Your entire channel has been so helpful and validating for me as I recover from my psychotic episode, but this video in particular is so nice to hear. I’m an analytical person and had unusually high insight during my episode, and so many doctors tried to deny me care and call me a liar when I begged for help. Thankfully on good meds now and hopeful for the future. I’m incredibly grateful for all of your videos and hope you’re having a peaceful day.
Thank you for your very clear explanations and willingness to share your experiences. The words people use to discuss these experiences affect how we think about them (you being tagged as malingering, versus ill and in need of help). I am so sorry you had to get more ill before you were taken seriously and given help. I really think you spreading this information will help people, possibly preventing some from having to cross over into lacking insight, allowing them to be treated at an earlier phase. Again, thank you❤
It is my experience as a mental health professional that making psychotic people give insight into their delusions is incredibly difficult. I work with schizophrenics and most of them that do have a delusion system hold onto to it with the tightness of a mother holding a baby. What is doable however is to give them a reality check when it comes to hallucinations. I developed a realtity check tool for both auditory and visual hallucinations and it is used in the clinic where I work :) Having said this.....during my own psychosis I had NO IDEA I was psychotic, since indeed your hallucinations look completely real and no different from 'normal reality'. I just knew something was wrong.....stuff was weird....but could not manage to conclude I was psychotic.
It was the same for me, specifically with one hallucination which was an evil nun. I had a feeling something was “off” about her but I couldn’t tell what it was. That’s cool that you developed that tool! I wish I could have used it.
Your explanation of an insider’s view of anosognosia is particularly valuable in helping me help a family member who recently had his first major psychotic episode. Very difficult situation. Your videos are giving me insight into what this loved one is going through, and facing as a life-long illness.
I never knew I had shizo affective disorder until last late December 2022. I am almost 52. Imagine experiencing 95% of your life not realizing you have a major mental illness. I did know I was autistic. .Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in June of 2012. I thought I was rather very shy, imaginative, and creativeI spent another 80% of my life mot knowing or realizing that either. When you are psychotic from the age of six.there is not a reference point for the characteristics of sanity would that I would possess. None. whatsoever.
Wow, I certainly can’t imagine that! I am so glad you finally got diagnosed. I hope that has helped you out, I know for me it turned my life around. Wishing you all the best!
Thank you so much for every video you have posted. You're, unfortunately, quite right regarding having insight about a medical issue one might have. I do my research when I feel there's something wrong with me and a lot of medical professionals have taken it as an insult and a threat to their expertise. In a way it's a good thing, I know to look for a different specialist right away.
@@marcuscorrentus yes, it definitely helps to find the right doctor that way! I’ve weeded out some doctors similarly. I don’t trust just anyone to take care of my health anymore.
I feel like I "should" be grateful that I have so much insight, and I pressure myself to have a good attitude about it - but psychosis with insight can also be frustrating and confusing in a unique way. It's a double edged sword for me Btw I sometimes use the term "double bookkeeping" to refer to the experience of psychosis with insight, which is a term that's existed since schizophrenia was first described
Again, amazing insight. Is there any positive attributes of psychosis? For example, does a person who hears music has the propensity to sing and/or play an instrument at a higher fidelity than those who do not experience psychosis?
I’m really not sure about that. I know it’s speculated, but the people I know who have that propensity all had those abilities before psychosis. I wonder if it just presents before the psychosis? Although I come from a very creative, talented family and we’re all like that, except I’m the only one that’s schizophrenic.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who has insight like that. Most of the time I have insight that I might be wrong and it's a constant battle...lol. ugh, I relate for sure. I still feel like idk if it's a personality disorder or what but you described what I deal with. I know things sound too far out but I still think it.. then other paranoia stems from trying to figure out out. I wish people would talk about this more often. You're supposed to not have insight but then I do so it's like wth is wrong with me then lol
@@Psychotic.in.Seattle except for that moment you wake up and realize all this stuff I've been thinking is not true and you hope nobody has realized exactly what you were thinking lol...
Yeah, when it started getting bad for my ex, I didnt know it was psychosis. But i knew it was something. When I talked to them and tried to get them to seek assessment and treatment, I became the antagonist in their persecutory delusions, where they truly believed I was out to get them or out to control them and ruin their life. They never sought help and never gained any insight, and I left after years of trying to stick with them. It's been years since I left and their life has gotten bad, but I dont know what I can do. I know they wont accept it from me, but they're so paranoid they dont trust their family either. And they have no friends left. How can we help people see they need help, when theyre convinced we're all trying to hurt them in some way?
I'm still trying to fathom whether I spent at least 18 months in psychosis triggered after a SAH during 5 weeks hospitalisation in neurology. Recovered thank heavens yet my life collapsed after that in every way and now looking back I question the "terror" I was living in, its reality.
@@athena5862 lack of insight went away with medications for me but when meds don’t work there are some things that can help. Nothing’s perfect & you’d probably still have to be on some sort of dose of meds to supplement it. Lauren Kennedy of Living Well with Schizophrenia has been chronicling her journey with the keto diet as a metabolic therapy. She’s still medicated but on a WAY lower dose & with the diet her symptoms are the best they’ve ever been. I definitely recommend her channel, it’s a gold mine. She’s tried other therapies too.
Your entire channel has been so helpful and validating for me as I recover from my psychotic episode, but this video in particular is so nice to hear. I’m an analytical person and had unusually high insight during my episode, and so many doctors tried to deny me care and call me a liar when I begged for help. Thankfully on good meds now and hopeful for the future. I’m incredibly grateful for all of your videos and hope you’re having a peaceful day.
I hope you are having a peaceful day as well, and good luck with your recovery!
Thank you for your very clear explanations and willingness to share your experiences. The words people use to discuss these experiences affect how we think about them (you being tagged as malingering, versus ill and in need of help).
I am so sorry you had to get more ill before you were taken seriously and given help. I really think you spreading this information will help people, possibly preventing some from having to cross over into lacking insight, allowing them to be treated at an earlier phase. Again, thank you❤
It is my experience as a mental health professional that making psychotic people give insight into their delusions is incredibly difficult. I work with schizophrenics and most of them that do have a delusion system hold onto to it with the tightness of a mother holding a baby. What is doable however is to give them a reality check when it comes to hallucinations. I developed a realtity check tool for both auditory and visual hallucinations and it is used in the clinic where I work :)
Having said this.....during my own psychosis I had NO IDEA I was psychotic, since indeed your hallucinations look completely real and no different from 'normal reality'. I just knew something was wrong.....stuff was weird....but could not manage to conclude I was psychotic.
It was the same for me, specifically with one hallucination which was an evil nun. I had a feeling something was “off” about her but I couldn’t tell what it was. That’s cool that you developed that tool! I wish I could have used it.
Your explanation of an insider’s view of anosognosia is particularly valuable in helping me help a family member who recently had his first major psychotic episode. Very difficult situation. Your videos are giving me insight into what this loved one is going through, and facing as a life-long illness.
I hope he is doing better! Or, I hope he will be doing better soon. And I hope he recovers well with lots of patience and rest.
I never knew I had shizo affective disorder until last late December 2022. I am almost 52. Imagine experiencing 95% of your life not realizing you have a major mental illness. I did know I was autistic. .Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in June of 2012. I thought I was rather very shy, imaginative, and creativeI spent another 80% of my life mot knowing or realizing that either. When you are psychotic from the age of six.there is not a reference point for the characteristics of sanity would that I would possess. None. whatsoever.
Wow, I certainly can’t imagine that! I am so glad you finally got diagnosed. I hope that has helped you out, I know for me it turned my life around. Wishing you all the best!
I have a person I trust that is my reality anchor, I don't trust my perceptions and reality.
Thank you so much for every video you have posted. You're, unfortunately, quite right regarding having insight about a medical issue one might have. I do my research when I feel there's something wrong with me and a lot of medical professionals have taken it as an insult and a threat to their expertise. In a way it's a good thing, I know to look for a different specialist right away.
@@marcuscorrentus yes, it definitely helps to find the right doctor that way! I’ve weeded out some doctors similarly. I don’t trust just anyone to take care of my health anymore.
Shared. Always. Thank you.
I feel like I "should" be grateful that I have so much insight, and I pressure myself to have a good attitude about it - but psychosis with insight can also be frustrating and confusing in a unique way. It's a double edged sword for me
Btw I sometimes use the term "double bookkeeping" to refer to the experience of psychosis with insight, which is a term that's existed since schizophrenia was first described
Again, amazing insight. Is there any positive attributes of psychosis? For example, does a person who hears music has the propensity to sing and/or play an instrument at a higher fidelity than those who do not experience psychosis?
I’m really not sure about that. I know it’s speculated, but the people I know who have that propensity all had those abilities before psychosis. I wonder if it just presents before the psychosis? Although I come from a very creative, talented family and we’re all like that, except I’m the only one that’s schizophrenic.
how long did it take you to have awareness and what helped you?
I'm glad I'm not the only one who has insight like that. Most of the time I have insight that I might be wrong and it's a constant battle...lol. ugh, I relate for sure. I still feel like idk if it's a personality disorder or what but you described what I deal with. I know things sound too far out but I still think it.. then other paranoia stems from trying to figure out out. I wish people would talk about this more often. You're supposed to not have insight but then I do so it's like wth is wrong with me then lol
Yeah, I think of insight like I’m gaslighting myself. I actually feel crazier when I have insight than when I don’t!
@@Psychotic.in.Seattle except for that moment you wake up and realize all this stuff I've been thinking is not true and you hope nobody has realized exactly what you were thinking lol...
Yeah, when it started getting bad for my ex, I didnt know it was psychosis. But i knew it was something. When I talked to them and tried to get them to seek assessment and treatment, I became the antagonist in their persecutory delusions, where they truly believed I was out to get them or out to control them and ruin their life. They never sought help and never gained any insight, and I left after years of trying to stick with them. It's been years since I left and their life has gotten bad, but I dont know what I can do. I know they wont accept it from me, but they're so paranoid they dont trust their family either. And they have no friends left. How can we help people see they need help, when theyre convinced we're all trying to hurt them in some way?
I've been watching your videos all morning. Thank you for sharing so we can learn and understand!
I'm still trying to fathom whether I spent at least 18 months in psychosis triggered after a SAH during 5 weeks hospitalisation in neurology. Recovered thank heavens yet my life collapsed after that in every way and now looking back I question the "terror" I was living in, its reality.
Wow! I’m so glad you recovered. That absolutely sounds like a terror.
Does the lack of insight just go away in time. How do you come out of it if medication is not working.
@@athena5862 lack of insight went away with medications for me but when meds don’t work there are some things that can help. Nothing’s perfect & you’d probably still have to be on some sort of dose of meds to supplement it. Lauren Kennedy of Living Well with Schizophrenia has been chronicling her journey with the keto diet as a metabolic therapy. She’s still medicated but on a WAY lower dose & with the diet her symptoms are the best they’ve ever been. I definitely recommend her channel, it’s a gold mine. She’s tried other therapies too.