It can take years or decades for mental diseases to manifest; they do not progress over time. You might feel like it occurs out of nowhere. However, the truth is that mental illnesses are often genetic, or their causes are deeply rooted in our childhood. But, you only notice them when the symptoms get worse or a tipping point that makes the situation worse, such as a traumatic event.
Psychological illnesses can affect our thoughts, perception, and our way of life as well. So, it is safe to say that the recovery journey can be hard and long. However, the result will make it all worth the effort.
The Stages of Recovery
Here is a list of all the important stages you will go through during your recovery process.
Acceptance
Denial can be the biggest obstacle in recovery. So, the first step is to accept that you have an issue and decide to get help.
Getting a diagnosis and starting treatment
The next step is to get professional help. Getting a diagnosis can help you wrap your head around what is happening and might also help you identify its root cause. It is also important to remember that people suffering from mental illnesses for a long time may have comorbidities as well. And the most commonly occurring disorder, along with mental illnesses, is substance abuse disorder.
Suppose you have been using substances or alcohol to cope with your symptoms and may have developed an addiction without realizing it. In this case, you will receive a dual diagnosis. Thinking about having two illnesses at once may seem daunting. However, certain treatment centers, such as the Delphi Health Group, provide treatment for people with dual diagnoses.
Almost 50% of people suffering from mental illness also suffer from substance use. Substance abuse is a common method used by people to treat their symptoms. It can make you dependent on the particular drug resulting in a SUD.
So, it is necessary to be completely open with your mental health care provider, as this will help them find the right treatment plan for you.
Learning more about your illness
So, you have accepted your mental illness and started treatment, but you are still confused. That is completely normal. It might be hard to understand the whys and hows of mental illness. So, learning as much as possible about your mental illness is important.
Learning important information will help you play your role in the recovery process in a better way. It will help you understand the importance of each step in your treatment plan. Additionally, certain psychological disorders, such as anxiety and PTSD, have triggers. Awareness regarding your mental illness will help you avoid such triggers and teach you how to handle them effectively.
Making necessary changes
You cannot heal in the same environment that made you ill in the first place. So, making changes in your life is an important step in recovery. It can involve anything contributing to the deterioration of your mental health or coming in the way of your treatment.
It can include cutting off toxic people and relationships or avoiding maladaptive coping methods such as drinking. Instead, you can add positive things to your daily life, such as:
- Regular exercise
- Healthy diet
- Getting enough sleep
- Taking out time to relax with the help of meditation or yoga
- Spending quality time with family and friends
You can also work with your therapist to develop healthy coping methods.
Finding new meaning in life
A mental illness can take over your life. You may lose sight of who you are and stop finding pleasure in the things you used to love. However, recovering from a mental illness might help you see the positive side of life. It will help you realize how much you have been missing due to poor mental health. So, finding new meaning in life can help you leave your old life behind and build a new one.
It can help in replacing old and possibly harmful habits with positivity. You can start new interests that you previously didn’t have time for, meet new people, develop new goals, and so forth. It’s also crucial to surround oneself with positive people who encourage you to improve.
Seeing it through till the end
Yes, deciding to take control of your life and leaving your mental illness behind is an amazing and courageous act. However, the journey will not always be easy. There will be times when you might feel like giving up, the future may seem bleak, and you may feel like you’re making no progress.
You need to put in extra effort and motivate yourself in times like these. It is necessary to keep going even when you feel like giving up. Some ways to motivate yourself are:
- Create a schedule and stick with it
- Ask for help when you need it
- Communicate your issue with your therapist or loved ones
- Focus on just one thing at a time
Keep practicing what you learned
Most mental illnesses can be treated but not cured. It denotes that while treatment will help you feel better and live a better life, there is a potential that the condition will come again. However, you will learn several valuable skills during treatment that you can implement yourself.
So, it is necessary to remember and implement whatever you learned during treatment in your daily life. Implementing the techniques you learned will enable you to handle stressful situations better, improve your quality of life and decrease the chances of a relapse.
Concluding Thoughts
Recovery from a mental illness cannot happen over time. Mental health recovery follows certain steps. Each step plays a vital role in healing and helps you prepare for the next. However, it requires much effort, determination, and support from your loved ones.
No matter how hard it gets, it is necessary to remember that recovery is not impossible. It is important to know that help is always available. Several treatment centers can help you work through your recovery process. These treatment centers help people suffering from various mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and addiction.
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