Who is prone to neuroses, psychoses, why do they go crazy?

Definition of neurosis and its symptoms

A group of disorders that arise in a person due to destructive psychological attitudes and stress is called neurosis. Situations conducive to the development of neurosis:

• hereditary tendency to nervous disorders;
• periodic conflicts at home or at work. Often occur in children and adolescents who grow up in dysfunctional families;
• excessive suspiciousness of the subject. The habit of reacting painfully to minor troubles exhausts the nervous system - a person with low self-esteem and a pessimistic attitude towards life is much more likely to develop neurosis than a positive-minded person;
• physical overload;
• chronic diseases that cause constant discomfort or acute pain (psoriasis, arthritis);
• a strong shock that the subject experienced in the recent past (death of a relative, fire, bankruptcy);
• long stay in a place where he was in danger.

Forms of neurosis:

• neurasthenia;
• fear;
• obsessive states;
• hysteria.

Manifestation of pathology

How the disease manifests itself: the patient’s mood changes sharply, the level of sensitivity increases. You can cry for half a day over a broken plate and be offended for a month at a colleague who did not invite you to his wedding. Self-esteem changes: some patients are overly critical of themselves. Inflated self-esteem is also not uncommon in neurosis.

A person suffers from constant fatigue, although the amount of daily exercise remains the same. A neurotic person is tormented by strong unreasonable fear. The patient experiences increased sweating. Trembling appears in the arms and legs.

The symptoms of a neurotic disorder are noticeable not only to you, but also to your friends and relatives. Can neurosis turn into psychosis: the likelihood of such a development of events is negligible, but an advanced neurotic disorder can undermine the nervous system and lead to insomnia and fainting.

Treatment of pathologies

Effective treatment is based on determining the diagnosis. Having found out what worries the patient, neurosis or psychosis, it will be possible to decide on the further actions of the specialist. Often there are no difficulties with this, since a neurologist or psychotherapist can easily determine this by the first and main signs.

A person who suffers from neurosis consciously goes to see a doctor, he accepts the problem and wants to eradicate it. With psychosis, everything is more complicated. In more than 70% of cases, the patient perceives his condition as natural and normal.

An effective model of therapy is built on this difference. If a person suffering from neurosis carries out most of the treatment himself, following the doctor’s instructions, then a patient with psychosis is not able to do this. Healing will be effective only with the help of loved ones who will force their sick relative to follow the instructions of the attending physician.

In the treatment of neurosis, medications are rarely used, only when its manifestations are severe. Anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants and psychostimulants are often used. Such medications will help the patient relieve the most acute symptoms:

• overcome insomnia;
• eliminate anxiety and symptoms of depression;
• relieve tension in the central nervous system;
• change your negative attitude.

All medications, as well as the dosage, are indicated only by the attending physician. Self-medication is prohibited, because may have a negative impact on the patient's condition. In general, therapy is not based on the action of drugs, but on the work of a psychotherapist.

It represents an adjustment of a person’s behavior, his reactions and views on various situations. This is achieved through various psychological techniques (art therapy, psychoanalysis, occupational therapy, etc.).

Prognosis for recovery

The prognosis for the effectiveness of treatment depends on many factors. Neurosis is characterized by complex long-term treatment. Signs of the disease can disappear and appear even if all the features of therapy are observed. But the person suffering from such a disease does not change his lifestyle. He continues to go to work, communicate with friends and family, play sports, etc. It may take years for a complete recovery.

In the case of psychosis, therapy proceeds differently. The patient remains in a hospital under the supervision of doctors, cannot engage in work, etc. Without medical care, the patient's condition worsens. Improvement in well-being occurs faster than with neurosis. The patient is prepared for discharge within 3–12 months.

Causes and features of the manifestation of psychosis

Psychosis is a mental disorder that is expressed in the patient’s behavior that is strange and shocking to others. One of the differences between neurosis and psychosis: a neurotic disorder occurs due to traumatic situations, and psychosis develops unnoticed.

Causes of psychosis:

• congenital brain pathologies;
• alcoholism;
• taking narcotic drugs;
• traumatic brain damage;
• diseases of the endocrine system;
• infections affecting the nervous system;
• tumors in brain tissue;
• severe shock.

Psychosis has several varieties.

1. Endogenous. This form of the disease develops due to malfunctions of the endocrine and nervous systems.
2. Exogenous. The disease occurs due to external factors (inflammatory process, alcohol abuse).
3. Organic. This type of psychosis is characterized by impaired blood circulation in the brain.

It is difficult for a person far from medicine to understand whether neurosis or psychosis is debilitating his relative. The manifestation of psychosis differs from neurotic behavior; it has special signs.

1. Crazy ideas. The patient’s consciousness is taken over by a thought that is far from reality. A person may believe that his colleagues and neighbors are watching him. Some patients are obsessed with causeless jealousy. A psychotic person may imagine himself to be a prophet or an alien.
2. Auditory or visual hallucinations. The most common symptom is voices and sounds that a person allegedly hears. Some also experience olfactory and tactile hallucinations. The patient himself is sure that his visions are real.
3. Loss of appetite.
4. Incoherent speech. The subject may speak animatedly and then become silent or laugh. People whose mental health has been affected by psychosis often mimic their interlocutors.
5. Outbursts of aggression. The longer a person suffers from psychosis, the more often he becomes angry.
6. Loss of interest in work and household responsibilities. A psychotic has no desire to communicate with other people. The patient lacks the ability to empathize.
7. Forgetfulness.
8. Obsessive repetition of actions. For example, a psychotic may make and unroll his bed 5-10 times a day.
9. Suicidal thoughts.
10. Movement disorders. Psychotics are characterized by extremes in motor activity. The patient can sit in one position for a long time without reacting to stimuli (phone ringing, voices of relatives). Some patients experience excessive mobility and fussiness.

Possibility of transition of neurosis into psychosis

It is incorrect to think about whether neurosis can turn into psychosis. Due to the uncertainty of the clinical picture of the disease, a group of symptoms remains that belongs to both psychopathic mental disorders that are difficult to treat, and reversible conditions.

On the part of the patient, differences appear only in the fact that a person understands whether he is sick or not. An example is intrusive thoughts. An ordinary healthy person may rarely think about the dangers of smoking. A patient with neurosis suffers from the same thoughts, but more often and in brighter colors. In psychosis, all thoughts about a cigarette cause panic, hysteria, etc.

Doctors, in the absence of acute symptoms of a mental disorder, call controlled thoughts obsessive-compulsive disorder. And unconscious behavior that is extremely dangerous for the person himself and those around him is clouding of reason, i.e. psychosis. Both neurosis and psychosis are disorders. But one is treatable, and the other is not.

The main differences between pathologies

A subject suffering from a neurotic disorder goes to work and takes care of his appearance. It is difficult for a person with psychosis to concentrate on anything. He is irritable and intolerant. Many patients whose perception of the world has been changed by psychosis exhibit sloppiness and indifference to hygiene measures.

An important detail in which psychosis differs from neurosis: a neurotic understands that he has a loss of strength and a gloomy mood, while a psychotic does not see a problem in his changed perception of the world. People with neurosis often seek help from a psychologist or psychotherapist. A patient debilitated by psychosis can only be persuaded to seek treatment by those he trusts (spouse, children, close friends).

Symptoms of psychosis

In reactive psychoses, the symptoms are slightly different. This disorder causes hallucinations and delusions. Patients’ perception of the surrounding world is also disrupted, sensations change, emotional instability and sudden mood swings are observed.

The movements of a person suffering from psychosis are chaotic, speech is incomprehensible and abrupt. His state is similar to human sleep. Signs of the disease do not appear immediately when the disorder occurs. The disease develops gradually.

Treatment of neurosis and psychosis

Psychotherapy sessions can free a person from neurosis. Sometimes, to eliminate increased anxiety and depressive conditions, the patient is prescribed medications from one of the following groups:

• tranquilizers;
• antidepressants;
• neuroleptics.

In addition to the main therapy, the neurologist may prescribe you vitamins. To combat a neurotic disorder you will need a lot of time. In order for the disease to leave you forever, you need to distance yourself from the painful circumstances that caused the development of the disease. The patient needs to give up alcohol and tobacco at least until medications and conversations with a psychotherapist help improve his emotional balance.

Even if neurotics do not seek treatment, their behavior does not pose a threat to others. Sad thoughts and constant worries only harm him. Psychotics are completely different from healthy people.

A significant difference between neurosis and psychosis: emotional disorder progresses without treatment. The subject becomes dangerous to himself, as well as to the people around him.

There are known cases where patients, overcome by delusional ideas of persecution, attacked passers-by. The patient may set fire to the apartment or injure himself. Psychotic disorders are often irreversible, but with timely consultation with a specialist, the patient has a high chance of regaining an adequate perception of life.

To reduce or eliminate the manifestations of a neurotic disorder, you just need to visit a psychologist and follow his recommendations. Treatment of psychosis is carried out in a hospital setting. The doctor prescribes medications to the patient.

What medications help get rid of psychosis:

• antipsychotics - fight thought disorders;
• mood stabilizers - stabilize mood;
• benzodiazepines - reduce anxiety.

Therapy takes an average of one and a half months. The patient's stay in the hospital increases to 5-8 months.

Differences in violations

At first glance, it may seem that these two mental disorders are very similar. But in reality these are two completely different diseases. How are they different from each other? The difference between neurosis and psychosis is the following facts:

Who is prone to neuroses, psychoses, why do they go crazy?

• Long periods of uncertainty and novelty (for example: will a deal pass/fail, will it be approved/not approved, will it be promoted/not promoted, will it be fired/not fired, how will some test end, what is the child’s illness, why can’t you get pregnant, and so on). What is typical (and very often) is that neurosis begins when the troubles end.
• Long-term dissatisfaction with any needs (for example, chronic lack of sleep, routine, inability to realize one’s interests, potential or ambitions, dissatisfaction with personal life, non-recognition of achievements, inability to control everything... It is worth noting that people differ in the expression of different needs, therefore, for one will cause stress, for others - not. For example, a person with a high degree of need for communication, recognition, dynamics around what is happening will be uncomfortable working as a programmer or an ordinary accountant. And for introverts and pedants, that’s just the thing.
• Some external factor provoked strong feelings and anxiety. For example, someone died, went crazy; unexpectedly and very sharply increased blood pressure; the person was subjected to ridicule/bullying; a person was involved in a serious accident.

Conclusions:

• Anyone can develop neurosis (anxiety disorder).
• Having neurosis is not weakness. Rather, it was an unfortunate coincidence of circumstances, or rather, unfavorable circumstances that were layered on the personality traits. (We often hear from our patients something like: “I never thought that this could happen to me,” “even if I heard about neuroses and depression, I always thought it wasn’t about me,” “I thought it was some kind of -weakness, a fool, with nothing to do, a person invents everything and simply doesn’t want to work.”)
• Reducing the causes of neurosis to childhood complexes, to a lack of love in childhood, to intrapersonal conflicts and hidden motives in the unconscious is literally a thing of the past.
• The main type of treatment for neurosis is psychotherapy, and medications are only a help.
• It is very important for complete liberation from neurosis to understand the characteristics and personalities that contribute to the anxiety disorder. It is believed that character cannot be changed. This is true in many ways, especially regarding temperament. But such a task is not set; it is only necessary to help the psyche master additional models of perception and behavior in order to make a person more stress-resistant and adaptive. It is also important to optimize your lifestyle.
• You can get rid of neurosis and stop giving it the opportunity to influence your life.

If anyone can get neurosis, then not everyone, or rather a very small group of people, has the “luck” to go crazy. For example, schizophrenia affects about 1% of the world's population. People don’t just fall into psychosis (that is, a state with hallucinations, delusions, pronounced emotional shifts, etc.) from external circumstances or from strong experiences. By the way, neurosis never turns into psychosis, that is, people don’t go crazy because of it. For psychosis to occur, there must be changes in the brain at the cellular and biochemical level. Anticipating the question “what if I have something similar,” I would like to say that a person in psychosis (in the acute phase of madness) will never think that he has suddenly gone crazy. One of the most important criteria for psychosis is the lack of criticism of the condition or disease. Therefore, if you are puzzled, then you are sane, despite the symptoms that may seem abnormal to you. Among the factors that can increase the chances of going crazy is a family history, for example, one of the relatives ended up in a psychiatric hospital. Of course, you can describe the sores that cause or manifest themselves as psychoses. However, it is better for non-specialists not to delve into this topic, so as not to start fantasizing and deceiving themselves. If something confuses you, it is better to find a good specialist on the topic you are interested in and consult.

All of the above is, rather, addressed to people suffering from various forms of neuroses, since they have many fears that their neurotic state may turn into something more serious, end in something bad, and they will end up in a psychiatric hospital.