WHEN SHOULD I SEEK HELP?
• Earlyinterventionisveryimportantinthetreatmentofpsychosis.Thesooneraperson
getstreatment,thelesslikelytheyaretodevelopalong-termpsychoticdisorder.
• Ifyoubelievepsychosismaybeaproblemforyou,orifyouansweryestoanyofthe
followingquestions,youshouldseekprofessionalassistance(seepages15–16):
Haveyouexperiencedhallucinationsordelusions?
Areyoursymptomsverydistressing?
Dotheyinterferewithyourhome,work,study,relationshipsorsociallife?
Doyouusealcohol,tobaccoorotherdrugstocope?
Haveyouthoughtaboutharmingyourselforothers?
HOW ARE PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS TREATED?
• Effectivetreatmentsareavailable.Bothpsychologicaltherapyandmedicationcanhelp
peopleaffectedbypsychosis.
Psychological therapy
• Psychologicaltreatmentsusuallyinvolvehands-onsupportandguidancewhichisaimed
atteachingyouabouttheearlywarningsignsofpsychosis.Treatmentsarealsoaimed
atstressmanagementandanxiety,relaxationtraining,employmentprograms,socialand
livingskillstrainingandfamilyeducation,aswellasdrugandalcoholprograms.These
treatmentswillalsoencourageyoutokeephealthyandgetplentyofexercise.
• Ifyou’reinterestedinseeingapsychologist,yourGPcanhelpyoubypreparingamental
healthplan,andreferringyoutoanappropriatepsychologist.
Medication
• Medicationmaybehelpfulalongsidepsychologicaltherapy.Therearemanydifferent
typesofmedication,whichincludeanti-psychoticandanti-depressantmedications.
• Medicationscanbehelpfulinmanagingyourpsychoticsymptoms;however,somepeople
experienceunpleasantanddistressingsideeffects.Inmostinstancesthereisachoiceof
medicationavailable,butitmaytaketimetoestablishwhichmedicationisbestsuitedto
yourneeds.Tellyourdoctoraboutanysideeffectsthataredistressingyou.
Interactions with alcohol, tobacco or other drugs
• Itisveryimportantthatyoufollowyourdoctor’sinstructionswhentakinganymedication
thathasbeenprescribedtoyou.
• Beforebeingprescribedmedicationitisimportanttotellyourdoctoraboutyouralcoholor
otherdrugusesothattheymaygiveyouthebestpossiblecare.Alcohol,tobaccoandother
drugscaninteractwithsomeprescriptionmedicationsandthisinteractionmayalterthe
6 • PSYCHOSIS + SUBSTANCE USE