Relapse occurs when there is a return of symptoms. Typically, the symptoms return gradually and don’t just come on “all of a sudden” or completely out of the blue. It doesn’t mean that the treatment didn’t work, but sometimes stressful things can occur that cause a bit of a setback or return to old ways. Identifying, in advance, signs that you might be falling back into a depression or anxiety disorder can help you take action before things get too bad.
If you’re feeling better, you might think it’s silly to spend time on preparing for a possible period in the future when you may not feel as well. You might even be saying, “I’m never going to feel that low or bad again,” and it is our sincere hope that you don’t. In some ways, this hope makes it all the more important to think about things that might be an indication that a bout of anxiety or depression is on the horizon. The thinking is that the sooner you notice it coming, the sooner you can revisit the skills you learned here and prevent any symptoms from getting worse, so that you never feel so depressed or anxious again.
Signs of relapse can differ from person to person, making it important to think what they might be for you. Some common ones that people identify include:
- Having difficulties with sleep
- Withdrawing from people
- Not engaging in your usual activities
- Snapping at people or being more irritable
- Feeling generally more stressed
Signs of relapse do not mean that you will definitely, 100%, have another depressive episode or a full bout of anxiety. They are just signs to tune in and revisit some of things that help you do all the things that you want to do. Remember, taking care of yourself is the best way to make sure you can live your life to the fullest. It’s definitely worthwhile to spend the time eating well, sleeping, exercising, or taking a moment, however you do that, to de-stress when things get busy or hectic, as they always do.