Part of mental health self-care involves identifying potential triggers and avoiding them or, at the very least, preparing for the impact they may have on your life. Those of us who have a mental illness have a harder time adjusting to life changes: relationships, starting a new job or losing an existing one, changing locations, the loss of a loved one. It is ironic, but positive life changes can also have an adverse influence on mood. It’s hard to find balance among all of the different cards that life deals us, but it’s crucial to be able to distinguish circumstantial stress from signs and symptoms of relapse.
Reactions to Stress
I initially wrote this title as “Normal Reactions to Life Stress” but quickly realized that there is not a normal reaction, just a healthy one, rather, one that does not grind your life to a complete halt. Let’s use the example of the end of a long-term relationship. This is, in my experience, one of the most difficult changes we all face at some point in our lives (unless you reside in, say, the 0.1% of people who fall in love once and stay in love).
If you struggle with a mental illness, sudden changes can cause symptoms that resemble those of relapse. Anxiety can make you believe you are becoming sick. Depression, despite the circumstance, can instill fear of relapse. This fear causes more stress and the cycle is damaging. When you experience a life change, such as the end of a relationship, it is necessary to understand that the symptoms you are experience are not always related to relapse. They are human and they hurt.
Recognizing the Signs of Mental Health Relapse
- A state of constant anxiety: to be more specific, anxiety is a feeling everyone experiences but if it is consistent it’s time to check in with your doctor.
- Sleep disturbance: this is usually a sign that something might be a little off.
- Changes in appetite: Increased appetite or decreased appetite can signal that something might be a little off.
- Difficulty communicating with others: a desire to spend more time alone.
- Agitation: this symptom, along with anxiety, is something that frightens me but letsme know it’s time to check in with my mental health care team.
The list is extensive, but if you can understand what symptoms are signs of mood change and which are positive reactions to a negative or positive life change, change is not so scary. Educate yourself on your illness.
Positive and Negative Life Experiences Can Create High Anxiety
It is vital to distinguish healthy reactions to stress and those that indicate a possible mental health relapse.
Let’s look at a couple examples:
The stress of moving: I moved a few months ago. It was stress-free at first, packing boxes and thinking of my new home, exciting. But closer to the date, my anxiety kicked in. I started thinking about living in an unfamiliar area, living in an unfamiliar home. I found myself crying a few times. Ridiculous, perhaps, but the stress of a significant change always affects me.
I feared I was relapsing and constantly asked my partner if I was acting “weird” (this being my word for possible relapse) and he assured me that no, I was just experiencing stress. Four months later, I can recognize that it was just stress. But I did check in with my doctor, and you should too, if you experience anxiety surrounding changes.
Positive changes can generate as much stress as negative life changes. Most people are nervous when starting a new job because this involves learning new skills and meeting new people. Apprehension is a healthy reaction and usually abates once you have become comfortable in the new position. Confident that you can do the job effectively. A negative reaction, something to watch out for, might include consistent anxiety, depression, and a feeling of worthlessness. This is when you make an appointment with your doctor. Ask those closest to you to give you feedback on your mood.
Life involves stress. No secret there. There is not a person on this earth who can tell you they have never felt some sort of stress. If they do, they are certainly lying. But it is important to educate yourself on a healthy response to stress and one that might indicate you need to check in with your doctor and support team.
I know stress and this couldn’t have come at a better time. My husband who is 39 years old was just diagnosed with colon cancer. I don’t know if I’m relapsing or if it is the stress, but I am very down and sleeping a lot (when I can). I have told my psychiatrist and therapist so they think it is the situation, but I am still unsure. I guess time will tell.
Michele
I find that it is hard to tell the difference between what is my illness and what is normal situations in life that one responds too. Personally I hate my life. My sweetheart has gone through a total breakdown. I was homeless and without an ability to get on my feet.
I didn’t have any highs just debilitating depression. Everything hits me hard. I feel like normal life events take me to a place that I find difficult to understand. I can understand if it hard for you. I know I need a lot of support from my partner and if something should take that away I would slip slowly without a lot of help.
Hi, M-spirit:
Thank you for your comment. Being able to separate life stress from relapse is always difficult and it can be helpful to write down our symptoms–the ones that appear when you have a healthy reaction to stress and those that appear when you might be experience symptoms of a relapse. We are so lucky to have a supporting partner.
Sincerely,
Natalie
this is a great article.i will try to look out for this slight difference.
Thank you Michael! I am glad you can relate:)
Natalie
I have 2 kids a husband and 2 dogs! That says it all but there is more; I have a health phobia and in stressful times it is worse. I have gotten much better with everything but taking medical tests. This is a stressful time because my daughter is in marching band( big commitment) and 13 year old son in basketball. I have tons of responsibility,
Hi, Cheri:
I also struggle with health phobia. Aka a cold is pneumonia. The list goes on. Certainly adds to the stress!
Thank you for commenting,
Natalie
Is there anything that you have tried that works well. We can share some strategy!
Cher,
In regards to stress–coping mechanisms are different for us all. But I try to think positively, hard I know, and do the things that should come easily aka sleep, diet, exercise. Also trying to connect with people–hard sometimes! Also, trying something new, artistic—I try to pick up a hobby.
Please share your experience
I have Bipolar-d Disorder and If I feel overly anxious, it’s usually fear that has come ino me. I keep busy and definitely exercise, that definitely helps!
Hi, Beth
I agree–keeping busy helps! Even if we don’t want to!
Thanks for the comment,
Natalie
I need to see and understand the difference. Also ways to cope with stress. A relapse? I am terrified of it. What to do?
Hi, Matthew:
It can be really hard to separate life stress from relapse. I have written some posts that might help:
Mental Illness and Stress
Reconciling With Relapse
Putting Mental Illness in Perspective
I hope that helps Matthew. Check out our other bloggers as it’s a shared feeling!
Thanks for the comment,
Natalie
After reading this wonderful article, I apprehend that stress, as hurtful life experience, present an adjustment daily disorder, that extend a short time after any circumstance change event. While, mental disorder indicates a constant emotional, cognitive and conduct disturbances, that should treated from adequate psychiatric intervention. Otherwise, they would have a worse course, with frequent relapses and many unbecoming complications. In terms of separating life stress experiences from relapses of mental illness, I may say that this issue is often confounded in real life, even Your four observations serves as useful recommendation. Furthermore, when it is well-known fact that many relapses befalls suddenly after life changes, either positive or negative ones. On the other side, mentally ill persons are sensitive subject that react in vigorous manner to unexpected life events. These and others features of stress and relapses of mental diseases constitutes an unsolved clew, that seek a careful attitude, as from psychiatric patient view such from psychiatrist country side.