I'd like to start by saying that psychosis is different for everyone. Often, the best way to find out what psychosis is like for someone is to ask.

Psychosis is defined by NAMI as "disruptions to a person’s thoughts and perceptions that make it difficult for them to recognize what is real and what isn’t" (NAMI, 2020). That means people with psychosis can experience things that aren't real. Sometimes, it's hard to tell the difference between reality and psychosis. Psychotic disorders involve positive symptoms (hallucinations or delusions). However, most people with psychosis also experience negative and cognitive symptoms.

Positive symptoms are named as such because they add false elements. With delusions, these would be added beliefs. Hallucinations would be sensing something that isn't there, whether you see it, feel it, or hear it. It's also possible to smell or taste hallucinations! Some hallucinations I've experienced are cherry blossom petals where they don't belong and a cat that wasn't there.

Negative symptoms are not necessarily better or worse than positive symptoms. Negative symptoms are simply when a process that a person would usually have is absent. This can mean a lack of motivation, an inability to communicate, or a constant forgetfulness. These symptoms (and more) are often found in both psychotic disorders and depressive disorders.

Cognitive symptoms are some of the ones I personally struggle with most. These can include disorganized thinking, slow thinking, and poor memory. There's a bit of overlap with negative symptoms, but cognitive symptoms are only ones that affect your thought processing.

Negative symptoms (as well as positive and cognitive ones) can cause difficulty starting up tasks or remembering to do them. Please be patient with those of us who struggle to remember or follow through on our goals.

Too Long; Didn't Read: Psychosis involves hallucinations and/or delusions, but also usually includes other symptoms that should not be ignored. Ex. forgetfulness, disorganized thoughts, and many others.