The Impact of Psychosis on Relatives and Friends

Most people who develop psychosis live at home with family or share their lives with friends or partners. Psychosis has an impact on everyone. Often the first signs of psychosis are withdrawal from friends and social activities. This could be an attempt to manage positive signs such as hallucinations and delusions. These may not become apparent to relatives or friends until a bit later.

Some common effects on family members and friends are:

• Feeling that their whole world has been turned upside down
• Feeling that their world will never be the same again
• Relationships become strained
• Having to balance work and caring

Not all effects are bad ones. Sometimes having to deal with the illness can bring the family closer together and create the opportunity to meet and help other people in a similar situation.

Watch Julie talk about the impact of psychosis on family relationships.