Relapse May Happen So Don’t Panic
In reality, many people who are living with a mental illness even while taking their
medication(s), still experience ongoing or reoccurring psychiatric symptoms. So don’t
panic. If you are aware of your ongoing or reoccurring symptoms and can monitor
yourself for changes, you may be able to avoid a relapse. Relapse signs which may or
may not be different from your re-occurring symptoms, refer to those physical,
behavioral, and emotional signals that indicate a return or increase in the active
symptoms of an illness. For example, let’s say that even with the use of medication(s)
and ongoing visits to your psychiatrist, you still hear low, muffled voices every now and
then. But over the last few weeks, you have noticed an increase in these voices. Well by
taking a minute to think about the events that have recently occurred in your life, you
may find that the increase in your symptoms is directly related to a change or recent
stressor. By evaluating the circumstances associated with the rise in your reoccurring
symptoms, you may be able to make some life changes before your symptoms become
unmanageable.
Symptoms of a pending relapse can include an increase in psychotic symptoms,
increased isolation, reoccurrence of negative feelings or thoughts, and a decrease in the
participation of healthy behaviors, such as bible study and prayer. But each person is
different and may have different signs. So it is essential for you to be aware of your own
personal signals, and then be prepared to make changes before those relapse signs
usher in a full-blown reoccurrence of your illness. But please know that an increase in
symptoms does not necessarily mean that you are headed for a relapse, or that you
need to be hospitalized. Increased symptoms do, however, signal a need for you to take
a look at your life, talk to someone and if needed contact your doctor as soon as
possible.
(igbatt.com/ALegree, COPYRIGHT 2019)