6115]

🤣🤣

[@telana]

😂

[@katalincsikasz4243]

The only reason why we we have a little little more more money that I I toto pay

[@gaiainanna9069]

Thanks a lot for this wonderful explanation, i experience two years ago a psychotic episode that lasted two and a half months and I'm still trying to understand it fully but the more time passes the more clarity i get on what happened , part of it was definitely from vitamin mineral deficiencies, including especially omega 3s.

[@lindaperez2750]

How did you get over it if u don’t mind me asking

[@BaronPowerTraining]

Great presentation. Very deep, profound ideas... and when he brought up Hellblade, I lost it. I loved that game, and forgot he was the one who helped them make it. Awesome video.

[@Gemosiku]

Bro I was shocked when he mentioned about a female celtic warrior who suffers from psychosis and hallucinations. Really enjoyed that game

[@daphnewallis]

SO IMPRESSED TY

[@kendallspinas605]

I had a dream about a man explaining reality to me in a hallway. There were gears on the walls and immediately when I “got it” and understood what he was saying, the gears started to turn and color filled the room. This may be psychosis, but I think that dream was telling the future as I now understand reality in a clearer view and-wait... I’m honestly not sure. The weird camera angles and shots really made this feel like a dream as well. Very interesting.

[@jesseorth8244]

Brilliant seeing early footage of Senuas Sacrifice like that, how far its come

[@nofapSally]

Great talk. Neuroscience is so interesting.

[@bogusidentification]

very well explained 👍

[@merlinaramirez7271]

just realized he's talking about Hellblade(the video game part). I was curious about psychosis since playing the game and i never would have imagined I'd run into a video with one of the people who collaborated with the creators to make such a haunting experience of a game

[@johnmcdevitt4750]

Hellblade was a magnificent game, even experienced by someone not unfamiliar with psychosis. It has this way of stimulating your hearing and vision so that the game is all encompassing. Insistent is the best word I can use to describe it. It becomes less the mechanics of the game pulling you forward and more the voices, visual distortions and panic pushing from behind. It feels good to be represented. For the neurotypical to experience something very similar to what many of us have or continue to experience in a way that is not harmful. It is a very lonely thing to have to battle your own mind.

That demo gave me the chills, good ambiance and transfer of experience. Good talk, makes sekse.

[@Motivationlife-cz9fk]

thank you!!!

[@TiMulkey]

Brilliant!

[@fluffyclouds4303]

great talk. thanks

[@sirmonkey3215]

This was extremely useful for me. I suffer from psychosis and i pick up voices when people talk and feel they talk about me. I know some of it, if not all is delusion.. but it is stressful..

[@MerlinusAmbrosius]

check steve nobel channel.

[@USN23]

Isn't it though. It's like trying to convince your brain that somethings not going on or is it just trying to ignore something that may very well be going on

[@sirmonkey3215]

@@USN23 yep that pretty much sums it up

[@USN23]

@Sir Monkey I try to clock how long I'm wrestling with my own brain to find clarity. It seems the more I argue w/ myself the more it "amps" it up. I'm now attempting to time how long it lasts when I let it kinda' of just stream through my head. . .along w/ all the other mental health coping mechanisms that I've in place. I really am trying to avoid medication when deep down I really don't feel I'm the one w/ the problem.

[@sirmonkey3215]

@@USN23 I am pretty okay as long as i stay away from caffeine.. because that is a huge trigger for me. I do take a med in the evening tho.. kind of a low dose of antipsychotic.

[@themoffitdunsterconnection7605]

I had thyroid storms and I would have psychosis for 6 years and I was aware of what was going on around me and it definitely wasn't what you see when you don't have psychosis and it very much feels like the time is extremely different and for some reason you can't communicate with the people around you even if you can hear your own mind saying the correct word

[@skinnynick]

Scary, we all are under some level of psychosis at any given time based on our perception and prior knowledge.

[@r.balasubramaniam682]

Thank you

[@Bonesy]

rip camera man's job

[@reesepeace8693]

minty oreos lol

[@shikamarunara8920]

Lmao

[@delta-9969]

I think the editing is trying to suggest that language (of film, say) or perception is based on expectation, and when you get inputs that defy that expectation, they can seem bizarre or meaningless or misplaced without that supporting framework of experience to make sense out of them. But they drawing attention away from the speaker and so maybe doing him a disservice.

[@wcatholic1]

I don't think its still in print, but I recommend "Madness and Modernism: Insanity in the light of modern art, literature, and thought" By Louis A, Sass Ph.D. Harvard University Press

[@erinwest-ogilvie8974]

thoughts and emotions create our realities! Raising our frequency opens up higher consciousness and infinite wisdom

[@B.M.1976]

Don't eat for days, lay in your bed. Higher state will appear. At least with me.

[@B.M.1976]

@Puggelicious yes.

[@aragorntheranger]

Hellblade : senua's sacrifice! That game gets me so emotional I am still finding courage to complete it. 10/10

[@waves9832]

1:03 is where i started to take more note of the filming than the lecture. concentration is key for this one.

[@JustinSleiman]

6:18, very fascinating

[@jennifersmith2497]

Its pretty clear to me...think about it everyone!!!

[@matiasbascunan8051]

I've experienced drug-induced psychosis before. While playing Hellblade it really felt like I was experiencing the same. It's pretty accurate.

[@OpressXtheXmachine]

I had headphones in and that game clip scared the complete hell out of me. 10/10

[@e.c.winner7252]

The nanosecond that clip started, I ripped the headphones off and threw them on the floor -- before I even realized I had done it. This does not bode well.... I just bought the game, but haven't played any of it yet. ;-;

[@harveypurnell3660]

U are soooo right...like two seconds in I was about to light a cigarette and u threw it and the light down and hurry up and reached for the mute button on the remote..LMFAO....funny in retrospect but not funny for real!!

[@Kochou00]

I had headphones in as well and had to rip them off cause that mimics what I already experience daily in the back of my mind and could very well pull it to forefront of my attention and send me into a psychotic episode.. I'm glad it was short but that was a huge nope!

[@ginavega1892]

Welcome to my reality

[@RaysDad]

Good insights into HOW some hallucinations are generated, but not much about WHY some people perceive things so differently. Another thing......the voices in the video game are not just a unique interpretation of auditory sensory input; they are created out of dead silence.

[@mousynco]

I'm thinking, could they be created by an intense fear? Perhaps from the other sensory inputs? Like a defense mechanism?

[@RaysDad]

+Margit I think you are right. There is much to be fearful of in our lives, yet most people learn to live with a certain amount of confidence. But if the environment isn't supportive (bad parents, bullies at school, etc.) a person will probably develop defenses, either hallucinations or something else.

[@gaganjangle2276]

Ray's Dad Ray's Dad it can't be a defense mechanism bc everyone uses defense mechanisms so why don't we all hallucinate now and then? There's periods in everyone's lives where they been neglected or bullied. Maybe it's underlying genetics and environment

[@mousynco]

Gagan Jangle partially genetics, but definitely a combi of nature and nurture, I think. Everybody and their psyches handles things, trauma, differently. Everybody's sensitivity is different.

[@gaganjangle2276]

Margit yeah true there is a combination of both but if you don't have the underlying vulnerability you won't develop it in my opinion. Like not sleeping for days can make everyone hallucinate but won't get them a illness diagnosis. It may trigger episode for those with diff genetics. i believe

[@zeusamplification4245]

3:42 - 4:08 I can see how losing the ability to do this accurately is essentially the backbone of psychosis. I have lost my ability to do this on LSD before, although instead of delusion it resulted in slight confusion and giggling as I tried to figure out what I was looking at.

[@jefferson878]

So good ❤️😢 truely so good ❤️❤️❤️

[@Redstar2613]

I only just finished the game Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice the other day. It was really, really good!

[@OliveiraUriel]

HellBlade, the game from NinjaStudio he mentions, is the best depiction of psychosis I've ever seen. It's just genius

[@carolkology4202]

eWorld, thank you. I have several friends / clients in my life practice doing hair that are experiencing this . I also have walked with my dad during his passing and again thank you. Sincerely Carol k

[@jiteshasman6759]

best video ever

[@michaelbennett5848]

I have been in horrifying states of psychosis. I have also been in wonderful states of psychosis. I have had states that were at once terrifying and beautiful. I think when the experiences are positive we label them differently. (Powerful religious experiences. Spiritual breakthroughs. Visitations by lost loved ones.) The scary/paranoid experiences are considered illness and the perceptions insanity. The positive ones are often welcomed and accepted as god or the universe or your higher mind telling you something deeply true. I believe that both types can be valuable for growth. I’ve done trauma work to address the horror of some of my psychotic states and my experience has always been that those dark episodes were me desperately trying to confront really important issues I was unable/unwilling to acknowledge in my ‘sane’ state. Some of my experiences were terrible and included a lot of physical selfharm - but I value all those experiences because they were mine and because I often found a deep wisdom trying to express itself in these psychotic states.

[@TheJacklikesvideos]

Everything has an infinite number of interpretations and a very finite number of viable ones; inference isn't poorly effective, it's the most viable method, hence it evolving.

[@technomage6736]

Profound!

[@tjwadsworth7413]

Hellblade was so well done, thank you all for that. Can't wait for the sequel ;)

[@burgundyyearwood7376]

The Monty P reference was awesome.

[@Brainscrawler]

I didn't know this guy was involved with Senua's Sacrifice! That's awesome.

[@LegitAndy360]

I did

[@1004cheonsagateun]

I had a pschosis episode brought on by sudden depression and stress i suffered my 1st year of college. Its so odd looking back on how i felt at that time. I was noticing things that all were connected and to me seemed more than coincidence. I thought food was poisoned so i lost a bunch of weight. I suffered extreme chest pain in the night 1 night so then i was afraid to sleep and when i did sleep i had nightmares relating to the scientology building down the street that led me to briefly believe they had done something to me that was causing these delusions. I also feared cars were following me etc. Idk how i overcame it...i came out of the other side with no medication. I think what helped was talking to people i trusted and asking them if they thought we were being followed or to test a food for me b4 i ate it. It was embarrassing but i would tell them "i know what im asking seems absurd but its real to me so just answer me like its a normal question" it did help a lot and im much better now although randomly ill get a small bit of paranoia but i can talk myself down

[@Aj-io7hp]

Great talk BTW

[@clairewheeler2937]

Great talk. I will be interested to see the film mentioned.

[@LegitAndy360]

It's a video game based off psychosis

[@Tidvel]

I have psychosis.. Or one of the variations of it. Not as bad as some.. But not as good as other.. The clip from the game at the end is a good way to discribe my condition.. Just with out the visual effect.. But like those voices were calling him a coward.. Or telling him to run away.. Fits well.

[@jaydenlee37]

Legendary

[@guestandsons]

Very interesting.

[@michellejensen8424]

Seriously when the voice vispered they're comming I freaked! Ive heard that before, exept it said its comming. It was right after banging on the wall and I sat up fast and saw a little dark creature(child size) in my hallway. It ran when I saw it.. I was utterly terrified.. I hope that never happens again. Messed me up..

[@deziderziga1484]

I thought I had psychosis right to the very end. What an amazing professor btw 👏

[@thebestever1795]

Cool talk

[@Raamooooo]

The game he's talking about is Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, and it is a work of art. Fletcher is the keystone of building Senua's broken mind. I think the reviews have covered it enough, but Id personally give this game a 9/10

[@jacobtiffany6982]

Your perception is your personal reality

[@AnaRalove]

great content. think it was the weird camera angles throughout might have put ppl off

[@yfoog]

lol

[@sunwolf87]

I think the camera angles were part of the presentation. It WAS about psychosis after all...

[@shikamarunara8920]

Camera man had psychosis and was hallucinating

[@immanuelgodson7156]

I am the way to the ressurection

[@arabellacox]

So for those of us who have experienced psychosis, we are in a fairly privileged position. I can tell those of you who haven't experience of it, after this talk you will still know nothing about it 😄😄😄

[@mrg2584]

Could you please give more detail to the actual experience of having psychosis, of course if you feel comfortable doing so

[@billydousman3121]

Is the speaker from Manchester, U.K.? He sounds like Davey Jones from The Monkees. Great lecture and insight. Just listen if the camera work is disturbing. His message is too important to let go.

[@immanuelgodson7156]

I am here....i am listening....i am waiting

[@alexanderyakushev5646]

"Each of us lives within the universe - the prison - of his own brain. Projecting from it are millions of fragile sensory nerve fibers, in groups uniquely adapted to sample the energetic states of the world around us: heat, light, force, and chemical composition. That is all we ever know of it directly; all else is logical inference." (c).

[@crazysquirrelboy]

my own problem with the game is that the voices are so articulate whereas psychosis doesn't really give that coherent of a sentence

[@imagin.e.ternity]

What game?

[@reducedtoatoms327]

@@imagin.e.ternity Hellblade, the game that he were talking about in the video

[@imagin.e.ternity]

@@reducedtoatoms327 oh, gotcha

[@Paul-gz5dp]

The problem is with such things is that we have an illusion of what is around us, as everything that we see and hear is based on our interpretation of our senses. This is well shown in this short video. Our minds are always trying to make sense out of every sound and picture that we see or something that we hear. It is not uncommon to hear voices in white noise, or see a face or a person in a pattern of random dots. Also it is common for people that used to be able to hear well to hear music or voices that are created out of their mind to make up for a hearing loss, or misunderstand what is said to them as our minds fill in the gaps in the information that we get from our senses. With our eyes, when there is a blank area our mind fills in that blank area to make a complete picture and has been doing so since we first opened our eyes to see.