Psychosis has always been common. I believe single digit percentages of people experience it. If you know 100 people, maybe 1-4 of them experience psychosis. I have been close to two people who do.
One of the major differences about why it's so visible right now is that the internet is enabling psychotic people to find like-minded psychotic people and form communities. Qanon is one example. "Gang stalking" is another. They find people with the same delusions and riff off of one another.
In the olden days, one individual suffering from something like this can stay isolated, and their ideas do not travel that far. Today, they can find their tribe online. They can have meetups. They can act out their delusions en masse.
I'm have a feeling the whole Qanon thing was orchestrated by government actors. The whole things reads like a scheme to lead people off track. Not that psychosis is not involved.
One of the major differences about why it's so visible right now is that the internet is enabling psychotic people to find like-minded psychotic people and form communities. Qanon is one example. "Gang stalking" is another. They find people with the same delusions and riff off of one another.
In the olden days, one individual suffering from something like this can stay isolated, and their ideas do not travel that far. Today, they can find their tribe online. They can have meetups. They can act out their delusions en masse.