I have had this in the past and it has reared it's ugly head again since my anxiety worsened, I have a fear of psychosis.
I think it is because I am scared of how bad my anxiety is and feel I have no control over it at the moment but I become obsessed with this fear, if I do something to distract myself it goes away but as soon as I am sat still it comes back.
It's worse when my panic is really high, this morning before I went out I was panicky about going out and had the thought that I would get psychosis or that I may even already have it and that made me panic even more especially because I know the mental health team are useless and I don't feel I would get help if I did have it.
Is this a common fear when anxiety is extremely high? More to the point how would I know if I did have it?
My hubby said I am not acting like I have it, just acting like someone with high anxiety and agoraphobia and that I am worrying a lot over everything but I get really scared.
I recently increased my meds, it was supposed to be increased at night and in the morning, I increased the night dose but then read on the internet that diazepam can cause psychosis so I can't bring myself to increase the morning dose because I am too scared now.
I have been on it for years as many of you know so should feel at ease about it but since reading that it's really freaked me out.
I am so sick of being scared, now I have something else to worry about
You are perfectly able to describe exactly what is happening to you, which thoughvery scary and unpleasant, shows that you are not psychotic.
People who suffer from psychosis live in an unreal world. They have visual and auditory hallucinations. I can assure you I'd have spotted it if you were psychotic.
Believe your husband - he's with you the most and would recognise psychotic symptoms very easily, which he hasn't.
You are extremely anxious at the moment for a myriad of reasons, but you need not fear psychosis.
Thank you so much tess, that has made me feel so much better.
I seem to be so sensitive at the moment that every worry and scary thought sticks in my mind like glue, as well as that I am mentally and physically exhausted which obviously makes it harder to fight off those worries and thoughts when they come.
Every one I have spoken to in the mental health team and on the various helplines I call have all remarked on the fact that I have a good insight and self awareness of my condition and as you say I am able to describe it very well so I will cling to that and try to stop worrying xxx
By the way, i think you could help a man who has just posted a new discussion. His name is AJ. See if you can reassure him. I think you will be able to and it will do him good. Thanks.
Bella i only know you thru this forum. But from all i have read that you have ever wrote id say no to the psychosis part. Horrible anxiety and intense ocd and some depression thrown in there but id say no on the phychosis.
I've had psychosis and it's something that takes time to develop. I was in a very bad state of what seemed like constant fight or flight 24/7. U sound very rational and hypochondrial (is that a word?) You won't suddenly wake up with it even if you do take the increased diazepam.
You worry that you're going to get mentally ill just like hypochondria.
Your hubby knows u best and he's saying you are rational.
Your mind is in a heightened state of anxiety. I empathise totally.
I almost feel like I've had to relearn how to think and feel with the help of therapy.
Anyway the psychosis is still there a bit. But I must be aware when I get a thought so I can deal with it and the condition subsides.
You will be fine. You are NOT going to get psychosis.
Hi, you have done really well to reduce the diazepam, anxiety is really tough to deal with and tapering diazepam down is no easy task either so you should be really proud of yourself for that.
I agree though that the health proffessionals do not understand how difficult anxiety is or how much we go through trying to cope with it, my GP has been dreadful to be honest which is why I was almost relieved that she is on holiday this week and I got to see a different one.
At one point last week my husband had requested a call from her, it was one of my worst days, I was hysterical, not eating or even drinking amongst other things and she just said 'Aww it's hard but I don't know what to do really', very dissapointing.
I had CBT, where I live you self refer for it, it's still free and it can actually be quicker than waiting for the mental health team to refer you, I liked it but only got 6 sessions which wasn't enough, they can grant extensions and I really wish I had pushed for it now, hopefully I will be starting again soon but of course there is the issue of how I will get there.
Do give it a go though if you get the chance, it can be very useful to some people and you have nothing tolose from trying it.
Thank you Lisa that is very reassuring,I was diagnosed with OCD years ago, oddly that part of my illness was something that didn't used to scare me as much but I do notice than when my anxiety is very high the OCD intensifies and becomes frightening hence the fear of psychosis and dwelling on certain worries,knowing me I will probably go a few days with this worry and then move onto something else.
Thank you for sharing your experience with me, in a sense I have been feeling that constant fight or flight feeling but I have had that before with intense bouts of anxiety.
I do get some hypocondria when my anxiety is bad too, it's not so much about physical issues either, more a fear of developing more mental health problems or at least more complex ones.
And I fear medication, doctors seem to think I find it very easy to increase my existing meds but even though I have been on it for years I still get very anxious when there is a need to increase doseage, all part of the hypocondria I suppose.
Thank you for the reassurance, my hubby says I am incredibly anxious, worried and stressed but I am not talking or behaving in a way that is making him concerned that it's anything more than acute anxiety, I am just a complete worrier which is part and parcel of anxiety disorders.
He knows you best and I have come to know you through many posts.
No way are you psychotic, Bella. Trust me. I worked in a psychiatric prison as a nurse for two years and almost all the patients/inmates were psychotic.
YOU are not. But I understand your fears - push through them and listen to those who know, either professionally, or personally (Phil) what psychosis is.