After the psychosis
Reduce the likelihood of psychosis by:
This final chapter of the course "Having Psychosis for the First Time" is about exploring ways to pick up your life again and reduce the risk of another psychosis. We will look at different ways to balance your own carrying capacity and carrying burden.
The role of trauma processing
Trauma can play a role in the development of psychosis. It is important to process trauma to reduce the likelihood of a new psychosis. Trauma processing can be done in a variety of ways, such as talking to a psychologist, therapy or self-help.
Some additional points worth mentioning are:
A popular form of trauma treatment is psychotherapy, which involves talking to a trained professional about your experiences and feelings.
This is a type of therapy that combines mindfulness meditation, yoga, and education to help individuals manage stress and anxiety.
Stress sources
Stress can also play a role in the development of psychosis. It is important to recognize and avoid sources of stress. Stress sources can include, for example:
Your carrying capacity
Your coping capacity is your ability to handle stress. You can increase your carrying capacity by:
Your Carrying Load
Your carrying load is the amount of stress you have to deal with. You can reduce your carrying load by:
Early warning signs
There are often early omens that you may be experiencing psychosis. These early omens may include:
If you experience these early warning signs, it is important to contact your doctor or a psychologist.
Trauma processing after psychosis
Psychosis can be a traumatic experience. It can lead to feelings of fear, confusion and loneliness. It is important to process these experiences in order to get back to your life and reduce the chances of a new psychosis.
Trauma processing is a process in which you learn to cope with the event and its aftermath. This can be a lengthy process, and it is important to be patient with yourself.
There are different ways to process trauma. Some people find it helpful to talk with a psychologist or counselor. Others enjoy expressing their feelings through creative expressions, such as writing, painting or making music. It may also help to participate in a support group with people who have had similar experiences.
In addition to processing the traumatic experience, it is also important to pay attention to your self-care. This means taking good care of yourself, both physically and mentally. Get adequate sleep, healthy diet and regular exercise.
Also avoid excessive use of alcohol and drugs.
Here are some tips for coping with trauma after psychosis:
It is important to remember that you are not alone. There are people who can help you go through this process.
Each person's life covers different areas of life, such as living, working, learning, leisure and social contacts. In each of these areas, a person fulfills a social role, and the opportunities are very diverse. People's living situations can vary widely, from living independently to staying with parents or living in a dorm. Working conditions vary by workplace, such as paid work, number of work hours per week, type of work (physical or mental), volunteer work or a side job. Education may consist of attending regular school, participating in courses or taking part-time courses. Leisure time can be spent on membership in an association or pursuing hobbies. Social contacts can range from relationships with parents, other family members, friends, girlfriends to acquaintances. Each role brings its own specific challenges.
In Chapter 2, we saw that stress is experienced when problems arise for which there is no immediate solution at the time. Stress is further increased when insufficient time is taken to recover. It is important to discover where your tension is coming from and what your sources of stress are. Once you know this, you can begin to find ways to deal with these sources of tension. In this way, it becomes easier to learn to manage stress in the five areas of life.
Recognizing your personal sources of stress is an important step in dealing with stress effectively. This enables you to develop and apply appropriate strategies to deal with this stress. It can be helpful to experiment with different techniques, such as relaxation exercises, mindfulness, seeking social support, time management and setting realistic goals. By applying these techniques, you can learn to be resilient and deal more effectively with the challenges you face in the various areas of life.
It is important to emphasize that coping with stress is a process that takes time and practice. It may be valuable to seek professional support from a counselor or therapist, who can guide you in identifying your specific sources of stress and developing effective coping strategies. By being aware of your personal stress levels and applying appropriate techniques, you can build more resilience and find a healthy balance in the various areas of life.
A person's carrying capacity, or ability to handle stress, is influenced by several factors. This personal carrying capacity is determined by a combination of a number of factors:
Cognitive functions include intelligence, attention, concentration and memory. Sometimes these functions can be temporarily impaired, making performing certain tasks more difficult. It is important to discover what you can and cannot still do, so you can focus on that and perform the tasks that are feasible. Cognitive function disorders can also contribute to negative symptoms.
Metacognitive functions refer to higher mental processes that play a role in creating and maintaining beliefs that can lead to suspicion. Rushing to conclusions, relying on faulty memories and having difficulty understanding the thoughts and feelings of others can contribute to suspicion. Adhering to fabricated explanations and ignoring contradictory information can exacerbate suspicion, leading to increased psychological suffering.
A person's character affects how he or she responds to stressful situations. Some people are naturally better at coping than others. Although character cannot change completely, therapy and counseling can help adjust certain aspects of character.
Good physical fitness contributes to resilience to stress. For example, if you have a headache, are ill, or are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, this can reduce your responsiveness. Psychological problems take up a lot of time and energy, reducing your carrying capacity.
Constant money worries can take up a lot of time and distract from other things. If you are constantly struggling to pay rent, utility bills and other expenses, it can affect your ability to cope with stress. Financial stability can help outsource daily worries and create space for other aspects of life.
Unprocessed traumatic experiences from the past can demand a lot of attention and cause less time to deal with current problems. In contrast, positive past experiences can help develop resilience in dealing with current challenges.
Experiencing support from family, friends and acquaintances and exchanging thoughts with them about problem solving can increase personal carrying capacity. Asking for help in solving specific problems can also help strengthen resilience.
Understanding these factors that influence carrying capacity can help one work more specifically to strengthen resilience and deal effectively with stressful situations. It is important to remember that carrying capacity is a dynamic aspect and can change throughout life.
In the context of psychosis, the concept of burden refers to the set of tasks and obligations that an individual carries on his or her shoulders. Each person's personal burden is determined by the specific activities and responsibilities they have in their lives. These activities and responsibilities typically fall into several key areas:
This includes daily tasks related to managing one's living environment, such as household chores, personal care, and caring for family responsibilities.
Work includes the responsibilities and demands associated with one's job or profession. This may include meeting deadlines, completing challenging tasks, and maintaining a work-life balance.
Educational pursuits and related responsibilities, such as attending classes, completing assignments and studying, also contribute to an individual's strain.
Interacting with others, maintaining relationships and fulfilling social obligations add to the burden. This may include spending time with family and friends, attending social events, and participating in community activities.
The burden in this context refers to the activities and responsibilities associated with leisure, hobbies and personal interests. It includes finding time to relax, taking part in recreational activities and engaging in self-care practices.
In each of these areas, an individual assesses how much of a burden they are carrying in relation to their ability to carry it. The choices a person makes in each area depend on their abilities, limitations, wants and needs. However, it is essential that the total stress and demands of their lifestyle do not exceed their carrying capacity.
By recognising and understanding the balance between stress and resilience, individuals can strive to maintain a sustainable and healthy lifestyle. Effective management of these factors is particularly important for people with psychosis, as excessive strain or overwhelming stress can potentially exacerbate symptoms and affect overall well-being.
Remember that finding a balance and seeking support from healthcare professionals, therapists and support networks can help to manage distress and maintain mental wellbeing.
Maintaining the balance between carrying capacity and carrying load, so to speak, is the same as a scale.
Early warning signs of psychosis
Early omens, also called early warning signs, are certain symptoms that may indicate a relapse or new psychosis. It is a signal that psychosis is approaching but not yet inevitable. With adequate coping and possible adjustments in antipsychotic medication, a relapse can still be prevented.
Why early warning signs are important
An important goal of psychosis treatment is to prevent relapses. One way to achieve this is to avoid or properly manage too much stress. It is important to maintain a balance between burden and carrying capacity.
How to recognize early warning signs
Not every time you deal with too much stress results in a new psychosis. To monitor this yourself, it is important to know what your early omens are. These early omens can vary from person to person, but they can include:
What to do about early warning signs
When you experience one or more of these early omens, it is important to take action quickly. You can do this by:
Conclusion
Early omens are an important signal that a relapse or new psychosis may be imminent. By recognizing these early omens and taking timely action, you can help prevent a relapse.
It's important to maintain open communication with a healthcare professional and make any necessary adjustments to medication or lifestyle. Self-awareness and proactive measures are key in managing psychosis.
It's important to emphasize that psychosis can be very frightening for someone experiencing it, and that seeking professional help is crucial.
The way we talk to ourselves and the thoughts we have can greatly impact our experience of psychosis. It's important to be kind and supportive to ourselves during this time and to try to focus on reality as much as possible.