Dealing with psychotic symptoms

[Juella]

Hello everyone. Firstly, I am really sorry for bothering you. I know I only come on here screaming for help and I'm not communicating with anyone. I am really, really sorry. But please, I don't know where else to turn.
I've been recently diagnosed with psychotic depression. At first all that I noticed was derealisation - I wasn't sure if things were real. And recently I started to hear voices. It never happened to me before and I'm terrified. I don't know how to deal with it. I'm growing increasingly anxious, doubting if everything I consider real is indeed real and not another hallucination/delusion. I've never been psychotic before. I'm taking meds, but they don't seem to do anything. How am I supposed to deal with this? So far I don't see a way to keep functioning properly while being psychotic, and I just can't collapse, because there's a lot of responsibility on me. Please, help?

[Steel Maiden]

Do you have a support network?

[Charmed]

Hi there,

I'm sorry you're struggling so much at the moment, it sounds like things are pretty intense for you. Also please don't apologise for posting, we're here to try and support you when things are difficult.

I'm not sure how much help I'll be as I've never experiences psychosis before, but I have experienced derealisation and it can be incredibly confusing not understanding what is real or not. I'm not sure if it will work in the same way as you, but I find grounding techniques really helpful when I'm unsure of what is going on. For example focusing on each of the 5 senses; something with a strong taste, smell or touch, or a comforting noise (I don't particularly like loud noises, so I personally wouldn't recommend this but that might be helpful for you) and something you can focus on which you are sure is real.

The hearing voices network (http://www.hearing-voices.org/resources/free-downloads/) is also a brilliant website with lots of free resources for those who hear voices and different coping mechanisms.

How long have you been taking the medication? Sometimes it can take a while for the medication to start working, or you might not be on the right medication for you. It can be difficult to find the right one to start off with. Can you speak to your GP/psychiatrist about your meds?

Take care of yourself.

[long road]

I've managed to get through a university degree while experiencing psychotic symptoms it is possible to function with them it just adds another challenge. I have found grounding techniques like Charmed mentioned focusing on my senses helpful as it allows you to focus on a simple reality and bring yourself slowly back into the world. Another thing I would suggest that can be tricky but has helped me is acknowledging the voices without actively fighting them. As I find fighting can make them more real.

Recently with the help of my psychiatrist I found a medication that works but finding the type and dose right for you can take time so I guess I'm saying be patient with it.

Good luck and I'll be thinking of you x

[Juella]

I'm sorry for a late reply, but I just wanted to thank you all for your support. I really appreciate it. You gave me hope. Special thanks to Charmed for recommending the Hearing voices network, it helped a lot.

I am planning to talk to my psychiatrist about my meds, I think I might have to change them, because I've been taking them for 6 weeks and so far I don't see any results. But I think I'll have to have more patience.

My best wishes to all of you, thank you, and take care.

[Charmed]

I'm glad the hearing voices network helped you lovely.

Have you managed to speak to your psychiatrist about your medication at all? Meds usually take 6-8 weeks to start working, so it might be worth giving them a little longer. But your psychiatrist would be able to give you the best advice on this.

Take care and feel free to continue talking here if you need more support.