Staying Sober Through A Mental Health Relapse

When it comes to your mental health, one of the best decisions you can make is to avoid substance abuse. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, abusing drugs and alcohol only makes things worse.

However, it’s not always easy to stay away from substances when you are in the midst of a mental health relapse.

What Is A Mental Health Relapse?

A mental health relapse occurs when you have experienced a period of recovery and begin experiencing symptoms again that interfere with your daily life. Most people who have a mental illness have a “baseline” that they achieve when they are in recovery from their mental disorder. Sometimes, though, symptoms can recur. For example, a bipolar person may have a period of time when they are able to manage their symptoms, and then they may go into a manic phase or a depressive phase. A return to severe anxiety symptoms is another example.

This can occur for a variety of reasons, including life events or circumstances, changes in the way you react to medication and sometimes for no apparent reason at all. While mental illness can be controlled, it doesn’t just go away and sometimes relapse just occurs.

How To Get Through A Mental Health Relapse

It’s not always easy to see when it is happening. For many people, symptoms can include impulsivity and lack of inhibitions that make it hard to stay clean and sober. In other cases, symptoms are severe and unpleasant and you just want them to go away. It can be tempting to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol.

Unfortunately, this course of action will only make matters worse. Any relief you may get is temporary, and alcohol and drugs will ultimately make symptoms worse. During these times, you need as much support as possible to help you get through your crisis and regain your mental health recovery. Here are some tips that can help.

1. Be Proactive About Your Mental Health

One thing that is helpful is to make a plan with your mental health provider. Sit down and talk to them about what you can do if you start experiencing symptoms. You know from experience what your relapse tends to look like, and it’s important that you take the appropriate measures to take care of yourself when problems arise. In some cases, mental health treatment centers are necessary to help you get back on your feet. You may discuss under what circumstances you would want to be admitted to an inpatient mental health treatment center, or perhaps an outpatient program would be more appropriate. Mental health treatment centers can help you get the extra support and care you need in the event of a severe relapse.

2. Communicate With Your Support Network

By now you should have a network of both professional support and your own friends and family who are educated and understand the nature of your mental illness and addiction. This is important because sometimes well-meaning people don’t give the best support or advice. Be sure you are reaching out to people who understand you.

It’s not always easy to ask for help, but talk to the people around you and let them know what’s going on so they can help you.

3. Make Self-Care A Priority

Taking care of yourself is your most important job. Let other things go and focus on yourself. Eat nutritious food, get some exercise, reach out to your loved ones and attend all appointments with doctors and counselors.

4. Continue With Your Recovery Activities

Keep in touch with the people in your support group who are a part of your addiction recovery. Talk to counselors, go to aftercare appointments, groups, 12-step meetings, etc. Stay connected with your addiction recovery so you can stay sober and bounce back from your mental health crisis more quickly.

5. Avoid People Who Are Using

No matter what, you must protect your addiction recovery. One way to do this is by avoiding people, places and things that you associate with using. This is super important. Stay away from anyone or anything that might lead you back to using. Put yourself and your recovery first.

These are a few ways you can stay sober and get through any type of crisis life throws your way. The road isn’t always smooth, but when you stick with recovery, things will get better.

His House Rehab offers industry leading Mental Health Treatment Programs . We were founded in 1994 and we base our Drug and Alcohol Treatment programs on five key principles: commitment, honesty, integrity, respect, and service. These five principles guide us in all that we do and all the care we provide. Contact us today to see how we can help you or your loved one at (888) 681-4594.