[Th3reandback]

Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are about what separates these three.

When I had my first episode last year, it started with grandiose delusions that I was being called to do something. I thought I was a prophet of some sort. I was also very paranoid and thought people were out to get me.

As things got worse (ended up in jail for a few months) I was seeing faces/patterns in everything. On the walls, ect. Everything existed in the real world, but my brain perceived it in such a scary way. I thought the food was poisoned and I wouldn't eat it. I thought I was in a concentration camp. I was very aggressive and banged my head against a window and split it open. I tried escaping because I thought I needed to run to get out. I thought I was going to be raped, tortured, killed. Every voice or cry I heard from other inmates sounded like demons crying in the depths of hell, and it hurt me to an extent I couldn't explain. It was absolutely the most terrifying experience of my life.

At its worst, I thought small flakes were falling onto my back from the ceiling like snow, but each flake was laced with drugs to knock me out or kill me. I looked up at the ceiling and thought someone was up there yelling down to me as if it were the KKK and I was their prisoner. I was banging on the door, screaming, and going absolutely nuts. However, at some moments, when I really looked back up at the ceiling, in my head I knew it was just a ceiling and I couldn't see anybody up there.

My question is, was this psychosis? Mania induced psychosis? Or not psychosis at all? From what I read, psychotic features include that of a schizophrenic nature and to not make sense in the natural world. All of my paranoid, persecutory, and grandiose delusions had some type of reality connected with them, regardless if I was completely unaware of who I was or where I was, or completely insane for that matter. This all lasted about a month straight before I snapped out of it. What do you guys think about the difference between severe mania, delusional behavior and actual psychosis?

[Crazy Hitch]

I'm no pdoc so I don't know the professional answer.

I thought psychosis could take the form of delusions of persecution or delusional paranoia.

Sounds like psychosis to me. Delusions can be a symptom of pychosis and mania is usually a predecessor to pyschosis.
That sounds like an awful experience, I'm really sorry you went through that.

[franz kafka]

Delusions are a form of psychosis (along with hallucinations, or both). Severe mania can - but does not always - lead to psychosis.

I'm not a doctor, but coming from personal experience with mania and psychosis, what you're describing sounds like psychosis (perhaps with mania, but I can't tell from your description).

[Th3reandback]

I definitely experienced mania before the psychosis happened. My diagnosis is bipolar 1. Does that mean I can only experience psychosis after extreme mania? I'm on lithium now, which my doctor says prevents manic episodes almost 100%. Which means I won't experience psychosis again just "out of the blue"?

When I was manic I had delusions that I was a world class adventurer (as in National Geographic worthy)

[st0psign]

Cerainly sounds like psychosis to me

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[franz kafka]

Originally Posted by Th3reandback

I definitely experienced mania before the psychosis happened. My diagnosis is bipolar 1. Does that mean I can only experience psychosis after extreme mania? I'm on lithium now, which my doctor says prevents manic episodes almost 100%. Which means I won't experience psychosis again just "out of the blue"?

Yes... bipolar 1 means you might experience psychosis with severe mania and/or depression. Mania and depression can be without psychosis too.

As for lithium, it's definitely effective, but it doesn't prevent episodes 100% of the time for many people (like me) who take it. I hope it's very effective for you.

[Th3reandback]

This all happened after a month of mania on Prozac, and then abrupt withdrawl. After stopping abruptly is when the psychosis started.

[scar12346]

I'm not a pro but this is how I explain them to myself and others
Mania: I can do everything! See everything! Be everything!
Delusions: I know that this is there but I do not see it.
Psychosis: Is this really there? How do I know that it's here? Is this a dream?
But please do not quote me on this XD I might be very very wrong.

[MusicLover82]

Psychosis can sometimes be a symptoms experienced as a PART of mania. Here is what they say about it on the National Association of Mental Health:

"Psychosis: Sometimes, a person with severe episodes of mania or depression also has psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions. The psychotic symptoms tend to match the person’s extreme mood. For example:

Someone having psychotic symptoms during a manic episode may believe she is famous, has a lot of money, or has special powers.
Someone having psychotic symptoms during a depressive episode may believe he is ruined and penniless, or that he has committed a crime.
As a result, people with bipolar disorder who also have psychotic symptoms are sometimes misdiagnosed with schizophrenia."

[raspberrytorte]

I'm not a doctor, but to me it very much sounds like you were psychotic. What a scary experience! I'm so sorry you went through that. Hugs.

[candid_spectrum]

I had a grand theory that the world is just a reflection of my brain. That nothing around me was real, that I was dreaming or dead, I blamed myself for all the worlds problems as well as my own and loved ones pains ( since if I designed this world, then I was creating all of the negativity in the world and all the pain). I truly was consumed by paralyzingly guilt that was entirely illogical.
This caused a lot of serious issues in my life, and my psychologist told me that it was psychosis. It went on for a very long time even on medication.
Mania is usually a sense of being invincible
But to be honest I don't know the difference in delusions and those two.