How long to recover?

I had a particularly horrendous psychosis last Thursday and Friday. I was home alone or I would have gone to the hospital on Friday. In hindsight, I should have called an ambulance and told my husband to meet me there from work.

Anyway, my question is, is it possible to never recover from a psychotic episode? I still feel very beaten down and out of sorts even though the paranoia has eased a lot but not completely. It never really does.

I've only been diagnosed since January though I've suffered with this for a very long time. This particular episode was very bad and I feel like I'm never going to be the same again. I need some experts to weigh in who have been dealing with this longer than I have, and be honest even if you think it's not what I want to hear. Of course I am going to talk this over with both pdoc and tdoc but today is Sunday. Thank you.

Hi Shmooey, I think it's far more likely to recover, even if sometimes it takes a long time or seems as if it does.

I'm still "recovering" from benzodiazepene withdrawal syndrome and it's taking years. But I am noticing little hopeful things that make me think maybe it's finally starting to get better. I hope your situation will start getting better soon, even though it's not the same thing, it should be easier to recover from I hope.

I hope so, thank you.

Do psychotic episodes kill brain cells? It feels like it. I am going to ask my pdoc.

My pdoc called me today to move up my appointment sooner. I asked her about brain cells and psychosis and she said they really don't know, but that brain cells are killed by lack of oxygen.

I now see her on Wednesday instead of June 24.

Well that's good. I hope it goes very well.

From what I've read, the issue is not so much the killing of neurons, as much as the pruning of the neural spines. This dendritic atrophy results in fewer connections with neighbouring cells, and a less organised network of cells which interferes with brain function.

Some articles:
RECENT ADVANCES IN THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF SCHIZOPHRENIA
Prefrontal cortical dendritic spine pathology in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. - PubMed - NCBI
Dendritic atrophy :: DNA Learning Center

It seems the condition is associated with sustained stress in depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and who knows what else.

That makes sense. Also the medication may be interfering with cognitive ability.

Very true.

Thanks for posting those links Very interesting!