Understanding Psychotic Depression
There are many types of mental illness some considered minor others major. But personally seen the devastating effects of mental illness.
For years I was told I had BPD with associated psychosis, agoraphobia, anxiety. But then the psychiatrist diagnosed me with a condition called Psychotic Depression.
Psychotic depression is not a term many people hear until it touches their life. For some, it’s a diagnosis; for others, a hidden truth they never had words for.
It is a severe form of major depressive disorder (MDD). That includes psychosis a break from reality through hallucinations or delusions.
What Is Psychotic Depression?
Psychotic depression blends the hopelessness of clinical depression with the unreality of psychosis. The result is a state where:
- Delusions (false beliefs) often focus on guilt, punishment, illness, or worthlessness.
- Hallucinations (often auditory or visual) align with negative internal narratives.
- The person lose touch with reality, unable to distinguish fact from fear.
It can be terrifying, isolating, and life-threatening.
Core Symptoms:
- Deep, prolonged sadness
- Loss of interest in life
- Fatigue or inability to move
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Thoughts of death or suicide
- Psychotic symptoms:
- Hearing voices
- Believing you’ve committed unforgivable sins
- Feeling watched or judged by unseen forces
These aren’t “dramatic” feelings they are real experiences for those living through psychotic depression.
What Causes It?
Psychotic depression is often triggered by a combination of:
- Genetics (family history of mood or psychotic disorders)
- Trauma or extreme stress
- Chronic illness or disability
- Imbalance in brain chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, cortisol
It’s not your fault. And it’s more common than most think.
Treatment Options
Psychotic depression is serious but it is treatable.
- Medication: Usually a combination of antidepressants and antipsychotics
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): Effective in severe or treatment-resistant cases
- Therapy: Often after stabilization, to handle trauma and build tools for recovery
- Support systems: Family, friends, and community matter
If you or someone you love is experiencing this, seek professional help right away.
A Personal Note:
“I believed I’d infected the world just by being alive. A voice in my mind confirmed it, over and over. I couldn’t tell what was real only that I was dangerous. I wanted to disappear.”
You are not alone. You are not broken beyond repair.
StormborneLore is a space where fire still burns even in the dark.
If you are in the UK:
- Call Samaritans on 116 123 (24/7)
- Text SHOUT to 8528 (crisis text line)
If you are in the USA:
- Call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)
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