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Stress

Excessive drug use

Family History

There are many factors that cause psychosis such as stress, stress can come from anything like your job, family issues. Stress can impact our mental health which can link to the cause of psychosis. When an individual experiences high levels of stress it can disturb the way the brain works because it affects the level of dopamine, when our levels of dopamine are effected it can change our thinking and behaviour.

Another cause of psychosis is excessive drug use, this can trigger a psychotic episode, it can also worsen psychosis symptoms. Many different drugs can cause episodes e.g cocaine and methamphetamine. If a person suddenly stops smoking cannabis after a long period of time they can experience psychosis episodes, this is also seen as having withdrawal from the drugs.

Family history can play a huge part in the development of psychosis, for example if there is a family history of psychosis there is a higher chance of psychosis developing. If you where to inherit these genetics your brain chemistry and structure can make you more susceptible to experiencing psychosis. Another factor

that links to psychosis is how if you have grown up in a household/environment where people have suffered or are suffering with psychosis you can be exposed to higher levels of stress and trauma.

There are also other causes of psychosis, some of these include:

1) having excessive levels of dopamine

2) racism

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Trauma

Drugs & alcohol

Isolation & loneliness

One cause of depression could be trauma, when we experience trauma it affects us in different ways and it is different for everyone. When we have traumatic events it can affect our brain chemistry which can affect the way we feel, we could become more sad, and we could also have extreme mood swings.

Another cause of depression can be using excessive amounts of drugs and alcohol, this can cause depression because when drugs are used excessively it can affect the balance of our neurotransmitters this can develop depression due to the heightened emotions you may feel. If alcohol is used constantly for long periods of time it can lead to the development of depression because our feelings are up and down repeatedly.

Everyone experiences feeling lonely however it can develop into depression because when you feel isolated for long periods of time it can increase the levels of stress in your system and you may not be used to such high levels of stress and this can build up and result in depression. However you can have lots of people around you but still feel disconnected from the world.

Other causes of psychosis can be:

Peer pressure

Health problems

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Focusing on mental health, 1-4 people experience mental health issues throughout adulthood. Throughout our lives we experience good and bad mental health, however good mental health is not recognised enough within society and it should be. Stress, lifestyle, peers are all factors that can affect our mental health so it is important that everyone is given opportunities to come forward and speak up so they can receive the support they need. On the other hand mental illness is something that has to be diagnosed by a professional, it can have a detrimental effect on your lifestyle choices e.g struggling to go to work, can not go to college.

There needs to be treatments: therapy, medication when it comes to mental illness. People throughout society are suffering and not receiving the support they deserve because of the stigma around mental health & mental illnesses.

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There are many words used to describe mentally ill people and people who are struggling with their mental health, these words are seen as offensive and should not be used. If someone has a condition people should use the correct

terminology e.g "happy pills" should be referred to as antidepressants or medication. We understand that societies language has changed and using words such as retard/spastic are now seen as harmful terminology and instead of using those words to label someone we should use "people with mental health problems". We have a greater understanding of how derogatory language affects people, for example calling someone a "psycho" just because they struggle with psychosis is not acceptable. We have become more sensitive to how these words can have an impact on those struggling with a mental illness, this is why its important that we have a more positive overlook on mental health & mental illness.

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The basic meaning is that psychological abnormality can cause illness or disease, the biomedical model explains how our behaviour is shaped because of physiological & internal factors. There are 3 main factors that consist of genetics, brain structure and neurotransmitters. Abnormal behaviour may be linked to genetics, this means people in your family have suffered with it. Abnormal behaviour can occur if the brain structure has been damaged in any way, this can affect the way we think and respond. For example people with enlarged ventricles are more likely to suffer with schizophrenia. The last factor is neurotransmitters and how they are seen to imbalance the nervous system, which can lead to various different mental health issues. For example if an individual has too much dopamine it can result in them having schizophrenia.

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This focuses on the behaviour of an individual to figure out if they have any psychological problems, people believe that abnormal behaviour is learned from past experiences and it comes from the environment that we surround ourselves in.

But individuals behaviour can be learned and unlearned, classic conditioned is learned behaviour and classic unconditioned is unlearned & natural behaviour.

Operant conditioning teaches us to learn how to understand the consequences of our good and bad behaviour. For example anxious people may receive more rewards like more attention than others because they require more support.

Positive reinforcement is when a behaviour is followed by a positive reward which makes it more likely for that individual to repeat that activity. However negative reinforcements is where someone removes the negative aspect so we are more likely to return.

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Cognitive describes how peoples thoughts and perceptions of the world affect their life, for example people who struggle with OCD have to do things multiple times etc. We use schemas to describe the world, if we always hear negative reports about the world we will see all information to be negative. It is more commonly seen that depressed people who have negative self-schema have developed this from their childhood, this could mean body dismorphia or anerexia.

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It is believed that psychological illnesses stem from blocked emotions, these blocked emotions could come from past experiences. Blocked emotions are the emotions & feelings we carelessly avoid, these are different to the feelings we

aimingly avoid. Psychodynamic theories state that events in our childhood will eventually affect us later in life as we grow up.

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Loss of money

Writing and drawing throughout a episode

Anxiety

Loss of money can be an effect and a impact of psychosis because when individuals are suffering with psychosis they suffer to make good financial decisions, this could mean overspending regularly or giving money away without reason, this can lead to meaningless financial loss. Individuals who struggle with psychosis can also struggle to maintain a job due to the symptoms of psychosis. If employment can’t be maintained it can lead to a huge lack in finance and it may become hard to live.

Writing and drawing what happens throughout a psychosis episode comes with negative and positive impacts. A positive impact is seeing what happened throughout the episode which can be seen as expressions. This may help the individual process their thoughts and feelings and help them make sense of their symptoms. However a negative impact is drawing and writing could increase the symptoms and how intense they are, and it also may enforce certain delusions that are not real.

Anxiety can have a huge impact on those who suffer with psychosis because anxiety to be a factor in psychosis episodes. Psychosis episodes can bring anxiety like feelings, for example they may experience fear and confusion which are symptoms of anxiety. Psychosis episodes can also make individuals sense of danger heighten which creates an increase of anxiety levels.

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Delusional beliefs:

hearing voices

lose touch with reality

Believing things that are not real

Insomnia

Delusional beliefs are a symptom of psychosis because they are false beliefs that make individuals lose touch with reality.

Experiencing delusions can often have an impact on an individual's thoughts and feelings. Hearing voices is also another symptom of psychosis as it involves hearing voices that others do not hear. Hearing voices can be disruptive and change the way you do things which can result in confusion.

Believing things that are not real are similar to experiencing delusional beliefs is a symptom of psychosis. Believing things that are not real can make individuals believe things that are not based on reality. People suffering with psychosis can begin to have strong believes that these delusions are real. Hearing/seeing things that other people cannot see or hear are seen as hallucinations and believing things that are not true is known as delusions.

Insomnia, also known as sleep deprivation can be seen as a symptom to psychosis because not sleeping prevents the brain from the time it needs to sort through the information you have gathered throughout the day. Psychosis episodes bring strong feelings of anxiety and stress when having a episode, this makes it harder to fall asleep after an episode as feelings can be heightened. After a period of time where this has happened repeatedly it can begin hard to break the cycle, this is when it is easy for psychosis to develop because sleep patterns have been broke.

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Medication

(antipsychotic pills)

Being sectioned

Group therapy

There are many ways to treat psychosis however the most commonly used way is medication, this is because medication helps alleviate the symptoms of psychosis. The symptoms are stopped because the neurotransmitters get targeted as that is what affects the development of psychosis. The medication is called antipsychotic pills and the only way to recieve this medication is through your GP.

A second way to treat psychosis is to be sectioned. When you are sectioned it means you can get the right support you require in order to get better, it also means you can get the correct doses of medication to feel better. Being sectioned gives those individuals a safe space to express their feelings and their worries. When you are sectioned you are monitored constantly to ensure you are doing well, staff will use a treatment plan in order to find out how much medication you need.

Group therapy can help treat psychosis because it provides individuals to connect with others who also suffer with psychosis. It can help individuals express their feelings and emotions with those who understand. Group therapy can help all individuals learn other ways to cope with symptoms, group therapy can improve their social skills because they can interact with others going through the same challenges as them. When being sectioned individuals can receive correct medication and also attend free therapy that will help stabilise them. This also means that individuals will monitored everyday so their progress can be tracked and treatment plans can be made.

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Eating disorder

Social- loss of interest, lack of motivation

Loss of income

Some people who suffer with depression can begin to have problems with eating, which can result in a eating disorder, they may eat too much or too little and this may happen because they feel disappointed in the way they look and they want to change the way they look, this could be because they compare themselves to others on social media or in real life. Eating disorders can make you feel like you have no control over your life, this is why its important to reach out for help.

Another effect/impact of depression can be the way your social life can change, because individuals experience high levels of emotions they may begin to lack interest in going outside of their homes or communities: For example depression could make you lose interest in your favourite sport. Depression can also make you lack motivation to do simple day to day tasks, this can be challenging for individuals as they may feel they are losing control of their lives.

When individuals are struggling with depression they lose motivation to do basic day to day tasks. This can impact the individuals lack of income because they find it difficult holding down employment and when someone does not have a job it is hard to have a sturdy income. With individuals having a constant struggle with financial pressure can make them feel overwhelmed and they may just want to give up.

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Isolation from peers or family

Personality change

Low self esteem

Individuals who struggle with depression may start to isolate themselves from both family and friends, this is because depression can make people feel that they don’t want to be surrounded by others even if they care about them. Most cases of isolation become worse overtime which can strengthen the feelings of loneliness. Depression can also make social interactions feel exhausting and pointless so those suffering think it is better to disengage with different social interactions.

Our personalities change as we grow up, however personality changes linked to depression can be detrimental, this is because individuals can become withdrawn from the world around them, or disinterested in the things they once loved and enjoyed. Personality changes can vary in how long they last, sometimes they are short and do not last long or they could go on for months.

When an individual is feeling low they may begin to think they are worthless and do not deserve anything positive because they are not good enough. This can result in the individual developing low self esteem because they begin to second guess themselves and their ability. Depression makes it hard for people to see how great they are, and what they can achieve, instead depression makes them feel like they cannot achieve anything great in life.

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Medication

CBT- cognative behaviour therapy

ECT- electro convulsive therapy

Another treatment that is used to treat depression is medication, the usual medication used to treat depression and lower the symptoms is antidepressants. Each individual is given different doses, the doses are based on how extreme the individual's depression actually is. Antidepressants help people because of how effective they are when balancing the brain chemicals this can decrease the symptoms of depression.

Cognitive behavioural therapy is used to help those with depression because it is made to focus on each individuals personal needs. CBT has many benefits however the biggest benefit of CBT is how it is a short term programme which means individuals who suffer with depression can receive the support they need in order to recover in a small amount of time. However CBT may not help everyone who suffers with depression as some people may not like how it is a short programme but every individuals programme will be different in order to support them in the way they need to be treated.

Electroconvulsive therapy is known to be effective in helping individuals who struggle with depression when other treatments have not helped them. ECT is seen as a treatment specifically used on those who struggle with severe depression. ECT changes the brain chemistry as small electric currents are passed around through the brain, this treatment helps improve the individuals mindset and bring back more positive thoughts.

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Stress

Drug use

Being abused (physical & emotional)

Stress is a cause of anxiety because when a person has high levels of stress it can imbalance their neurotransmitters, these imbalances overtime can lead to anxiety developing. Stress can also impact our brain structure and function which can increase the risk of anxiety developing.. It is important that individuals try and keep low levels of stress and if they do experience high levels of stress they must try and manage it effectively, this is because low levels of stress can reduce the risk of anxiety developing. Stressful situations can trigger anxiety and increase physical symptoms: e.g sweating and struggling to breathe.

If an individual was to use drugs regularly this can lead to a higher risk of anxiety developing, this is because excessive drug use messes with our brain chemistry: for example drug use changes our levels of dopamine, dopamine is important as it helps us regulate our moods. Using drugs and medication can worsen the symptoms of anxiety and can even trigger anxiety attacks, most people turn to drugs as a way to escape reality in order to cope with anxiety however the imbalance of our levels in dopamine can cause increased feelings of stress and worry, this makes the individual more perceptible to developing anxiety.

Being abused emotionally and physically can create strong feelings of confusion and stress. When an individual is emotionally abused it can destroy your self esteem, as well as feeling on edge around others even if they are not the abuser can develop anxiety. When an individual is physically abused they can develop trauma which can put a strain on individuals mental health which can lead to the development of anxiety. Traumatic experiences can trigger anxiety disorder, this is because individuals begin to stop trusting others and even develop high levels of stress.

Other causes of anxiety could be:

Family history - genetics

Trauma

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Feeling like the world is speeding up or slowing down

Social isolation

Disruption of sleep patterns/insomnia

When people feel like the world is speeding up or slowing down it can mean they are suffering with anxiety, this is because when you are anxious our bodies can tense us which makes people feel like they are distorted from the world. The individual's mind and body may begin to process thoughts at a different pace than others. A common experience for those who have anxiety is how individuals feel the world is speeding up, as if the days are blending together individuals also may feel like the world is slowing down almost as if the days repeat themselves

Those with anxiety tend to feel the need to isolate themselves from society, this could be because they feel social interactions are overwhelming and uncomfortable for them. Anxious people may avoid these social interactions in order to prevent triggers from happening. Social isolation can lead to changes in the brain as it damages the way our brains cope with emotions, and how our brain thinks.

Another effect of anxiety is how it can be difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night, when this happens repeatedly it can begin to feel like an endless cycle. This may cause more stress on the individual because they may not get the right amount of hours of sleep throughout the night, some individuals may require things to settle them to sleep. Anxiety can trigger our body's stress response, this is why individuals who have anxiety cannot stay asleep throughout the night.

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Panic attacks

Feeling nervous and restless

Nausea

Panic attacks can be a clear sign for individuals that they may have anxiety. Stress hormones are released into our system regularly, an example of this is adrenaline. Most times adrenaline can feel like it is almost taking over your body, like you have no control of yourself.. As well as this when individuals experience panic attacks it can feel like their bodies are giving up (like passing out) or if it becomes extreme it can feel like you are dying. This can make leaving your house become a fear as people do not want to experience this infront of people in public because they may be ashamed.

Feeling nervous and restless can be a symptom of anxiety because like other symptoms of anxiety it brings a direct thought to fight or flight. When an individual goes through the fight or flight mode their bodies can have an overload of adrenaline. Feeling restless can mean being fidgety for example: constant movement of the legs or pacing, this can affect the individual because they may feel at unease and angry that they can not stop, because it has become like a habit.

Our bodies all react to high levels of stress in different ways however nausea can be a symptom of anxiety due to stress, this is because our bodies will go into "fight or flight" mode when feeling pressured by stress. Stress can impact our digestion system causing nausea. The cause of nausea is normally because too much adrenaline is being realised into your system.

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Medication

Talking therapies

Applied relaxation

Medication is the most common form of anxiety treatment as it helps decrease the symptoms of anxiety. This is because medication helps balance the chemicals that belong in our brains. The name of the most commonly used medication for anxiety is antidepressants. Before being offered medication it is advised that you try psychological treatments, this is because medication can cause side effects. Medication can be taken for long and short periods of time depending on how bad the anxiety is, you must communicate with your GP to ensure you are receiving the correct type of medication as well as the correct dose.

Talking therapies provide individuals with a safe & secure environment for those to discuss their feelings in depth, which makes them effective in treating anxiety. Talk therapy is a useful tool for helping you understand your symptoms. There is a huge variety of talking therapies available which is what makes them so effective, some examples are: CBT, and counselling. Talking therapists are accessible to everyone through the NHS for free, this is a positive because it relieves the stress of having to have money to express the way you feel and to receive the help you need.

Anxiety can be treated in many ways, the easiest way to treat anxiety is applied relaxation. This is because it focuses on relaxing your muscles in a certain way. It teaches individuals how to relax their muscles correctly and how to do it quickly. In order to complete applied relaxation you need to understand the situations and triggers that make you anxious in order to relax in different situations.

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Genetics

Chemical imbalance

Triggers

It is difficult for professionals to understand the cause of bipolar because the exact causes are unknown. However scientists and healthcare professionals think that genetics

play a big role in the development of bipolar disorder. Some people believe that if someone in your family has or has had bipolar you are at a higher risk of developing bipolar. There are also multiple factors that help lead up to bipolar for example environmental factors.

Chemical imbalances are also believed to be linked to the development of bipolar, when someone has chemical imbalances it changes the way they act and respond so if their are too many or not enough neurotransmitters individuals may begin to experience symptoms of bipolar.

Another cause of bipolar can be triggers.. triggers can increase the frequency of mood swings, increased stress and even an increase of substance use. When individuals experience stressful situations it can trigger certain symptoms of bipolar, triggers can develop into manic episodes and manic episodes can cause high levels of energy.

Other causes of bipolar may be:

Childhood trauma

Stressful life events

Drugs & alcohol

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Emotional distress

Suicide

Financial difficulties

When individuals are struggling with bipolar it can bring them a lot of emotional distress, this is because when bipolar is left untreated it can effect every aspect of your life. The individuals who suffer with bipolar disorder can experience high emotions and low emotions, high emotions could be seen as having manic episodes which can result in emotional distress. Throughout emotional distress people may have heightened adrenaline which can make them do things they would not normally do. Those with bipolar disorder can also experience lows (depression), they may feel hopeless and may even lose interest in the activities they once loved. Emotional distress can also mean a overall change in their personality and well being, mood swings are also very common to develop when experiencing emotional distress. Overall emotional distress can impact a individuals relationships and their work, this is because they may not feel good enough in the relationship and they may not feel powerful enough to go to work.

Another effect of bipolar is how people can become suicidal when suffering with bipolar disorder, this may be because of the intense highs and lows they feel. During low episodes (depression episodes) they may feel overwhelmed and stressed at themselves or the people around them, emotions can also overwhelm individuals. Some feelings that individuals with bipolar may experience are: hopelessness & sadness, these feelings can lead to suicidal thoughts. As well as this these emotions can increase the risk of the person harming themselves, this could be due to the fact that they do not feel good enough and want to give up on not only themselves but their loved ones. Bipolar disorder can be destructive for the individuals family and also their friends, it can bring high emotions to everyone as they may fear they will lose the individual.

An individual who suffers with bipolar disorder can experience financial difficulties, this is because mood swings link to impulsive spending because you feel you need to spend lots of money even though you don't want too. Impulsive spending normally happens when someone is experience manic episodes. There are many ways to spend impulsively but the most common ways are too: gamble and excessive shopping. Depressive episodes can also lead to a loss of income, this is because they may struggle to hold down employment and without employment it can be hard to find money.

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Depression

Mania

Changes in sleep patterns

Depression can be a symptom of bipolar disorder because people with bipolar can experience lows which can be hard to deal with. Throughout the depressive episodes the individual may begin to feel fatigued and struggle when concentrating, these feelings can be severe. Depressive episodes can last for a significant amount of time which can affect doing simple day to day tasks. Bipolar depression and regular depression are different as bipolar depression has more severe symptoms and it can change our energy levels and more.

Mania can be a main symptom of bipolar as it is a more severe depression, Mania comes in episodes that can last for a few days or up to a week and throughout this time they may experience feelings of elevated mood and an increase in energy. Mania can be intense for individuals and they can be disruptive this is because people experience a decreased need for sleep which can lead to impulsive choices. Those who go through manic episodes can find it extremely difficult to maintain and hold down relationships.

Another key symptom of bipolar is changes in sleep patterns, this could be because individuals can not sleep throughout the whole night, or they struggle to fall asleep at night. Insomnia can also be a symptom of bipolar because they feel a decreased need to sleep because they feel so energised. During depressive episodes they may also find it difficult to stop sleeping due to feelings of fatigue or even low energy levels. These are common symptoms of bipolar and they come in phases, this means they could last for a month or a week.

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Hospitalisation

Medication

Psychological treatment – talking therapies

Hospitalisation can be a great option for those struggling badly with bipolar disorder, hospitalisation is normally recommended by your doctor if you begin to behave in a way that could harm others or even put yourself at harm. Sometimes getting psychological help in a hospital can help to keep your mood stable even when you are experiencing a manic episode. Being hospitalised can be different for everyone however most people feel they have a safe environment to be themselves.

Medication is another approach to treating bipolar as it helps regulate mood swings and minimise the symptoms. The most common kind of medication used to manage bipolar disorder is antipsychotic pills. Still, several other medications are used and another common medication used to treat bipolar is antidepressants. Antidepressants help because they change the imbalance of our neurotransmitters within our brain.

Psychological treatments are another technique used to treat bipolar, this is because it lets individuals learn about their bipolar and the situations that trigger episodes. An example of a psychological treatment is talking therapies, this is because it gives the individual a chance to be open in a safe space with no judgement. Psychological therapies have been proven to help reduce mood swings and this is because they can learn their own individual warning signs.