What is Psychosis?
Psychosis is a term that we have all heard, yet few of us could explain what it is. It is a state of mind that 3% of people in Aotearoa have experienced. Research shows one in 10 people in Aotearoa have heard voices, one of the most common psychosis symptoms. Yet since these experiences are not commonly talked about, they lie open to misconceptions.
The word ‘psycho’ is derived from the Latin word meaning mind or soul, but through repetitive framing is generally used with negative connotations. The movie character of a ‘dangerous villain’ with psychotic tendencies is instead a dangerous stereotype*, inspired by fictional characters of movies that came out before the internet could hold them accountable. In reality, the vast majority of people with psychosis will never be violent – and are much more likely to be the victims of violence than its perpetrators.
What is Elternative?
Elternative is a short film aiming to challenge the common portrayal of psychosis. It illustrates how the main character Pluto, who experiences psychosis, is indeed a subject of fear rather than a perpetrator.
It's a look into the mind of someone who lives with psychosis and portrays mental distress that is triggered in a social situation. It’s an example of how friends can have a kind and open mindset and respond effectively to someone experiencing psychosis, to prevent them from being alienated or spiraling further into distress.
An experience that’s debated
There are many perspectives on what psychosis is, and they don’t all align. From a Western medical perspective, symptoms of psychosis involve hallucinations (visual, vocal or sensory - smelling or feeling things that aren’t there), delusions such as holding strong beliefs that others around you don’t share, or disorganisation within one's thoughts or concentration.
From a te ao Māori perspective, psychosis can look like matakite, or the gift of a visionary who can see beyond normal human vision into new forms of knowledge, prophecy, sickness or death. However, from a tauiwi perspective, matekite can be viewed as a form of psychosis.
Psychosis is still debated in academic circles since the legitimacy of one of its umbrella diagnoses, schizophrenia, is not universally agreed upon. It can also occur under long term conditions such as bipolar or depression. What is generally agreed is that someone experiencing psychosis perceives reality differently - whether during just one experience, a few times, or ongoing.
A personal account
Although Pluto’s character is fictional, his dialogue is based on a real conversation with someone who experienced psychosis. In the case of Elternative we see an example of how he feels judged and shut down. This triggers him to experience psychosis, where he hears the menacing voices of his friends putting him down, and an array of vocal and visual hallucinations and delusions, that eventually turn positive and inspire him to share his ‘elternative’ perspective.
This audiovisual representation is inspired by accounts of lived experience, and aims to encapsulate the overwhelming sensory stimulation that can be felt when experiencing psychosis. Yet no single case of psychosis is the same, it manifests differently for each person in each different situation.
Why should we talk about it?
Psychosis is not intrinsically negative, but it is generally terrifying for someone to suddenly experience the world from a different perspective. For example, Pluto sees, hears, and feels the world in an entirely different way to his friends. It's highly distressing and frustrating knowing that he can’t immediately understand or control the experience. For someone experiencing psychosis and loved ones around them, having the knowledge that they’ll be okay and there’s nothing innately ‘wrong’ with them can help immeasurably in their recovery. Hence, knowing what psychosis is before we are confronted with it gives us the ability to respond effectively to reduce trauma while one is in this state of mind.
However, psychosis isn’t always a negative experience. Like the voice in Pluto’s head that starts to encourage him to ‘explain his perspective’, some people hear voices or see visions that are a source of comfort and meaning rather than distress – for example someone might feel they are communicating with their ancestors, or a trusted friend.
The different lens on the world that psychosis offers can also inspire creative potential. The capacity to see the world differently and question the structures of society around us can lead to abstract, nuanced theories, art and music. Influential artists Vincent Van Gogh and Instagram icon Yayoi Kusama, and Nobel Prize winning mathematician John Nash, have all experienced psychosis and have changed the way we see the world for the better.
What can we do about it?
We can learn to spot the signs of psychosis in our friends, whānau and even ourselves, so that if it does occur, we can support one another through the experience safely. Signs to look out for are confused thinking, isolation, paranoia and insomnia. We can keep a close eye on our friends and loved ones who are going through emotional or stressful life changes or who are pushing the boundaries with recreational drugs, and approach them with openness and sensitivity. For anyone who does show the signs, early intervention from a health professional is important to prevent recurring psychosis. It is much easier to treat at the early stages.
We can all play our part in changing how psychosis is seen and talked about. We can take the time to listen to and support people with lived experience without judgment. We can replace negative slang terms like ‘psycho’ with other terms or reframe them positively in light of an ‘elternative’ perspective.
The role of Elternative
Elternative was created out of appreciation for the different realities that psychosis provides. Elternative is an alternative to the alternative; a way of pushing the boundaries beyond what we think is alternative. Psychosis can provide a new and diverse way of looking at the world that we can all learn from. By understanding and appreciating this, we are awarded an empathetic approach to carry into the mainstream of future society in Aotearoa.
*The stereotype may also be conflated with psychopathy, a different neurological condition.
This article was funded by the Noku Nōku te Ao: Like Minds programme, with support from the Mental Health Foundation.
No definitive trigger
As well as the debate around the nature of psychosis, there’s no single cause for psychosis. Each case is subjective, some which may be linked to past trauma, and some which are brought on by current mental or physical triggers. The onset of psychosis can be linked to emotional or stressful life changes that many people experience – like puberty, or losing a loved one, or using drugs recreationally. In some cases, psychosis can be a response to a physical illness or a side effect from medication. The most common age to experience psychosis is 15-25 which some research has linked to hormones, and is also indicated by cases of postnatal psychosis.
If you or someone you know are experiencing symptoms of psychosis in Aotearoa, you need to get in touch with the Mental Health Crisis Team within your local DHB
info.health.nz/services-support/mental-health-services/crisis-assessment-teams
For assessment over the phone, call Healthline 0800 611 116
If you are unsure or concerned, free call or text 1737
For more information visit: www.talkingminds.co.nz