Episode 10 - Psychosis: Losing Reality or Trying to Survive It?

Few mental health experiences are as feared, misunderstood, or stigmatised as psychosis. Popular culture often portrays it as madness, danger, or a complete break from reality. But what if psychosis is far more complex than we've been led to believe? In this thought-provoking episode, Adele and Dr Lindsay Aikman explore psychosis through a compassionate, evidence-based lens, asking a difficult but important question: Is psychosis simply a loss of reality or can it sometimes be understood as an attempt to survive overwhelming reality? Together, they explore: 🧠 What psychosis actually is and the many different ways it can present ⚡ The early warning signs and stages of psychotic experiences 🌪️ The role of trauma, stress, attachment disruption, and overwhelming emotional states 🔬 What happens in the brain during psychosis, including the impact of dopamine, threat detection, and altered perception 🫥 The overlap between psychosis, dissociation, spiritual experiences, and extreme states of consciousness 💊 Current approaches to treatment, including medication, psychotherapy, family support, and recovery-oriented care ❤️ Why people experiencing psychosis are often far more frightened than frightening This episode challenges simplistic explanations and explores the human experience beneath the diagnosis. Rather than viewing psychosis solely as a symptom to eliminate, we ask what meaning, function, or survival strategy may be hidden within the experience itself. 🎧 Join us for a nuanced conversation about one of mental health's most misunderstood conditions and discover why understanding psychosis requires us to look beyond symptoms and into the stories, relationships, and realities that shape them. Topics Covered: Psychosis, Schizophrenia, Trauma, Dissociation, Dopamine, Spiritual Emergency, Mental Health, Recovery, Attachment, Psychotherapy, Severe Mental Illness.