Staying on the Path to Mental Wellness: How to Prevent a Recurrence of Symptoms

Taking care of your mental health is not always a linear process. You may have phases where your mental health symptoms improve but then experience a recurrence later. The most important thing to remember about symptom recurrence is that your mental health care is a lifelong journey, and there are ways to get help when you need it.

“Prevention is key when caring for your mental health,” said Alexis Totaro, MSN, RN, WHNP-c, CARN-AP, Vice President and Administrator of Mental Health Services – Chief Nurse Executive. “Recurrence of symptoms can be common, so being proactive about your mental health care and continuing with your treatment is essential. Promptly addressing recurring symptoms will help you get back on the track to mental wellness.”

What Happens When Mental Health Symptoms Reoccur?

Many individuals experience a reemergence of acute symptoms of a previously diagnosed mental health condition after a period of improvement. While this doesn’t necessarily mean that you are back where you started, it does mean that intervention and further treatment, possibly more or less intensive than before, will be necessary.

Mental health symptom recurrence may occur gradually or suddenly. It may be triggered by a certain event or for no specific reason at all. You may experience similar or different symptoms to those you have experienced previously. Not everyone experiences symptom recurrence the same way. However, there are ways to try to prevent a recurrence by staying consistent with your recommended treatment, avoiding your triggers, and remembering to prioritize your mental wellness.

Examples of Symptom Recurrence

• Experiencing changes in mood
• Having trouble focusing or being productive at work or school
• Struggling to maintain healthy relationships
• Feeling more nervous, irritable, or angry than usual
• Withdrawing or losing interest in things you used to enjoy
• Engaging in risky behavior
• Neglecting self-care
• Experiencing changes in eating and/or sleeping habits
• Becoming fixated on irrational fears or things out of your control

Common Triggers of Mental Health Symptom Recurrence

Symptom recurrence may occur because of a variety of factors, including:

• Not taking your medication as prescribed: For many people with mental health issues, medication is an important part of their treatment. Suddenly stopping your medication or changing your dose without the advice of your doctor can cause symptoms to reemerge, or trigger new symptoms to arise.
• Using drugs or alcohol: Drinking alcohol or using drugs can negatively affect your mental health, especially if you are taking medication. If you begin to drink or use drugs, you may trigger or worsen symptoms of your mental health issue. Alcohol may exacerbate symptoms of anxiety and depression, and many drugs can cause erratic moods, hallucinations, or intense emotions.
• Coping with financial worries: Financial woes can make it difficult to stick to your treatment, whether that means therapy sessions or medication. Connecting with free or low-cost mental health support services, leaning on loved ones, or using exercise to burn off stress and boost your mood can help.
• Getting poor sleep: A good night’s rest is crucial to physical and mental health. If you’re going through a stressful life experience, you may suffer from sleep disturbances, erratic sleep patterns, or insufficient sleep, which can trigger your mental health issue.
• Not prioritizing your physical or mental health: When you’re on the road to recovery, you will likely be forming new healthy habits – whether that be talk therapy, medication, or lifestyle changes. However, if you stop making your treatment plan a priority or think an improvement in your symptoms means you no longer need it, your symptoms may return.
• Not having a strong support system: Having the support of loved ones is helpful when experiencing mental health struggles. If you don’t have a strong support system around when life gets challenging, symptoms that previously improved may recur.
• Experiencing a major life change: Life is unpredictable – your mental health may go through many ups and downs based on factors outside your control. Traumatic events, such as a divorce, the death of a loved one, or the loss of a job, can have a significant effect on mental health.

How to Prevent Mental Health Symptom Recurrence

If your symptoms return, it’s important to address them quickly to prevent them from worsening. Luckily, there are many ways to prevent a mental health symptom recurrence or effectively treat it if it occurs.

Keep up with your treatment plan: Your mental health care professional may recommend medication, talk therapy, or various lifestyle changes. You may learn effective coping methods to deal with your mental health symptoms, such as using exercise to relieve stress and combat anxiety.

Practice healthy habits: Eating well, getting enough sleep, regularly exercising, and staying hydrated are all important parts of physical health – and mental health, too! Maintain a regular sleep schedule, make an effort to eat balanced and nutritious meals, join a gym or a yoga class, and avoid overindulging in alcohol. If you feel your best physically, chances are your mood will match.

Reach out for support: Dealing with mental health issues can feel incredibly lonely. You may feel as if no one understands or fear being judged for talking about your mental health. That’s why group therapy can be so effective – it gives you the opportunity to share your experience with others who are going through something similar and realize that you are not alone.

Engage in self-care regularly: Stress and burnout are huge mental health triggers, and making time for the things you love is a great way to combat them. Try to take time each day to do something that relaxes you or brings you joy, such as writing in a journal, gardening, or painting.

Prioritize your needs: Many of us struggle to put our needs first and worry often about the needs of others instead. It’s not selfish to prioritize yourself, set healthy boundaries in your relationships, and avoid things that are outside of your comfort zone.

Mental Health Support at Christian Health

Our comprehensive mental health continuum provides compassionate care for a variety of mental health issues in a nonjudgmental, supportive environment. No matter where you are on your mental health journey, we can help you get better and feel happier.

LiveWell Counseling: LiveWell is an outpatient counseling center that provides assessment, medication management, one-on-one talk therapy, group therapy, and family therapy services to those with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, or trauma. To learn more, please call (201) 848-5800 or visit ChristianHealthNJ.info/LiveWell.

Gracepoint: Gracepoint is a partial-hospitalization and intensive outpatient program that offers a structured, supportive environment for individuals with mental health issues that are severely affecting their daily life. Group therapy sessions, expressive therapy, and education on healthy coping methods help clients manage their symptoms and get back to mental wellness. To learn more, please call (201) 848-4435 or visit ChristianHealthNJ.info/Gracepoint.

Ramapo Ridge Behavioral Health: Ramapo Ridge provides loving, compassionate care to those living with a mental health issue in an inpatient environment. We strive to cultivate a supportive atmosphere that fosters calmness, security, and emotional wellness for every individual in our care. To learn more, please call (201) 848-5500 or visit ChristianHealthNJ.info/RamapoRidge.