What are relapse signatures in mental health? And why are they important?

Relapse. Ah, the dreaded word for anyone struggling with an illness. Whether that is addiction, cancer or mental illnesses. This article will be about relapses in mental illnesses. I want to start by saying although relapse is almost inevitable in certain mental illnesses it is not the end of the world, I know it feels like it. A relapse is just a jail visit, not a death sentence (weird analogy but you know it makes sense).

What are relapse signatures in mental health? Relapse signatures are the characteristic pattern of thinking and behaving that could signal the start of further episodes. Simply put relapse signatures are signs that you are relapsing back into your mental illness.

Examples of relapse signatures are: Stopping medication or not taking it regularly. Feeling tense, nervous, or hostile. Social withdrawal or isolation (not going to work) Decline in personal hygiene (not taking care of yourself) and so on.

It is important to learn about your relapse signatures so that you can further help your recovery journey. It will assist in helping prevent further depressive episodes by empowering you with the knowledge you need to know when you are slipping into a decline in your mental state. After an episode of depression, the natural tendency is to try and forget and ‘move on’.

No one ever wants to have another episode but it is best to consider what you have learnt from your experience and to consider the possibility of further episodes. Some situations or behaviors—called triggers—can lead to a relapse. Knowing your triggers can help you develop strategies to deal with them and reduce the risk of relapse. Triggers are different for everyone but can include:

1. Stopping medication or not taking medication as prescribed

2. Using drugs and/or alcohol

3. Being under stress or overwhelmed

4. Conflict in relationships

5. Illness or death of a loved one

6. Other major life changes

Here is a worksheet I found online to help you learn your relapse signatures.

Below is a list of early signs that many people have experienced.

Circle the experiences you remember that occurred before your episode, and write additional words to describe your experience more specifically.

Thoughts

Racing thoughts

Senses seem sharper

Thinking you have special powers

Thinking that you can read other people’s minds

Thinking that other people can read your mind

Receiving personal messages from the TV or radio

Having difficulty making decisions

Experiencing strange sensations

Preoccupied about 1 or 2 things

Thinking you might be somebody else

Seeing visions or things others cannot see

Thinking people are talking about you

Thinking people are against you

Having more nightmare

Having difficulty concentrating

Thinking bizarre things

Thinking your thoughts are controlled

Hearing voices

Thinking that a part of you has changed shape

Feelings

Feeling helpless or useless

Feeling afraid of going crazy

Feeling sad or low

Feeling anxious and restless

Feeling increasingly religious

Feeling like you’re being watched

Feeling isolated

Feeling tired or lacking energy

Feeling confused or puzzled

Feeling forgetful or far away

Feeling in another world

Feeling strong and powerful

Feeling unable to cope with everyday tasks

Feeling like you are being punished

Feeling like you cannot trust other people

Feeling irritable

Feeling like you do not need sleep

Feeling guilty

Behaviors

Difficulty sleeping

Speech comes out jumbled filled with odd words

Talking or smiling to yourself

Acting suspiciously as if being watched

Behaving oddly for no reason

Spending time alone

Neglecting your appearance

Acting like you are somebody else

Not seeing people

Not eating

Not leaving the house

Behaving like a child

Refusing to do simple requests

Drinking more

Smoking more

Movements are slow

Unable to sit down for long

Behaving aggressively