It has long been believed that a person is either psychotic, or not psychotic. There is no grey area, or ‘just a little bit psychotic.’ However, this may not be entirely true. Since psychosis is not a disorder in itself, but rather a set of symptoms with a myriad of causes, it becomes important that it is detected early, in order to provide the appropriate interventions.
If psychosis is viewed as a spectrum or a continuum, much like autism or schizophrenia, it becomes easier to identify those at acute end of the spectrum who are at risk of developing clinical psychosis and the associated disorders such as schizophrenia, psychotic mood disorder, and bipolar disorder. With this change in perspective, more effective treatments can be explored.
I float between categories 2-3, with an occasional trip to 4, and I am lucky to have a doctor who considers that important and is working with me on coping skills aimed at managing both symptoms and triggers. She believes that dealing with them now may prevent them from ever getting to 5.
I always feel a little bit on the edge every day… I’m still functioning… I’m still managing… but I don’t feel solid… there is always something here or there that is throwing me off.
But I never talk to my doc when I’m feeling just a little crumbling… I wait until I’m at 4 and 5 until I ask for help.
The fact that some docs are even looking at lower levels and offering help is amazing. Very cool this was posted.
hi Admin, i heard the word continuum mentioned and i was wondering if it had anything to do with this chart
i have been told that everyone on earth would fall into this chart somewhere and everybody is different more or less and that they would have to take in all evidence in order to score you on the chart, i for one think i know where i am on the chart though.
This makes sense to me. I would also argue there is a gradual continuum from no mental illness through neurosis to an end point of severe psychosis with various points in between(hence psychosis as a spectrum).
In terms of symptoms, as opposed to functioning, mine,I think, are quite mild compared to some here . Yet I have been described in the past as having psychosis/psychotic symptoms. If trying to place myself as ever having been severely psychotic it’s hard to accept but at a milder level it makes more personal sense.
I think it is hard to place some people clearly as either highly neurotic or mildly/moderately psychotic .
