It would seem that there could be something bad in a nervous person who began to freak out under the influence of certain problems in his life? But not everything is as simple as it might seem at first glance. Protracted nerves lead to serious he alth problems that greatly complicate human life. And in some cases, they begin to progress, bringing their master to bed in a psychiatric clinic.
Neurosis
Neurosis is a specific state of mind that has arisen as a result of a serious psychological trauma or a person's prolonged stay in a stressful situation. Its symptoms exhaust the human body, causing malfunctions in the autonomic system (indigestion, accelerated pulse, profuse sweating). They are accompanied by fatigue, irritation for the slightest reason, anxiety for no particular reason, an aggressive state from any irritant, and so on. Despite all the disturbing signs, the carrier of a neurosis thinks clearly and acts quite rationally. With a strong will, he is able to control himself and independently carry out the necessarytreatment.
Causes of neuroses
Most often, the onset of neurosis is provoked by events that cause great stress to the nervous system, or a prolonged state of tension. Less common are cases of hereditary predisposition, the influence of the environment or the wrong way of life of a person. Loading himself with work up to his shoulders, which also brings emotional shocks, he accidentally brings himself to a nervous breakdown. An additional influence is exerted by chronic diseases that exhaust the human body.
Psychosis
Psychosis is a pathology of the human psyche, which causes original behavior that is not included in the generally accepted framework of society. The patient does not see the real world around him, but something ephemeral created by his own brain. He reacts inappropriately to any stimulus, further reinforcing the strange impression of his behavior.
Depending on the reasons that contribute to its appearance, there are several types of psychosis:
- Psychoses of organic origin - arise as a result of poor functioning of the brain area. This is partly due to the deterioration of blood vessels and head injuries.
- Endogenous psychoses - they are provoked by failures in neurohumoral regulation.
- Exogenous psychosis - the consequences of severe stress or pathological dependence on drugs and alcohol. Sometimes they are caused by infections that affect the central nervous system.
Symptoms of psychosis
The symptoms of neurosis and psychosis are different. A psychotic person hallucinates and delusions. He perceives the surrounding reality differently, reacting sharply to any sensations. His emotional background either heats up or weakens, temporarily acquiring the appearance of stability. The patient's mood changes dramatically, falling from a wide smile to a deep melancholy and back again in a couple of seconds.
A person with a sick psyche moves chaotically, sometimes speaking in abrupt, barely intelligible phrases. Such people, after recovery, say that their condition resembled a sleepy dope that lasts for days.
Common differences
Despite the general similarity, these are completely different diseases. Experts highlight several significant points that allow you to understand how to distinguish neurosis from psychosis. These include:
- A serious stressful situation can provoke the development of both neurosis and psychosis. Neurosis begins immediately. The psychosis is gradually increasing.
- Neurosis appears along with other vegetative, somatic and affective pathologies. Psychosis is accompanied only by violations of the human psyche.
- Neurosis is not able to change the perception of the surrounding reality, and a person soberly assesses everything that happens around. In the case of psychosis, the patient sees another world created by his own head. Therefore, he does not admit that he is sick.
- Neurosis does not affect the human personality in any way. Psychosis takes control of the patient's brain.
- Neurosis can be cured, and quite simply. Butpsychosis is hard to get rid of. In theory, this is possible, but in practice it is not always possible.
Neurosis or psychosis?
Neurosis and psychosis are completely different diseases that have some similarities with each other. Therefore, certain techniques that can get rid of one pathology may be completely useless in the case of another. The patient is not recommended to conduct independent examinations and treatment, because there is a high chance of error in the diagnosis. To diagnose an existing disease, psychiatrists use a differential method.
Patients with neurosis can get tired quickly for no particular reason. They are thrown from one extreme to another: they either constantly want to sleep, or cannot fall asleep. It is difficult for patients with neurosis to control themselves, and their mood changes dramatically from elated to a state of universal crying. Without appropriate treatment, physical symptoms occur: headaches, trembling of the legs and arms, muscle fatigue.
Psychosis is the most dangerous pathology. The patient does not admit until the last moment that he is ill. But over time, he still begins to hallucinate and rave, perceiving these illusions as real reality. Without suitable therapy, the patient's condition worsens: an erroneous perception of reality, loss of sensitivity, confused consciousness, speech becomes slurred, and movements become intermittent and incomplete.
These diseases differ not only in the manifestation of symptoms, but also in the appropriate treatment. The difference between neurosis and psychosis is that the former is quite successfully treated withthe help of psychotherapy. Appropriate medications are needed when psychosis is present.
Treatment of diseases
When a patient is diagnosed with neurosis, the psychiatrist prescribes one of the common methods of treatment: Gest alt therapy, antidepressants, cognitive behavioral therapy, sedatives or psychodrama. In this case, drugs are rarely used, and they can be remembered only if the disease has entered the stage of an advanced form.
Patients with neurosis lead a normal life. When it is possible to notice the onset of the disease in time, the patient can do without the help of a specialist, only undergoing auto-training in time, controlling disturbing thoughts and taking light sedatives. Sometimes it is enough to exclude an object that causes a feeling of stress from the field of view, improve nutrition and sleep patterns, communicate only with positive people and relax more in nature.
In the case of psychosis, a more serious approach is needed. Psychiatrists prescribe neuroleptics, anticholinergics, benzodiazepines, and mood stabilizers. They help alleviate the symptoms of hallucinations, delusions, and so on. When they practically do not disturb the patient, the following techniques are included in the treatment process:
- correcting thinking to eliminate factors provoking the onset of psychosis;
- social interaction training;
- art therapy;
- family interaction in one therapy;
- homework;
- psychotraining;
- work on dependency elimination;
- behavior corrective therapy;
- psychoeducation;
- patient group therapy.
The treatment process clearly shows the difference between neurosis and psychosis. The cure for neurosis takes a long time, but in some cases the symptoms disappear without any intervention. The patient can contribute to this, and do without the help of a specialist. Psychosis is treated much faster, with the participation of a psychiatrist, it can be eliminated within one year. But without it, this is unrealistic, since the patient cannot understand where the reality is, and when the delirium begins. In this case, close people play a huge role. Timely detection of the first symptoms of the disease and further monitoring of successful treatment depends on them.
Patients with psychosis are in the hospital for the entire treatment process, where they will be monitored by specialists. They will control the correct intake of medicines and their dosage, and in which case they will replace the prescribed medicines with others, depending on the change in the general condition of the patient. If necessary, they will explain how neurosis differs from psychosis in order to warn patients against repeating such mistakes. Having received important information, patients will avoid provocative situations and turn to a specialist in time when the first symptoms of a possible pathology appear.
