What is Vyvanse-Induced Psychosis?
Vyvanse is an amphetamine and is one of the most commonly prescribed medications to help manage symptoms of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a common disorder, affecting both adults and children with such symptoms as difficulty concentrating or hyperactivity. Whilst these amphetamine drugs can be effective for some people, the drugs carry the risk of developing psychosis — a mental health disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and impaired thinking.
Vyvanse-induced psychosis is a psychiatric condition that can lead to individuals experiencing a range of symptoms, including but not limited to:
- Auditory hallucinations
- Visual hallucinations
- Delusions
- Disordered thoughts
- Impaired thinking
- Disorganized communication
- Paranoia
- Agitation
- Confusion
Other symptoms of amphetamine-induced psychosis may include false beliefs about reality or even about their own identity, and perceptual disturbances such as hearing voices or seeing things that are not really there. These symptoms can be distressing and impair someone’s ability to function in day-to-day activities.
Vyvanse-induced Hallucinations
When someone is in a Vyvanse-induced psychosis, often hallucinations occur. However, amphetamine hallucinations can occur in different forms like auditory (sound) and visual (sight). Some may see and hear things that are not actually present, or experience strange feelings or physical sensations. Others might have their normal senses distorted, such as seeing colors and shapes when there are none, or feeling like they’re surrounded by an invisible force or even in danger by an unseen force like a spirit or demon.
The types of hallucinations that can occur when someone is in an amphetamine-induced psychosis do vary, but the most common are visual and auditory hallucinations. Auditory hallucinations may include hearing voices that are not there or hearing music or other sounds that others cannot hear. Visual hallucinations may be as simple as seeing a person that is not actually there or can involve more complex images and visuals, often leaving the person scared and/or overwhelmed.
Vyvanse-induced Delusions
Delusions are a symptom of psychosis and involve the person having persistent beliefs that are not based on reality. These can include paranoia, belief in supernatural forces, or false memories. People may even believe they have special powers or skills that they do not actually possess. This can cause anyone much distress since delusions are often indistinguishable from the one experiencing it.
Delusions are also common in Vyvanse-induced psychosis, and can range from the belief that one is being watched or followed by an unseen force to the belief that one has supernatural powers. Delusions may also involve a person believing that they are doing something for a greater cause or to save the world, when in reality this does not exist.
Vyvanse-induced Paranoia
Paranoia is another common symptom of a Vyvanse-induced psychosis. Someone that is experiencing paranoia may become suspicious and mistrustful, even of those closest to them such as family or friends. They may also become highly sensitive to criticism, believing that everyone is out to get them or ridicule them in some way.
Paranoia is not only an emotional symptom of psychosis but can also manifest itself in physical ways too. A person experiencing paranoia may believe that their actions are being monitored or that they are always being followed (aka gang stalking), leading to battles with extreme anxiety and can even result in full-blown panic attacks.
Substance Abuse & Vyvanse Psychosis
With the growing trend of school-age kids using ADHD medication like Vyvanse to help them focus and stay awake to study, the risk of amphetamine-induced psychosis has grown. Even when taken as prescribed, amphetamines can still cause psychotic symptoms if used without professional supervision and care. Taking amphetamines in combination with other drugs or alcohol increases the chances of a person experiencing psychosis significantly.
Substance abuse psychosis (SAP) is a psychiatric condition and has seen increased rates among college-age young adults in the United States.
(SAP) symptoms may include but are not limited to:
- auditory hallucinations
- visual hallucinations
- paranoia
- confusion
- depression
- irritability
Substance abuse alone, like binge drinking or combining drugs, will increase the likelihood of experiencing psychosis even without taking amphetamines. The combination of substance abuse while withdrawing or taking high doses of amphetamines can be extremely dangerous, leading to extreme hallucinations, paranoia, delusions, and other psychotic symptoms like fits of rage and even acts of extreme violence.
A Word From WHTA Director
Substance-induced psychosis is a real psychiatric condition that affects countless numbers of American adolescents and adults. As filmmakers, our goal was not only to find out What Happened to Austin?; but also wanted to bring awareness and most importantly, a discussion between friends, loved ones, students, patients, etc. regarding important subjects like substance abuse and mental health.
In post-Covid times, with mental illness and drug and/or alcohol addiction on the rise, the uncomfortable conversation between us and the ones we care about needs to happen. We have to reprogram ourselves as a society to not only accept that substance abuse can be fatal and that mental health is just as important as physical health.
It’s ok to not be ok and when someone is asking for help, listen and get them help.
We must also learn about the red flags and the warning signs of mental illness and/or substance abuse and speak out and try to get them help. Now that we have this information, it’s up to us to make this important change.
As a society, it’s time we remove the outdated stigmas associated with mental illness or basic mental health treatment. We know that when our body is sick we will “shut down” and stay in bed till we are better, often for days at a time. However, as a general public, we don’t give enough real consideration to basic mEnTaL health. We need to change the narrative on what we see as drug and/or alcohol addiction and acknowledge that substance abuse is a side-effect of poor mental health. If we can stop substance abuse and address our loved one’s mental health, we can hopefully prevent tragedies like the tragic case of John Stevens and his wife, Michelle Mishcon.
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Cristie Lee
Independent Filmmaker
