[HALLIEBETH87]

How common is psychosis in bipolar? Do most get it at least once? And, if you get it once...how likely is it that it will come back again?

[Victoria'smom]

I can't find your answers. Sorry.

[Kuras]

Not that uncommon if you're referring to Bipolar 1. If psychosis presents in mania, there's a decent chance it can/will happen again.

[Gabyunbound]

My understanding is that if you have psychotic symptoms, that puts you squarely into the Bipolar 1 category, so I guess that would leave out Bipolar II, which narrows it down a bit. Now what percentage of people with Bipolar I get psychotic symtoms I have no idea.

As far as it coming back, my pdoc mentioned something called the 'Kindling Effect" where the more episodes you have the more likely you will continue to have a lot of episodes. Or something like that. Along the same lines, he said the longer you've been stable, the less likely you will have another episode, or at least any time soon.

[Pikku Myy]

I have been diagnosed twice officially as psychosis, and yes bp1. My podc said my brain was in shock... hugs to you Hallie think with me it happens often.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I'm bp1 and had it for first time in February and March. Spent 33 days IP.

I'm stable now but I'm worried it will happen again one day.

[Victoria'smom]

It may but it can be caught earlier now that everyone is looking out for it.

[tanto]

I'm BP1. I've technically had only one episode of psychosis in about 5 years. I say technically because, even though I had severe paranoia, delusions and hallucinations, I was still coherent enough to check myself in IP. I'm 25... When I was a teen I'd have 1-2 episodes of psychosis a year. I was not seeing a doctor then and had very neglectful parents, and some of the episodes were drug induced. I guess the frequency varies for people with BP1 depending on external stimuli? It would be difficult to generalize on a single table

[Crazy Hitch]

I had it during a severe episode of full blown mania last year. Not something I'd wish on anyone. Hopefully with the right meds and working with pdocs I will never experience that again

[HALLIEBETH87]

I have a great dr and t. My Psychosis wasn't s bad case and I was still somewhat coherent. I took myself ip after my t told me to...I drove like that eek. Hey tell me I was manic during it but I dont remember that. I know I crashed into depression while I was there. After the Thorazine took care of the hallucinations and delusions I asked to stop it because I hated the side effects. Man, so much happened in those 33 days.

[Christopher1990]

idk I think it's likey it will come back.

[franz kafka]

It's also possible to have psychosis when depressed. I experience psychosis somewhat frequently when both up and down. Dealing with psychosis in depression at the moment.

[HALLIEBETH87]

Sorry you're not well right now. I hope you feel better!!

Well, if it comes back I'll kick its butt!!

[BipolaRNurse]

I've had psychosis during both mania and depression. Seeing black and grey cats running under the linen carts in the ER sealed the deal on Bipolar 1, I think.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I was seeing spiders everywhere and I thought I had demons inside me and Satan was attacking me.

If you get on well with you pdoc and want to talk about it more, then read this
Incidence and Prevalence | AREP
(I know it's not from a MH website, but it's a good definition)
And knowing the stuff in there, ask him/ her the same thing. You'll get one statistic for prevalence (number of people that get it in the population) and then incidence - which will be more interesting, because that'll give you a better idea. Quantifying it means being able to picture it, for me, it's one thing to say "X might happen to you" (which freaks me out) to saying "you have a one in thousand chance of X" (which isn't so bad).
Hope this helps!

[st0psign]

to me its the most interesting part of the illness, if you've got it. the idea that my thinking can be so drastically different than it is at base line, and you believe it all to the t, resulting in strange and bizarre behavior. its a view of reality that few ever get to experience.

[HALLIEBETH87]

I didn't like it much. I was very scared but it was also the first time it's happened to me before.

[st0psign]

don't get me wrong I didn't enjoy it either, I had no idea what was going on, and looking back on it afterwards and realizing everything wasn't fun either.

[newtothis31]

Psychosis is necessary in order to be diagnosed with BP1. I was diagnosed with BP1 in the middle of a psychotic episode almost three years ago. It resulted in a seven week inpatient hospital stay and I was in an outpatient program for six weeks.

I haven't had a psychotic episode since then although I have changed my medication significantly since being diagnosed with BP1.

I try to keep myself in a routine, avoid drinking as much as I can, and I've done a lot of work in managing my emotions. For me- keeping a consistent routine on when I go to sleep & wake up has been a key to my overall wellness. I can catch myself when my thinking becomes irrational, and I've learned to calm myself down while taking medicine.

I recognize that I'm at risk for having another episode, so I just take it day by day. I'm fortunate to have some very supportive friends and family members in my network.

After my diagnosis, I had to create a new life for myself (had to build a network of supportive friends, get a divorce, and I gained full custody of my daughter). These changes have been tough, but I am hopeful that I will stay well.

[st0psign]

psychosis is not necessary for a BP1 diagnosis, it can present with and without.