psychotic systems who doubt their plurality because of their psychosis. 

psychosis systems who are fakeclaimed by others or doubted by proffesionals because of their psychotic symptoms. 

psychotic systems where all alters hallucinate, or have delusions.

 psychotic systems where one alter takes the brunt, or even all of the symptoms, or only a handful hallucinate or have delusions.  

While most people who use phrases like this don’t mean any malice, it’s important to note that statements like this are actually more harmful than beneficial to your loved ones who struggle with psychosis or schizopec disorders.

Statements like these can almost always be twisted by a psychotic mind into something very invalidating.

If someone is opening up to you about their diagnosis, this might be a big step for them! (Not everyone is so open and overshares like me. /lh)

If you find yourself in this situation, here are some better options you might try to validate your loved one and let them know you support them.

“That must be really difficult, I’m always here to help if I can!”

“Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?”

“I appreciate you sharing this with me, I feel like I understand a bit better now.”

and most importantly- don’t be nervous to ask questions! the more you ask, the better you’ll be able to understand your loved one and what they need.

p l e a s e don’t shame neglect survivors for not knowing “basic” things like how to eat a balanced diet, when to go to the doctor, how to drive, etc. you know these things (usually) because a caring adult taught them to you. we didn’t have that. we often enter adulthood knowing jack shit about how to take care of ourselves. we know we’re missing information, and we feel so fucking lost.

it’s okay to, if you have a friend who’s experienced neglect, try and help them learn how to take care of themselves. saying things like “hey, do you think you could try to eat at least one vegetable per day?” or “that infection looks pretty bad, do you want to go to a doctor?” is genuinely helpful. but belittling us for not already knowing these things is completely unproductive and unnecessarily cruel.

[The "I can't read!" meme format from Arthur. The first panel reads: "Don't push your religious beliefs onto psychotic people and convince them that their psychosis is actually real" on the sign that D.W. is looking at.

The second panel where it says "That sign won't stop me, because I can't read!", there is text over D.W. that reads "Witches". /end ID]

You aren't a burden to society if you think differently. You aren't inherently abusive because you think differently, you are just as worthy and valid as people with empathy.

so here's to everyone whose delusions make it hard to tell who they're attracted to, or can't tell if their gender experience is the way it is because of a delusion

here's to everyone whose gender fluctuates and changes due to their hyperfixation or special interest changing and evolving over time

here's to everyone who can't quite figure out if their gender is theirs, or someone else's bleeding into yours

This is exactly what we mean by unprompted reality checks that can actually accelerate or prompt psychosis

Note that it’s informally worded and written as though the person is speaking Directly to you (’like dude’ ‘i pinky promise that you’) and not just that but it’s incredibly infantilizing as well (’lil noggin’s notes app’ jesus christ lmfao) 

Hearing unprompted/out of the blue that nobody has access to your thoughts when directed towards schizospec people may actually put the idea in your head in the first place, thus raising alarm 

I need non-psychotic people to understand that the schizospec mind often relates to things as possibilities, not as things that are actually happening, and so it frequently goes into panic mode believing that the possibility is more likely than we think and forces us to prepare for the event as though it was inevitable (if you’ve seen that post that talks about ‘gacha players when they learn the rate of being hit by lightning’ you’d understand what I mean)

At that, psychotic minds are often predisposed to treating coincidences as signs, especially repeated coincidences (i.e. seeing repeating numbers or repeated phrases or patterns, ‘coincidentally i saw this thing so it must be a sign’ etc.) 

I think in general it’s a good idea to not post or spread unprompted reality checks because of the alarm it may cause in psychotic people 

So, here’s what I learned, after nearly a decade of being unmedicated due to financial constraints and a religious family that was fairly anti-psychiatry for most of my life:

- STRESS MANAGEMENT. A stress-free life is impossible in this society, but you can definitely lower your stress levels with lifestyle changes. Stay hydrated, exercise, take your vitamins, spend time with loved ones, eat nutritious meals, spend some time outside in nature.

- It’s very hard to keep on top of all of this when you’re dealing with negative symptoms, and many of us can’t access all those things if we’re poor, but every little bit helps. To-do lists and bullet journals help me keep on track with this stuff.

- PROPER SLEEP. Sleep deprivation is one of the number one causes of psychosis. Try to get at least 8 hours a night, or however much your body personally needs.

- Stay away from weed unless you already know for a FACT that it doesn’t negatively affect you. If you don’t know, don’t risk it, because it makes paranoia and other psychotic symptoms much worse for most of us.

- When in an episode, it’s good to have a safe person around who you can confide in. Someone who will listen to you nonjudgementally, without encouraging your delusions or hallucinations. If you don’t have a safe person, psychosis forums, support groups, or even just a private diary are all good places to get your thoughts out.

- One of the best ways I dealt with some of my less intense delusions and paranoias was my “I Don’t Care” method. People are watching me through cameras everywhere I go? Whatever, let them watch. I’ll put on a little show for them while we’re at it. I’m living in a horrifying simulation and if I just look through the cracks I can see the rotting world beneath? Whatever, why would I want to do that? This fake milkshake tastes pretty good, I’m going to go on a fake walk.

- Obviously this takes some practice, because psychosis activates all the parts of your brain that are like FEAR ALERT, FEAR ALERT, SET ALL SYSTEMS TO PANIC, but after some time it’s a skill you can hone pretty well.

- Breathing exercises! Tormented by horrifying prophetic visions? Hallucinating bugs all over your body? Your food looks suspiciously like human organs and that’s really freaking you out, man? Wrap yourself in a weighted blanket and breathe in for 4 seconds, hold it for 4 seconds, breathe out for 4 seconds, hold, and repeat.

- Avoid the tempting cycle of triggering yourself on purpose, whether it be self harm, curiosity, what have you. When you get the urge, do something distracting instead.