Schizophrenia Relapse - What to Do in Case of Relapse

Schizophrenia Relapse - What to Do in Case of Relapse

What do you do to handle relapse? How do you prevent it?

A relapse is the return of symptoms or worsening of residual symptoms (symptoms that haven't completely disappeared).


Identifying Warning Symptoms and Preventing Relapse

The following are early warning symptoms that should be watched out for:

o   Having trouble sleeping at night
o   Finding it harder than usual to concentrate
o   Forgetting things more often than usual
o   Feeling nervous or worried all the time
o   Feeling afraid of people, places, or things that you usually feel comfortable with
o   Withdrawing from others or staying in the room a lot
o   Hearing voices or seeing images
o   Having thoughts that people are talking about you or laughing about you

Recognizing these warning symptoms is the best way one can catch a relapse. If these symptoms are noted to start coming back, consult the doctor right away. It's better to overcome relapse symptoms before the person gets too sick and have to be hospitalized.


Causes of Relapse

What causes a relapse?

There are many reasons why people who have recovered from Schizophrenic symptoms may have a relapse:

o   They may not be taking their medicine the right
o   They may be under more stress than usual like the occurrence of crisis or adverse life experiences
o   They may not be getting enough rest and sleep
o   They may be taking another medicine for a different health problem (like a cold or a muscle strain)
o   They may have started drinking alcohol or using street drugs

Is Relapse the same as Crisis?

The occurrence of relapse may cause a crisis in the person with Schizophrenia, his family, or co-workers if he is working. But there are other crises that may happen to the person or their families. Such are Schizophrenia trauma.

A crisis happens when the person's usual ways of coping are insufficient to adequately respond to his stressful life situation at that moment. This, therefore, is not only related to the relapse for the illness, but to other events like illness, separation, death in the family, loss of finances or livelihood, or adverse life events like disaster.


Can Stress cause Relapse?

One important thing that can be done to avoid relapse is to manage stress. Stress can certainly affect the way one feels. Too much stress can eventually lead to a crisis. This is because the person's usual way of coping are now inadequate to cope and to respond satisfactorily to life stresses. That's why it's so important to find ways to keep stress at a manageable level. There are many things that can be done to relieve stress and feel better.

Managing Stress:
o   Discuss this right away with a trusted family member, friend or psychiatrist
o   Get as much emotional and physical rest as possible
o   Assess with a family member, friend or psychiatrist whether the usual ways of coping with crisis is already not helpful at this time.

Preventing Relapse

What can be done to reduce the risk of Relapse?

The best way to reduce chances of having a relapse is taking good care of oneself. There are many things that can be done to keep oneself feeling better. Here are tips from other people what say they're feeling better:

o   "I go to sleep and wake up at the same time everyday."
o   "I feel better when I eat regularly three times a day."
o   "I take a walk almost everyday."
o   "If I feel really upset, I listen to music."
o    "I met a friend with the same problem that I have, and we talk to each other everyday."
o   "I stay away from my friends who like to drink because I can really get into it when I'm with them."
o   "I now know I have to keep taking my medicine everyday because things got really bad when I stopped the last time."

Handling Relapse

What can be done in case of Relapse?

o   Notify the doctor, psychiatrist, or a mental health professional as soon as you can.
o   Attempt to decrease any known environmental stressor.
o   Minimize any changes in routine.
o   Keep the environment calm, safe, and as predictable as possible
o   Family members who are able to identify an impending relapse should discuss this with their ill relative and implement the steps to prevent it as earlier described.

Next: Schizophrenia Overview for Families or Caregivers of the Mentally Ill or Schizophrenic Person