difference between dissociation and psychosis

[Ballerina123]

I get both right now and just wondered how you tell the difference between the 2 as there is different ways of dealing with each?

Thanks x

[Bellatrix]

I struggle to tell the difference too.
Sorry I do t have advice. Just wanted you to know you're not alone

[needle girl]

Psychosis is a distortion of reality (a state of irrationality) whereas dissociation is a detachment from reality.

When we are in a state of psychosis, things that could not possibly be true seem to be. Depending on the severity, hallucinations of sound and vision can occur. Some become convinced they must do some specific action, often to prevent something terrible from happening. "Hearing" voices inside ones head can occur.

Dissociation varies in form and severity. Some people at times blank out, or lose time- minutes or longer go by but it seems like a second to the person and theres no memory of what happened. This is frequent during abuse and flashbacks. Theres physical dissociation, where you're disconnected from your body- don't realize you're thirsty, hungry, feel pain, etc. There's also emotional dissociation.

If you are not seeing a psychiatrist and/or therapist/psychologist, I strongly recommend you do so. These things are not often conquered without help. I know it can be very difficult and scary, but recovery is worth it. Though there are techniques, as you mentioned, to help while experiencing it, not experiencing it at all is even better :) . I have gone through psychosis and dissociation too, things can get better.

[Kamic]

That's a very good answer to a very important question.

I find that I can tell them apart by looking at my thinking, If I'm not really thinking, or if I'm thinking about blackness, then I'm probably dissociating. If I'm thinking I'm seeing a ghost then it's psychosis, the trouble with psychosis is that if you are seeing something or hearing something it can be difficult to tell it isn't real.