Peer Stories
At the PIER Program, we think it is best to learn about signs and symptoms of psychosis from those who have lived or are living with it.
The videos on this page are of past and current PIER participants. They have agreed to share their experiences in order to help others who might be going through something similiar. In the videos, they discuss when they noticed a change in themselves, what helped them, and what keeps them feeling hopeful.
Watch this video of people with lived experience discuss when they noticed a change in themselves, what helped them, and what keeps them feeling hopeful.
Early Signs
“The psychosis started really kind of small.” Lilah
“I started noticing more symptoms…” Tim
“I started having bizarre thoughts…” Tiffany
“I started off with the paranoid feeling…” Tiffany
“When the voices first started happening…” Isabel
“I kind of thought they were ghosts or demons or imaginary friends…” Isabel
“…I tried to touch my dad. And it’s like your hand went through…”
Haleema
How Symptoms Get In The Way
“I thought, why am I so stressed…” Isaac
“I couldn’t control what was going on…” Isaac
“I would lose time sometimes…” Tim
“Then it mushroomed into me feeling like everyone was out to get me…” Lilah
“It was a thought that I had done something mean and hurtful…” Isaac
Path To Recovery
“…they were 100% supportive…” Haleema
“…just seeing other people who are suffering and who are trying to get better…” Haleema
“…spreading awareness…” Haleema
Finding Hope
“As long as you hold on to some hope…” Isabel
“I started to know that things were getting better…” Tiffany
“…I’ve learned how to shut them off…” Haleema
“I think because I have finally accepted my mental health…”
Haleema
Maine Medical Center 66 Bramhall Street Portland, Maine 04102
The PIER Program is part of the Maine Medical Center Department of Psychiatry and MaineHealth Institute for Research.
Funding for PIER comes from the Mental Health Block Grant through the Department of Health and Human Services.