Psychosis may happen suddenly, but changes usually take place over weeks, months, or even years. Your family and friends may have noticed that your behaviour has become "unusual" or that you are "not the same."

Symptoms:

The number, duration, and severity of these symptoms differ from person to person. Some of the symptoms are:

• feeling refreshed after much less sleep than normal
• cutting yourself; telling people you are going to mutilate yourself
• feeling that things around you seem changed
• speaking so rapidly that it is difficult for people to interrupt
• feeling irritable when people touch you
• strange postures
• bizarre behaviour
• hallucinations (audible, visual, etc.)
• feeling you have special powers
• laughing inappropriately
• people who have experienced psychosis may have been labelled "schizophrenic."

Many of these behavioural changes are normal responses to stressful events. If you have any of these symptoms, are they causing you problems or distress? Are they disruptive or worrisome to others?

You may find it difficult to answer these questions because there may not be a clear "yes" or "no." I encourage you to pay attention to your gut feeling. If you are feeling concerned about yourself... wondering if you might be experiencing psychosis but aren't sure, play it safe and click "Yes" below.