The Importance of Rest with Schizophrenia

For a long time, I figured that I could just go about my life like a "normal" person and that I'd have the same energy levels as my fellow humans without a diagnosis of schizophrenia. That I could just go-go-go and do-do-do like a person who's not diagnosed with with a major brain disorder.  

That was definitely an error on my part! Despite my best efforts to keep going with a regular schedule and a constant flow of energy, there are times when I just need to take a break and rest.

Schizophrenia symptoms are exhausting

When we deal with symptoms, especially symptoms of schizophrenia (whether they be positive or negative symptoms), they tend to take a lot out of us. They take a lot out of us mentally, physically, and emotionally. Dealing with this can be harder than one would expect, and the toll can create further symptoms thereby compounding the problem and making the level of tiredness and exhaustion even worse.

It's important that we realize that we need time to rest and rejuvenate ourselves regularly and have rest be an important part of our self-care.

Adjusting to a medication change

Recently, I had a med reduction because I'm actually doing so well right now. But as my body adjusts to a lower dose, I had some auditory hallucinations last night. They weren't bothersome or scary. I've had them many times before and I know that they are part of my symptom package.

I dealt with them till I drifted off to sleep, and in the morning, I felt absolutely fine. But I was tired! Symptoms tax our bodies and our minds.

My body and my mind need rest

I ended up sleeping about 11 hours and then I got up, went about my structured morning routine, and promptly went back to bed for a few hours. It, without a doubt, thwarted my plans of going to the gym, being productive, and having a busy start to the weekend. But my body said, "Woah. Slow down. Not so fast there, lady! You need some rest."

After a period of being particularly symptomatic, our bodies are going to feel tired because they are working so hard to try and create some kind of stasis, some kind of balance. When we are symptomatic, it's like our bodies are in overdrive and we have to fight so hard with all our extra energy and resources to try and just maintain.

Schizophrenia symptoms and low energy

I know that when I have a lot going on in my head, it definitely takes a toll on my energy levels. It's hard to imagine that you'd be full of energy after going through symptoms that challenge our own reality.

Also, I don't want to minimize the importance the level of energy that it takes to just to live without symptoms everyday and still live with schizophrenia. Just existing with a brain that works a little differently is no small feat. I know that for me, my brain is constantly "on." There is very little down time that my head is not churning out thoughts, ideas, or just feeling and emotions.

Give yourself a break. We need time to breathe.

Proactively resting to avoid episode

For me, I work full-time at a job I love, I take care of an aging parent, I'm a cat mom, a friend, and I try to take care of myself and give myself the time I need to exercise, meditate, do yoga, and whatever else feeds me on a daily basis. That's a lot! Then to have serious mental health symptoms on top of all that? It exhausts me just to think about it.

I think the most important thing I'm trying to say is simply this: we need rest. More than others. And there should be no guilt or question about needing to take breaks. If we constantly push ourselves to keep going, when we are well or symptomatic... Well, that's a recipe for a major episode to happen.

Be gentle with yourself

We need to be gentle with ourselves and give ourselves grace to rest and recoup and get our energy back to deal with our daily fight to keep ourselves in a good place. It's perfectly fine to have days where you don't do anything but take it easy. This helps us be better equipped to deal with what we deal with everyday.