Unbearable and affect (Garfeld):
Not infrequently psychosis can be a sign that an individual has been under mounting stress. This can be related to a series of events or related to one trauma. Those who have had several psychotic experiences may suffer a worsening of their health related due to personal, financial or social losses.
Often during an initial onset of psychosis the pattern of trauma can have a high burden of affect (emotion) such that a person is unable to vocalise or ‘give voice’ to it. Individuals experiencing psychosis may characteristically be quite independent people who do not always ask for help or share their worries readily. There is therefore a line of thinking that psychosis is linked to ‘unbearable’ trauma communicated through psychosis.
Another typical emotional burden linked with psychosis is that of a seeming paradox or ‘double bind’. There may be a problem or dilemma which seems irresolvable or a person may feel caught between two people with strong opinions.
Psychosis – individuals with
Symptoms as a handle
Symptoms as unprocessed trauma or disosociation from remembering
Salience being related to increased dopamine. Medication being a facilitation of relaxation, sleep and trusting.
People who prefer not to have a medical model of their experiences may prefer ‘altered state’ or ‘spiritual crisis’.
