What does recovery look like? Psychosis and other thoughts
What does recovery look like? It’s rarely straightforward and my path like most others has been bumpy. In the past few weeks I’ve faced some setbacks in my recovery from psychosis. After a long period of stability I decided, alongside my mental health team, to change my medication. Unfortunately the change was too rapid for me and psychosis started to rear its ugly head again.
At times like these where we face setbacks, particularly in our mental health, it is easy to fall into further depression and hopelessness. However, with the right support, I believe it’s possible to view set backs for what they can be, an opportunity for further healing and recovery.
This week I’ve been well supported by the mental health team and we’ve slowed down the changes we were making to my anti-psychotic medication. I’ve also been leaning into some coping strategies which I thought would be helpful to share on this platform.
My first recommendation to anyone facing mental health challenges is to surround yourself with community. I’m blessed with close friends and family who are there for me and whom I can be honest with in the tough times. I know I am lucky in this regard and there are people reading this who feel very much alone. I would encourage you that it is possible to cultivate new friendships and support but it takes effort and intentionality. For example, I’ve found peer support through the charity Action on Post-Partum Psychosis where I can sit in circle with women who know exactly what I’m going invaluable. If you’re not sure where to start in creating your own community of support then the charity Mind provides some very helpful tips (1).
The second way I’ve been managing this week is using distraction. Distraction is a helpful coping mechanism in mental health and particularly with psychotic illnesses. Sometimes we talk a lot about the use of meditation and quiet time in mental health but there are times when we simply need relief from our thoughts. As my CPN reminded me this week, it is difficult for the mind to focus on two things at once and implementing practical activities into our routine can help divert that focus.
Lastly, but by no means least, I’ve been using time in nature to help calm and regulate my emotions. Spending time outdoors is a proven way to reduce stress and improve mood. On social media this week, the charity Mind published ways to use nature to support your mental health including growing food, walking groups and spending time with animals (2). For me this looked like planting out a herb garden in my back yard as well as long walks with the dog.
I hope some of these simple ways to improve your mental wellbeing strike a cord with you. For those of you currently struggling, I hope some of these coping strategies empower you. When you hit a bump in the road it is important to acknowledge the disappointment, the upset, the anger that it brings up but know that there are very practical ways to move forward in your recovery. As I was kindly reminded this week that while recovery looks different for everyone, it is possible for everyone.
References:
