Managing the Wellness Journey
For the last 18 years, I've worked with my treatment team to control symptoms. For me, maintaining wellness looks like a steady routine of consistently keeping doctor appointments, participating in my therapy, and practicing stress reduction techniques.
Managing wellness with schizophrenia
When I was diagnosed, my doctor recommended 2 strategies to keeping the symptoms at bay and to live a quality life. He encouraged me to: 1) take my medication; and 2) control my stress. Sounds simple, right?
However, daily stressors such as money management, family life and relationships, and mood swings – a part of my diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder – are challenging. While these stressors can be overwhelming, there are ways to overcome the barriers.
Seeing the doctor regularly
For example, keeping doctor appointments. I've learned how this is a way of life. It is a must in order to reduce running out of medication, managing any side effects, and tackling symptom flare-ups.
Regular doctor check ups continues to anchor my stability and helps me stay balanced through the whirlwinds of small and large setbacks.
Medication management for schizophrenia
Trusting my psychiatrist has been the cornerstone to finding an effective treatment "cocktail" to help me stay balanced. Changing medications and adding new ones is a part of this healthy cycle.
Initially, this was a struggle for me. After the fight with my doctor to let him be the doctor, I've learned the benefits of consistently seeing positive results at his recommendations. Now tweaking my medications is helpful avenue that stays on an upward swing for us.
Therapy for mental wellness
My treatment team also includes a therapist. Whenever I feel my stressors are starting to win the war, I reach out for help. I increase my therapy sessions if needed.
Therapy is an effective method to managing stressors. This approach maximizes practical coping tools, stress management techniques, and problem-solving strategies to winning the war on a wide range of signs and symptoms. Therapy empowers me to tackle the problems of negative self-talk, anxiety, depression, and restlessness, among other symptoms.
Identifying stressful triggers
My therapist and I strive to accomplish my treatment goals and to lower the pressures of life events and problems in my relationships, which could have an impact on my stability. I recycle my coping tools like relaxation techniques – trying to soothe the things that are within my control.
For example, in the past, I would get anxious if I made a mistake like sending an email to a group of people that was meant for an individual. I felt self-doubt, pressure, and discomfort. Once I identified my trigger and the negative self-talk that ensued, I reflected on how I might redirect my reactions to settle my internal storm. I tried everything!
Tactics for calming the internal storm
I lit a candle that represents peace, searched for approaches to controlling anxiety online, spoke with a loved one, and finally released all my worries into my writing. I let the fears go... What's the worse that could happen?
Yes, maybe my email mistake was embarrassing. But it wasn't a personal flaw or a fatal mistake. As I wrote out my fears and worry, it quieted the noise in my mind.
Positive self-talk
I also try to actively shift my mindset and mood. For example, I applaud myself for completing small and large tasks.
I keep what I call a "Realistic Journal" that is a list of accomplished tasks for that day. Hygiene, check. Eat a snack, rest, take a nap, and recite affirmations with my higher power, check, check, check, check!
Other wellness activities I carry out is meditating on nature sounds, walking, and listening to motivational talks. And I recycle those habits that make me feel empowered and ready to charge ahead and conquer the day.
Maintaining wellness in schizophrenia recovery
After years of living in recovery I still follow my doctor's 2 top recommendations to take my medication and control my stress levels. I've learned these practices are the seeds to planting my wellness and helping it flourish.
And while I might fall one day, I understand I can get back up the next. I hope you will consider my experience to conquer your storms and have an advantage on your war against the symptoms of mental health and stressors.