btw treating a mentally ill teenager like they're stupid because they genuinely believe they are . I dont know. Stanford Pines In Real Life. doesnt do what you think its doing. your ass is not helping. I remember at least for me, that reactions like "are you crazy" or some shit were extremely humiliating and absolutely reinforced my delusions and hallucinations. The correct way to react also is not to just accept or ignore these behaviors, and especially not to encourage them purposefully. The best response is obviously going to vary from person to person. For me, the biggest thing that helped was getting away from situations that made me feel bad. Obviously, many people won't do this, or can't. It all depends on the situation and the person.
Here are some things that may help if you think someone you know is having (a) psychotic episode/s:
Call them by their name. Remind them of who they are. Not in a mean way, not forcefully, and not directly. Say things to them. Say something like "I think you're [something in context of the conversation], [person's name]." Use their name often. It helps.
Do NOT say something like "I think you're going crazy", "You're not [character/person/etc. also can apply to people convinced they have a certain mental illness and so on], you're [name]." or anything along those lines. Don't be too direct. The person you're talking to is going through a lot right now, and being gentle with them is very important. This doesn't mean you can't be direct in other ways: just don't point directly at the thing you're trying to help them with! Some people might react to this by pushing you away or diving deeper into their own delusions. You're welcome to say things like "I'm worried about you" "I want to help you" and so on, don't be dishonest with them! Just know that being indirect in helping with this specific subject matter is generally the most helpful thing to do.
If this is an in person friend (I was not), and you feel that they are disassociating or having a psychotic episode when you are around, remind them that they are with you, and remind them of where they are! This can be direct or subtle. But even something subtle like "hey, want to get up and go [something in relation to where you are. Eat, swim, etc,.]?" <- these kinds of things are very helpful when you are losing yourself even in the presence of a friend.
If this is a friend you are not with in real life, you can still do similar things! Reccomend they go do something, ask then questions relating to what theyre doing/where they are, and so on.
I'm sure there is more that I could add, and please remember that I am not a doctor, this is just my advice based on my experiences. I've thought for a long time about what could have helped me back then. It's also based on things that help me sometimes now.
And for everyone reading this who has psychosis or psychotic symptoms : You're not alone! Sometimes, confiding in someone/s you trust on how you're feeling is a good step to figuring yourself out.
Also: if someone has something they want to add, or correct me on (as someone with psychosis) please do.
