Thinking About Relapse Prevention

1. Thinking About Relapse Prevention Relapse Prevention Program

2. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

3. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

4. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

5. 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 Program

6. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

7. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

8. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

9. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

10. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

11. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

12. What Does It Feel Like to Experience: • Depression • Hopeless • Helpless • Useless • Let’s add to this list Relapse Prevention Program

13. What Does It Feel Like to Experience: • Mania • Racing thoughts • Like you could do anything • Speedy • Let’s add to this list Relapse Prevention Program

14. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

15. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

16. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

17. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

18. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

19. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

20. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

21. Dealing With Harmful Thoughts • Identify them as negative • Describe them • Refute them • Substitute positive thoughts • List your accomplishments • Let’s add to this list Relapse Prevention Program

22. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

23. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

24. 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: Relapse Prevention Program

25. Identifying Triggers? • Family Stress • Worrying about getting or keeping a job • Alcohol or drug use • Moving • Relationship changes • Let’s add to this list Relapse Prevention Program

26. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

27. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

28. 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 Relapse Prevention Program

29. GettingBack 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 Relapse Prevention Program

30. 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 Relapse Prevention Program