Thinking About Relapse Prevention |
What We’re Going To Do Today |
Talk about relapse prevention | |
Share knowledge and experience concerning mental illness | |
We’re going to share things that are personal, and perhaps even painful | |
We are going to increase wellness levels | |
How Do I Know About Mental Illness and Relapse Prevention? |
I’ve studied and researched it | |
But mostly I know about it the same way that you know about it | |
All of us in this room have close knowledge, if not first hand experience, with mental illness | |
I know about it because of the experiences of some of my family members, and because I have struggled with depression | |
What is Relapse Prevention? |
It is a type of psychoeducational training | |
It teaches techniques to prevent recurrences of psychiatric illnesses | |
It is a tool that empowers consumers | |
Why Is It Important to Learn about Relapse Prevention? |
It’s important because many psychiatric conditions are: | ||
Chronic | ||
Cyclical | ||
Episodic | ||
It can help people have fewer and shorter episodes of acute illness | ||
Relapse Prevention is Important Because: |
People can and do achieve wellness | |
People can and do maintain wellness | |
Sometimes relapses do occur | |
Consumers are are often afraid they’ll become acutely ill again | |
Multiple relapses increase the odds of permanent disability | |
Relapses can be prevented | |
Research Tells Us |
Relapse prevention helps end “the revolving door syndrome” | |||
Provides familiarity with wellness levels | |||
Unstable: | |||
symptoms interfere with daily life | |||
Stable: | |||
medications are working, activities can be conducted | |||
Actualized: | |||
symptoms move to the background, do not interfere |
What You Can Learn from Relapse Prevention Education |
That early action at the first sign of symptoms (during the prodromal phase) CAN stop a relapse from happening before symptoms become debilitating | |
Techniques to SHORTEN the length of an acute episode | |
Having a clear plan will help you get back on your feet faster if you do experience a set back | |
What We’re Going To Explore Together |
General psychiatric symptoms | |
Identify specific symptoms you have experienced | |
Learn how recognize signs of relapse | |
Develop ways to lessen symptoms | |
Explore feelings and events that might “trigger” symptoms | |
Develop personalized goals to achieve, maintain and, enhance wellness | |
Complete a personalized plan should relapse occur | |
Why Talk About Relapse Prevention Now? |
Because you are experiencing wellness now | |
And that’s when it’s easiest to do this kind of hard work | |
By doing it together we’ll all be able to learn from each other | |
The more that you know, the less likely you are to experience a relapse | |
What Causes Mental Health Disturbances? |
Specific conditions: | ||
Depressive disorder | ||
Schizophrenia | ||
Bipolar Disorder | ||
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | ||
Imbalances in neurotransmitter systems | ||
Hormonal Imbalances (like in the thyroid) | ||
Genetic Predisposition (it runs in families) | ||
Trauma | ||
Abuse | ||
PTSD | ||
Deprivation | ||
Brain injury | ||
What Does It Feel Like to Experience: |
Depression | |||
Hopeless | |||
Helpless | |||
Useless | |||
Let’s add to this list | |||
What Does It Feel Like to Experience: |
Mania | |||
Racing thoughts | |||
Like you could do anything | |||
Speedy | |||
Let’s add to this list | |||
What Does It Feel Like to Experience: |
Psychotic Symptoms | |||
Voices were talking to you | |||
People were looking at you | |||
You saw things that others didn’t | |||
Let’s add to this list | |||
How Did You Feel While You Were Having Symptoms? |
Scared and Nervous | |||
Like you knew things other people didn’t know | |||
Like there was something wrong with you | |||
You enjoyed these feelings | |||
Let’s add to this list | |||
What Did You Experience Before Your Symptoms Became Troublesome? |
Withdrawal from friends and activities | |||
Sleeping too much | |||
Not sleeping enough | |||
Negative or hostile attitude | |||
Let’s add to this list | |||
How Might You Feel If You Were To Experience Symptoms Again? |
Worried | |||
Embarrassed | |||
Like there’s nothing you can do about it | |||
Let’s add to this list | |||
What Can You Do If You Have Troublesome Symptoms? |
Call Your Therapist | ||
Get a Physical | ||
Have a Med Check | ||
Seek out friends | ||
Avoid Negative and Critical People | ||
Let’s add to this list | ||
What Must You Do If You’re Experiencing Troubling Symptoms? |
Admit that you’re having difficulty | |
Be honest and clear about what is happening, and about what hurts | |
Take steps to eliminate Harmful Thoughts |
What Are Harmful Thoughts? |
All or nothing (polarized) thinking | |||
Everything’s Good | |||
Everything’s Bad | |||
Believing someone else is responsible for your actions | |||
Blaming others | |||
Catastrophizing | |||
Mind reading | |||
Let’s add to this list | |||
Dealing With Harmful Thoughts |
Identify them as negative | |||
Describe them | |||
Refute them | |||
Substitute positive thoughts | |||
List your accomplishments | |||
Let’s add to this list | |||
What Should You Be On the Lookout For? |
Having trouble thinking or concentrating | |||
Becoming preoccupied about your health | |||
Feeling sad, anxious or irritable | |||
Feeling like you can do anything | |||
Hearing voices | |||
Let’s add to this list | |||
What Else Should You Be Watching For? |
Isolating behaviors | |||
Avoiding people | |||
Not going to activates | |||
Increased alcohol or drug use | |||
Let’s add to this list |
More Things To Watch Out For |
Neglecting Yourself | |||
Bad Hygiene | |||
Not caring about your appearance | |||
Not eating | |||
Not doing housekeeping chores | |||
Let’s add to this list: | |||
Identifying Triggers? |
Family Stress | |||
Worrying about getting or keeping a job | |||
Alcohol or drug use | |||
Moving | |||
Relationship changes | |||
Let’s add to this list | |||
Ways To Increase Wellness |
Believe that you have the ability to get well and stay well | |||
Continue taking prescribed medications | |||
Stop smoking | |||
Let’s add to this list | |||
More Ways To Increase Wellness |
Improve your diet: more fruits and vegetables, less junk food | |
Exercise | |
Create satisfying social interactions | |
NEVER CHANGE OR STOP TAKING YOUR MEDS WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR DOCTOR | |
If You Do Have Severe Symptoms? |
Contact your support people | ||
Accept help | ||
Understand that it’s not anyone’s fault | ||
Even healthy people get colds | ||
Follow your personalized Relapse Plan | ||
Be prepared to Get Back in the Saddle | ||
Getting Back in the Saddle |
Understand that even even people who do everything right still sometimes relapse | |||
At the first sign of symptoms take action | |||
Follow your healthy lifestyle plan | |||
Take your prescribed medicines | |||
Let’s add to this list | |||
Your Personalized Plan |
Specified Hospital | |
Name of Person to be spokesperson | |
Names of your doctors | |
Current medications | |
Medications you’re willing/not willing to take | |
Treatments you’re willing/not willing to allow | |