What do you think of when you hear the term “psychotic breaks?” More than likely, you don’t think of anything good. Both words “psychotic” and “breaks” have negative meanings attached to them. To truly understand this phrase, you have to learn more about it.

What Are Psychotic Breaks?

young woman suffering from psychotic breaksYou may think of a psychotic break as a very abrupt or harsh break from reality. In some cases, this is true. However, it’s best to describe it as an episode of psychosis. Sometimes these episodes are only temporary, but they can also be long-lasting.

The important thing to note is that psychotic breaks don’t always happen abruptly. Sometimes, run-ins with psychosis happen more gradually than a sudden breaking point. The body even gives warnings that a psychotic episode is coming. It’s up to you to pay attention to these signs.

Early Warning Signs

The best chance that you have to avoid a breakdown is to catch the early warning signs. Some of these include:

  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Hearing voices or ringing in the ears
  • Tasting or smelling things that others don’t
  • Seeing flashes of light or shadows
  • Having a hard time comprehending what others say

These symptoms can occur in both adults and adolescents. Unfortunately, most people don’t seek psychotic disorder treatment when these signs first appear. Instead, they turn to self-medication, which eventually leads to addiction. Many rehab centers also offer psychiatric disorder treatment.

In some cases, psychosis is the sign of another underlying mental disorder. For example, it might indicate bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. The sooner that you get help, the easier that it is to control these conditions.

What Causes Psychosis?

Several factors can cause psychotic breaks. For many people, it’s the buildup of stress and trauma that causes a breakdown. However, genetics and substance abuse can also play a role in the development of this problem.

Stress of any kind can cause a psychotic episode. Situations at home, school or work can all lead to a psychotic breakdown. In general, however, a little bit of stress doesn’t cause a major problem. It’s usually the buildup of stress over a long period of time that becomes a big issue.

For that reason, it’s important for you to find healthy ways to manage stress. Bottling it up isn’t healthy. It eventually comes out, and when it does, it can cause a breakdown. It’s even worse if you use drugs to help cover up the symptoms instead of dealing with them head-on.

Get Help for Dual Mental Disorders Treatment

At Steps to Recovery, we provide Pennsylvania addiction recovery services. However, we know that addiction is a mental disorder that doesn’t typically appear alone. That’s why we also offer treatment for co-occurring disorders. Some of the programs that we have include:

Fight back against psychotic breaks. Get help right away once you notice the early warning signs of psychosis. Reach out to us today at 267.209.7312 to get the help that you can count on.