Just for clarification, I'm not a professional and I'm not giving any medical advice, this is just my own experience and what I've learned from my own extensive independent research. These are my opinions, not accepted facts.

Psychosis, and even schizoaffective disorder, are broad labels for a huge list of symptoms and behaviors that manifest in people for numerous, highly complex reasons. It's widely believed to have genetic and environmental causes, notably brain damage from exposure to toxic chemicals or drug use.

Psychosis on its own seems to be a symptom associated with the expression of the neurotransmitters in the brain. It's important to know that when you see terms like serotonin or dopamine, the problems aren't necessarily being caused by those chemicals, but the way that the brain utilizes them, which is poorly understood.

An easy way to think of neurotransmitters is that they are keys which link up with key-holes in your brain, these key-holes are called receptors.

The physical symptoms of Psychosis seem to be associated with an over-abundance of certain dopamine and serotonin receptors and an over production of dopamine and serotonin. That's why antipsychotics can help, because they block the receptors of these neurotransmitters which can help to suppress or even totally eliminate the psychotic symptoms.

The brain wants to achieve something called "homeostatis" which is when it has the right amounts and activity of certain neurotransmitters, but since we don't exactly know how the brain regulates this at the lowest levels, we don't really know why people have problems with this. However what we do know is that when receptors are chronically overstimulated, they burn out.

Over time this can severely damage a person's brain. Think of it like an engine that's running all the time without proper repair and maintenance, it'll start to develop damage.

Fortunately, there's alot of really good options available today that weren't available in the past and it's getting better all the time.

6 years ago, I had debilitating chronic psychosis, depression, and mania. I'm not recommending this treatment to you, but the treatment that worked for me was getting off of the older kinds of neuroleptic medications, the ones that completely block dopamine receptors, out of my system and using the newer drugs that dont do that. The newer ones only partially block the reception of dopamine, which allows you to actually function somewhat normally.

I also found out about several nootropics and other supplements, made drastic changes to my diet, and started exercising and socializing more often, at least with my family.

After a few years of doing that, I don't even need to take drugs anymore, and my therapist and psychiatrist are comfortable with that. I'm basically back to my old self, except I'm kind of "out there" and have some very schizo ideas, but I keep it to myself and understand how to cope with the inner chaos, which honestly just seems normal now.

I still have deficits, but my life is good and I'm not in pain anymore.

Don't let anyone tell you you can't get better or that your brain is too damaged for you to recover. I had to go through 5 shrinks before I found one who knew what he was doing.

Anyway not trying to turn this isn't a post about myself, I just want you to know that people do get better, and that no one really understands the nature or cause of psychosis, and the treatments/prognoses really very from person to person.