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It’s not easy to recover from a mental health episode. Though these cycles are very common, even when you know you have a condition, they can take you by surprise. Understanding your triggers and creating an action plan for the episode will help you to move through the situation more quickly and return to better health.  

Let’s explore ways you can combat a mental health episode and how to respond to one in the right way.

Mental health can be delicate, and some people trigger easily; if this happens to you, it’s important to maintain composure and find some recovery strategies.  

Key Takeaways: Mental Health Recovery 

• Support networks are important for recovery; these include friends, family, and partner(s) 
• Mental abuse comes in many forms and can be devastating; always seek some help 
• Improve your diet, exercise, and sleeping habits to help you bounce back more quickly from an episode
• Starting a mindfulness practice can create more emotional resilience in your lifestyle  

Supportive Networks 

Whether you have recently experienced some psychosis or you have a chronic condition like depression or anxiety that comes and goes, you need a support network to lean on when you need them. For some people, this means family members, but for others, it is peer support. Find out more about available supporting networks and how they can contribute to your wellness.   

Friends and Family 

Friends and family can be a help or a hindrance as you recover from a mental health episode. If you are close to your friends and family and they understand what you are going through, they will be ready to listen to you when you need them and help you through the roughest episodes. 

Sometimes friends and family are willing to help you through a crisis, but they might not understand what you are going through. Find a suitable time and place to talk to your family about your mental health, and practice what you want to say to help them to help you more.    

Online Therapy 

In the event that your family and friends are not able to help you recover from a mental health episode for some reason, there are other modes of help, including online therapy. In the past, conventional therapy was the only way to find the help you need, but now you can access suitable therapists online using a smartphone app. BetterHelp is one of the most accessible therapy apps around. 

It’s also possible that you will need a supplementary approach to therapy, especially if there has been deep-seated anxiety stemming from ADHD. Approaches such as  neurofeedback therapy, which teaches the approach of self-regulation by providing live visualizations of neural activity, which can give everyone a greater understanding of the physiological reactions of their brains. 

Peer Support 

There is a lot of stigma around mental health, making it harder to find the right help and support for your recovery process. The good news is that peer support networks are avoidable and offer an excellent way to connect with people that have had the same experiences and understand. 

Peer Support groups are available online or in a physical setting in the local area. Peer support groups tend to be very focused; some of them will focus on schizophrenia, while others will deal with depression and anxiety. You are sure to find the support you need to bounce back faster.   

Recognize Triggers 

Triggers are internal or external events that induce a mental health crisis of some kind. These mental health episodes range from mild to severe, and they can be dangerous in some situations. After you have worked through an episode and returned to a sense of normality, you can think about the triggering event and look for ways to avoid or adapt to the triggering event.  

Life Events 

A common triggering event for most people is a life event, this could be a change in circumstances that isn’t within your control, or it could be something you have chosen but are struggling to adapt to. Life events can be anxiety-inducing, but they are often necessary. 

If you know that a life event will trigger a mental health episode, you can train yourself to work skillfully with the changes. Starting a mindfulness practice can help you to navigate a life situation and build up the emotional resilience you need to weather the event and bounce back.   

Mood Changes 

Sometimes an external event can trigger a sudden shift in mood that can create a mental health episode. One common trigger is mental health abuse that can come in the form of humiliation and criticism, name-calling, character attacks, and more. If you experience mental abuse it’s important to seek help right away. Help can mean leaving the situation or talking to someone.   

Better Diet 

What you eat can have an impact on your mental health, and in some cases, it can trigger a mental health episode. We are learning now how great a connection their is between gut health and brain health. Unfortunately, poor mental health causes you to eat poorly and eating poorly cause some mental health issues.  

If you notice changes to your physical health or the condition of your skin, it could be an indication that your diet needs to be improved. Along with the physical changes, a poor diet will affect your mental wellness. Switch to a healthier diet and notice the benefits of the switch.   

Sleep Habits 

Sleep and mental health are two factors that go hand-in-hand. When you don’t sleep well, you are tired throughout the day, and you don’t have the resources to handle everyday triggers. So, if you want to look after your mental health, make sure you pay attention to your sleeping habits.  

If you don’t sleep well, there are a few things you can try; you can exercise during the day so you are more tired in the evening, and you can also stay up later until you are tired and avoid using the blue screen close to bedtime. Also, try some sleep-friendly teas like valerian root.  

Learn to Relax 

Relaxing can be tough when you are trying to recover from a mental health episode, your adrenaline is high, and cortisol is running through your system, shutting down most of the higher mental functions. However, there are some effective ways to manage your stress in the middle of a crisis and bounce back when it comes to an end.

Stress Management 

One of the best ways to manage stress on a daily basis and during and mental health crisis is with mindfulness training. Mindfulness training helps you gain more control over mental processes so you can avoid triggers and bounce back from a crisis with control and success.  

Relaxation Techniques 

Mindfulness also offers some effective relaxation techniques that can be practiced on a formal or informal basis. Whether you are in the middle of a mental health crisis or you expect on to occur in the near future, you can always focus on your breathing and emotions in the body. 

Crisis Planning 

Understand Triggers 

Crisis planning is crucial if you want to control your mental health crisis and bounce back faster. Crisis management also helps your family, friends, and partner(s) to help you through the crisis with more success. Always create a crisis plan by using telling people how to handle you best.

Inform Loved Ones 

Loved ones are the best people to turn to during a mental health crisis, so make sure they know what to expect and how to handle you when you are at your worst. Chances are, your loved ones will be sympathetic and willing to help you as well as them to work through a rough patch.  

Bounce back faster from a mental health episode by learning some resilience strategies, such as mindfulness, and setting up a support network ahead of time, so your friends and family understand what you’re going through and how to respond to you in the best possible way.

Final Thoughts

As you recover from a mental health episode its important to keep track of the tools and resources that helped you move through this time. If and when you face another mental health challenge in the future you will be able to quickly tap into the resources that helped you before.