Tips on Relapse

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How to reduce the risk of relapse?

When you feel well, the chemicals in the brain are relatively balanced.  Symptoms that lead to a relapse can mess up this chemical balance and cause a relapse.  It is important to learn to spot signs of a relapse, so that preventive measures can be taken early on.  The best way to prevent this is to take good care of yourself.  In addition, there are a number of steps that you can take to avoid the recurrence of the illness.  These include continuation of medication prescribed, adopting a positive life style, controlling your environment, and awareness of the symptoms.
 
It is useful to learn more about the mental illness and medication.  Discuss the medication and its effects with professionals in mental health and psychiatry.  Search out further written information on diagnosis and treatment.  If the medication prescribed is not working, ask about other medicines.  Be guided by your doctor so the correct medicine and dosage can be established.
 
Above all, there must be a strong commitment to taking the medication daily.  Although it may not help, be aware that one should never stop the medication without discussing thoroughly with the doctor why one feels the need to change the medication and dosage and what the side effects are. Recognise the early symptoms that warn you of a possible relapse.  Remember that the symptoms can be detected right at the start of the relapse.
 
Take note of any changes you notice, such as strange occurrences at the start of the illness and changes in behaviour that other people have noticed.  Remember to stay alert for:

• Any symptoms that may appear;
• Any new symptoms that occur suddenly;
• Any increase in residual symptoms.  Residual symptoms are those that lessen but do not disappear totally, despite the medication prescribed.  Some remain the same, worsen or never improve.
• Take note of early symptoms so that the illness will not recur.  Write down the early symptoms so that you can easily spot them and refer immediately to the doctor.

 
Some early symptoms that you should be on the look out for in your suffering relative:

• Sleepless nights or lack of sleep;
• Difficulty in concentrating or paying attention.  cannot think as clearly as usual.
• One minute are laughing, the next are crying.
• Being more forgetful or absentminded than usual.
• Hearing voices.
• Fear of people, places or things that would not normally frighten .
• Excessive anger and more arguments than usual.
• Strange reasoning, words and behaviour.
• Continuous bad or worried moods
• Thinking that people are talking about or laughing
• Spending much more money than usual.

 
It is important to deal with symptoms of a relapse, so that:

• Hospital stays may not be necessary – a relapse can be avoided.
• Your relative may start and continue to feel well.
• They do not regress.
• Lessen the chances of ending up in hospital. 
• See that they do not shut themselves up about any bad news with someone close to you.  It doesn’t matter if you need to talk and cry often.  This is part of the mind’s natural healing process.
• Keep yourself active. 
• Go for walks and take part in other activities. 
• Do housework. 
• Try to do maintenance work around the house to keep your environment clean, attractive and restful. 
• Don’t give up those activities that are part of your normal routine.
• Make sure you eat regularly. 
• Eat a mix of fresh fruit and vegetables. 
• If you lose weight rapidly, you will lack vitamins and feel worse.
• Avoid drugs (especially Cannabis and alcohol).  Don’t try to cheer yourself up with alcohol or drugs as these will make you feel better only for a very short time; later you will feel much worse.  These will worsen your mental illness.  Illegal drugs and alcohol prevent you from working on your problem.  They are also bad for your physical health.
• Sleep:  try to sleep and wake at regular times.
• Don’t be discouraged by thinking that you are the only one suffering mental illness.  Be brave – if you are careful, eventually you may be able to overcome the illness.  Sometimes, after a mental illness, it is possible for a person to be stronger than before the illness.  When you face difficult situations with a positive attitude, you will notice that your relationships have also improved.
• Decisions:  The more you manage your illness, the stronger your decision-making skills will become and you will be able to initiate changes in your life that possibly you may have avoided making in the past.  Make small changes at a pace you can cope with, to avoid needless stress.
• Decrease stress:   Keep stress levels as low as you can.  A lot of stress, even good stress, can cause a relapse.  If you feel any new stress, speak to the doctor or to a member of your treatment team.  To decrease stress, avoid stressful situations and instead, do something that you like – listen to some music, watch an interesting programme on television, have a shower or bath, write down your thoughts in a diary, go for a long walk, go swimming, talk to a friend or family member, paint, go out into the countryside and take pleasure in the natural beauty around you, do some exercise to relax you.
• Control your environment:  If you live in a house full of noise that irritates you, see if you can change your environment.  Perhaps you can try to live somewhere else on your own.  You can ask for help as a family from a family therapist so that you can all learn to live in harmony.