Psychosis is a condition where a person may have a "loss of contact with reality" and troubles distinguishing which reality from illusions. A person suffering from psychosis may experience hallucinations and delusions (for example hearing voices or seeing and interacting with imaginary people), and may exhibit changes in personality and disorganized thinking (for example talking quickly or switching topics in the middle of sentences or inappropriately). While psychopath and psychosis are both abbreviated to the slang word "psycho", it should be noted that they are two different disorders.

People who suffer from psychosis often remain untreated for 1-2 years after the onset of psychosis. This is because they either do not want to find help or do not realize that they need it. Remaining psychotic for a long time are potentially disastrous. Prevention is perhaps the best solution.

Identifying how or when psychosis occurs is perhaps the most important step in preventing psychosis from developing. You should first learn that there are many reasons why a person can suffer from psychosis. A person's psychological conditions, such include bipolar disorder, severe clinical depression, severe psychosocial stress, sleep deprivation, and some focal epileptic disorders, is known to cause psychosis.

Stressful life events, such as working in a hostile environment, moving houses, being in a relationship that is falling apart or death of loved ones can build up and trigger psychotic states. Short-lived psychosis triggered by stress is known as brief reactive psychosis, and patients may spontaneously recover within two weeks. However, there are cases where they remain in a state of full-blown psychosis for many years or show psychotic symptoms, such as low intensity hallucinations, at most times.

Talking to someone about your problems can help reduce the amount of pressure that they build up on you and help you cope better. You can also try to do things that can help you relax, for example reading or doing sports. As sleep derivation is also linked to psychosis, you should try to get as much sleep as possible. Above all, you should always realize that as human beings you do have your limits. Do not try to cope with everything by yourself. If you have problems that you cannot handle, find someone to talk to and to help you.

A person's general medical conditions can also contribute to psychosis. There are a few pathologies that can be associated with this psychological disorder, such as neurological disorders like brain tumor and Parkinson's disease, electrolyte disorders such as hypocalcemia, and other diseases such as AIDS, malaria, leprosy, and lupus. What you can do is to do routine medical check ups and maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent both psychosis and the pathologies that cause it.

Psychosis states may also occur after using a variety of substances both legal and illegal and both prescription and non prescription. Drugs whose use, abuse, or withdrawal implicates psychosis include alcohol, cold medications, barbiturates, stimulants, cocaine, cannabis, ecstasy, amphetamines, and LSD. So avoid drinking too much or using drugs. If you have certain illnesses that require you to take a regular dose of prescribed drugs regularly, make sure that you follow strict orders from your medical advisor.

Psychosis can be a difficult problem to have, however if you know how to deal with it or better yet, prevent it from happening, you may just save your life. If you have problems, then you should seek help immediately. Talk to someone about them so that you can greatly reduce the stress they cause. By reducing your stresses and avoiding drug use, you are on your way to prevent an illness from occurring.