About Cyberpsychosis

Common misconceptions.

Although many Street kiddies prefer to use the term “Cyberpsychosis” to relate to the MAXTAC-involved scenarios of various “chromed-up” individuals going aggressively berserks, that is a wildly inaccurate term. In this scenario, a more fitting medical term would be “CY-RAGE”, a violent episode triggered by certain external factors. The umbrella denomination of “Cyberpsychosis” refers to a variety of symptoms present in various degrees in all persons choosing to augment themselves in hopes of achieving a higher state of being. Almost like an act of hubris, we must make a clear distinction between the slang-attributed “chippin’ in” and the medical procedure of introducing prosthetics to an injuried or handicapped person. More often than not, people missing limbs or vital organs seeking surgery are not interested in augmenting themselves, instead preferring “medical-grade cyberware”, which can be of two varieties: lab-grown clones of organic tissue to resemble said organ, or a cybernetic form providing no additions benefits than to a person with that limb from birth. These scenarios do not trigger any sort of symptoms of Cyberpsychosis. The mental disorder only settles in cases when the person chooses to become superhuman, to defy their natural condition by introducing a variety of modifications, including but not limited to: extra limbs, superhuman speed, concentration etc.

A Mental Struggle - What IS Cyberpsychosis?

We must understand the mental condition as a dissociative disorder that seeps in with every piece of cyberware installed. The term “psychosis” was used incorrectly initially, as the researchers who first signaled the disorder observed the psychopathic tendencies of those suffering of the condition. However, as technology developed, we saw an increase in dissociation akin to psychosis, with many cyberware users reporting a strong alienation with their fleshy bits, which devolved into symptoms similar to “meth bugs” and excessive scratching, with some reporting skinning or cutting their flesh. We can understand the disorder as made up of three main components: the mental degradation (resulting in increasing psychosis and psychopathic tendencies), the addiction and the impulsive episodes.

There are varying degrees of cyberpsychosis, ranging from mild, manageable with occasional verbal outbursts to violent, frequent episodes of cy-rage. Nevertheless, no matter how fast or slow the affliction sets it, we believe that the most important aspect of the disorder has to do with one’s mental strength to any sort of trigger. As such, persons with a history of alcoholism have shown significantly increased speed of developing the condition. A key idea in the scientific community has to do with genetic potential: persons which would more easily develop an addiction and couldn’t quit it because the willpower necessary wouldn’t be manageable often tend to fall into cyberpsychosis due to impulsive “upgrading” or implanting of increasingly more “borg” cyberware. However, just like one can occasionally enjoy a night out full of alcohol and not develop alcoholism, so can a person reliably install cyberware without fearing onset of the disorder. Although studies are currently in disagreement, we believe that the speed at which one installs cybernetics might also be a cause of early onset of the disorder. Nevertheless, “full-borgs”, as they are referred to colloquially, are always troubled by heavy psychopathy, with fewer being to pass an empathy test than newer models of androids. Cyberpsychosis can be interpreted as an addiction to enhancement and, as such, parallels may be drawn between the use of cyberware and the old-time use of anabolic steroids to improve muscular gains amongst bodybuilders. Furthermore, the similarities between CY-RAGE and the “(ste)Roid Rage” cannot be denied.

The weakening of the ability to experience reality in an objective manner is triggered by the psychotic element. Research has shown us that oftentimes those who come from broken families or otherwise have faced great trauma during their lifetime are more susceptible to the so-called “loss of humanity”, which is why we believe treatment is so important. That being said, psychosis and psychopathy go hand in hand in the case of this disorder, as one triggers the other in a constant influx of degradation. These two elements can blend in varying forms, most commonly in a disregard for any “human” pleasures (loss of appetite, of libido, insomnia), as well as a strong antisocial aspect: the patient suffering of cyberpsychosis feels alienated in a social environment, seeks pleasure in manipulating others for their own benefit, very often without any remorse. Besides the heavy-mediatized “MAXTAC Psycho”, other archetypes exist, like the “Boardroom Psycho” which more easily blend with their environment, often employing their cyberware in a quest for something even themselves initially acknowledge as unreachable. The psychotic element can very easily fuel CY-RAGE, as some patients report hearing fragments of voices or constant mumbling which can lead to more sensitivity to negative triggers and can result in violent outbursts. Lack of fear is a common denominator amongst people suffering from cyberpsychosis, which prompts rash decisions with disregard for human life (their or anybody else’s).

CY-RAGE

Commonly referred to as “going ‘psycho”, CY-RAGE is a violent outburst during the disordered patient usually experiences heavy psychosis. This usually results in harm brought to the environment close to the person, nearby people and even the person themselves. Violent episodes most often happen to people with underlying psychopathy traits, like those suffering from PTSD or other mental struggles. While we cannot know exactly what a person experiencing CY-RAGE feels, we can assume that they perceive an altered version of reality, stimulating all senses: not only are they able to see something different (a soldier finding himself behind enemy lines instead of in his mother’s hospital room), but they can also taste or otherwise interact with non-existent objects. Although an episode of CY-RAGE can be staved off for an indiscernible amount of time, it cannot be avoided completely and the only way it can end is if the person is made unconscious by any way – blunt force, death or even just sedatives.

Seeking Treatment

We do understand that for those suffering of this disorder it might be hard to reach out for help. The process of seeking treatment should never be one imposed (by friends, family or the law), as that has shown countless times that troubled patients will employ psychopathic cunningness to circumvent any actual change. Deciding to reach out should be a conscious choice, one made by the person in question. Although there is no one “cure”, some pharmaceuticals have shown potential, but at this point in time clinical trials are only promising and widespread use is unlikely. That being said, many looking to benefit off of troubled people have flooded street markets with drugs of various names, most commonly “baloperidol”, which we heavily recommend against as it might lead to other complications including permanent loss of motor functions, death, onset of schizophrenia etc.

A key way to starting treatment is to register yourself into one of the clinics or even at a local police branch. This puts you on the path to treatment as it enters you into a database of “registered cyberpsychos”. Even if you do not register yourself, the likelihood of your profile already existing in databases is high if you opt to install cyberware in a safe environment like a licensed hospital or clinic. In this case, we once again recommend against black market “ripperdocs”, as more often than not the cyberware they operate is stolen or counterfeit and you run the risk of dying because of bad surgeries or wrong implants. With regularly-scheduled paid therapy sessions and an implant to detect rapid mood swings and any other dramatic effects of the disorder, a registered person can feel much more at ease going about their normal day. In extreme cases (on the off chance that a cyberpsycho is subdued rather killed), intensive psychotherapy will be employed, involving stress and anger management. This is coupled with pharmaceuticals and a safe environment, as well as extreme brain reprogramming in hopes of piecing a previous version (pre-cyberpsychosis) of the patient’s personality. Furthermore, a key solution in treating extreme cyberpsychosis seems to be empathy simulations through the advent of braindances: a patient will be subjected to “living out a life” in a VR-like state through a Braindance platform. They will go through all stages of a life in a simulated environment which the cyberpsychologist can control: from toddler, to teenager, to young adult and growing old, a patient can relearn emotions through simulated feelings inside the revolutionary technology.