The Experience of Psychosis: Delusions, Hallucinations, and Disordered Thinking

Psychotic episodes can lead to delusions, hallucinations, and disordered thinking that defy logic and sense of reality. Artist Matt Otley shares his own experiences of psychosis, where he believed a mushroom-like organism was growing inside him. His latest artistic project, 'The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness,' combines an orchestral composition and an illustrated storybook to provide insight into the nature of psychosis. During psychotic episodes, Matt's ability to understand language was impaired, but music became crystal clear to him. This summary explores the altered states of thinking, sensory perception, and self-awareness associated with psychosis.