09 · Perception, beliefs, and thought

Psychosis warning signs

Psychosis describes difficulty determining what is real and can have psychiatric, substance-related, medication-related, neurologic, or other medical causes.

What it can feel like

Hearing voices, seeing things, or feeling sensations others do not
Feeling watched, followed, controlled, or sent special messages
Speech or thoughts becoming hard to organize
Strong fear, withdrawal, reduced self-care, or a sudden drop in functioning

What an evaluation considers

A clinician considers onset, safety, orientation, mood episodes, substances and medications, sleep, fever or neurologic symptoms, self-care, and observations from trusted people.

What to do now

Reduce stimulation, stay with a trusted person, avoid driving and substances, and seek prompt evaluation. Call 911 for dangerous behavior, severe confusion, inability to meet basic needs, or immediate risk.

Screening

Safety-focused guide, not a score

View common warning signs Trusted source