ࡱ> VXUq` DbjbjqPqP .X::<dddddddx    ,Lx6jtprV,$h<ddd ddaddh p\!  y06D DDd, 6xxx< xxx< xxxdddddd  Understanding recovery From A Breakdown I've had a breakdown will I ever get back to normal? A breakdown of your mental heath can be a shattering experience, but the good news is that most people do recover. Everyone's experience of breaking down is individual. Some people use mental health services during a breakdown, while others cope with their problems alone or within their circle of family or friends. In the same way, each person's needs for recovery after a breakdown are different. There is no correct path to recovery that will suit everyone. However, some of the information and ideas here may be useful to you. Diagnosis The term 'nervous breakdown' is generally understood to mean a state in which someone becomes unable to cope with everyday life, perhaps following a particular trauma or, perhaps, apparently out of the blue. There are many different forms. If you saw a GP or psychiatrist during your breakdown, you may have been diagnosed as having some form of mental illness. For some people, this can feel reassuring, as it enables them to find out what has been written about that illness and to join organisations or support groups for people with the same diagnosis. Others feel that being given a 'label' makes them less optimistic about their future. Some are told that they will have this problem for life. Don't be put off by negative opinions from others, even if they are professionals. Nobody can predict your future, and most people can recover, whatever their diagnosis. How can I start to regain my confidence? There are many different paths you might take, and you need to find what is right for you. While some people find that getting back as quickly as possible to their normal routine is the best way forward, others find this impossible and need to take things very slowly. Some people decide that they want to rethink their lives and take a new direction. "At first, my goal was to get up and get my son to school, then it was to do a cleaning job, then on to voluntary work, then a part-time job. Now, I work full-time, but it's flexible, so I can work from home, if I need to, and have a day off if I don't feel well." You may find it hard to motivate yourself to do anything at the moment; or you may be pushing yourself too hard to get back to 'normal'. Now is the time to think carefully about how to achieve the right balance between stress and inactivity. Here are some tips, which others have found valuable. Be kind to yourself Recovery is rarely a smooth path. If you have a bad day, try to think what you would wish for someone you care about, who felt the way you do, and treat yourself the same way. Don't condemn yourself or feel a failure, just think about what you can learn from what has happened and continue to plan for the future. Watch out for perfectionism, and try to be realistic set goals that you can achieve. Do something physical "I have found gardening brilliant there's the manual side (working off excess nervousness), the out-in-nature bit, meeting the other gardeners and, of course, producing some goods." Tension can accumulate if we are inactive. A regular exercise programme can help. Try aerobics, walking, jogging, dancing, swimming, yoga or an outdoor activity, such as gardening or fishing. Reduce your stress level If you tend to put too much pressure on yourself, learn to slow things down. Develop a realistic schedule of daily activities that includes time for work, sleep, relationships and fun. Pace yourself and take mini-breaks. The following simple routine can help. Sit down and get comfortable; slowly, take a deep breath in, hold it, and then exhale very gently. At the same time, let your shoulder muscles droop, smile, and say something positive such as, 'I am r-e-l-a-x-e-d'. Use a daily 'things to do' list. Find a form of regular relaxation that you enjoy, such as taking a quiet stroll, soaking in a hot bath, watching the sun set, or listening to calming music. Create a quiet and restful corner in your house, where you can sit comfortably to read or meditate. Be sure to get sufficient rest at night. A messy environment can add to stress, so try to keep things tidy, clean and comfortable. Healthier living helps. What you eat and drink can have an effect on your mood. Excessive caffeine and sugar increase nervousness. Over-use of alcohol and tobacco won't help either, though it may not be the best time to try to give up smoking. Try to eat simple, natural foods, such as brown rice or other whole grains, fruit and vegetables, rather than 'junk' food. Find your own coping strategy "What is most important for me has been learning to understand how stress affects me, and also getting to grips with the triggers which cause my relapses." Many people have found that they can help themselves recover by getting to know more about their problems and creating a personal strategy to overcome them. One helpful technique is to keep a mood diary. This enable you to keep track of changes in emotions, to learn what triggers them and what helps most. It can also help to note down improvements and changes you would like to make. "The course of each person's life after breakdown is very different. I find the standard health promotion stuff exercise, diet, relaxation a little too 'worthy' perhaps." What works for one person does not necessarily work for another. Try different things, and don't accept others' ideas if they don't suit you. You could express your feelings in drawing, painting, music or writing. Many people find that it's easier to express feelings in a poem, which can be as structured or free-flowing as you like. It's just for you; you don't have to share it with anyone else. There may be a class, where you can learn a new creative skill. An important part of recovering from a breakdown, for many people, is to find a meaning in what has happened. Meditation of some kind can help with this, and reading inspirational books has been of value to many. If you belong to a faith community, this is the time to ask for help and advice from your minister or from other members of your religious community. Different cultures and religious groups have different understandings of a mental breakdown and you may find help and support within your particular spiritual tradition and community. Explore complementary therapies Many have found help for their recovery from a wide range of complementary therapies. Therapies that have been found useful for recovering from a breakdown include aromatherapy, reflexology, massage, spiritual healing, herbal medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, shiatsu, colour therapy, crystal healing and Bach flower remedies. Some of these therapies can be used for your own self-help. How can I rebuild my relationships? Relationships may have been under strain during your breakdown. Apologise for any hurts you may have caused others, and try to forgive and let go of any hurts others may have caused you. Then let time do the healing. Think through whether a problem you are having with another person is really your problem or theirs. If it is yours, deal with it calmly and firmly; if it's theirs, there's not much you can do. "The social exclusion is the toughest part. Learning to like yourself is the first step towards getting the most from other people and yourself. Everyone is different, but we all need a bit of love and kindness sometimes, to get by." If you have friends or family who understand you, try to enlist their support for your recovery. A regular, friendly chat with someone, however brief, can be important healing medicine. You may sometimes find it easier to talk to someone who is not involved with your life and who does not expect support from you in return. A counsellor or therapist can help you see things in a different light (see Talking treatments, below). You have a right to feel good about yourself, rather than worrying about other people's attitudes to you. Nobody will be able to help you with all your needs. You need to find out who you can turn to for certain things. Helping others (when you feel able to do this) can take your mind off your own difficulties and remind you that you, too, have something to offer. If your living or working situation has contributed to your breakdown (a stressful relationship, problems with work or unsuitable housing, for instance) consider whether anything needs to change. However, try to put major changes on hold until you have had plenty of time to think and talk it over with someone not involved in your daily life, such as a counsellor. What sort of help can I get? Care planning If you have been in contact with specialist mental health services during your breakdown, you should have been provided with a care plan, under the Care Programme Approach (CPA). Your care plan should be written down and you should have a copy. If a family member or friend is caring for you, they should also be involved in creating it. The plan should specify what help you can expect from health services and from social services. If you don't have one, or you're unhappy with it, contact your local mental health advocacy project, Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), or Mind. Your GP can refer you to the local community mental health team (CMHT) for an initial assessment of your needs. This is a multidisciplinary team made up from health and social services professionals, including a psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker, occupational therapist, counsellor or community support worker. While they all have individual professional responsibilities, they are jointly responsible for supporting people with mental health problems, and their carers, in the community. Your local social services and voluntary agencies usually operate a range of services, including housing services, community centres for service-users and carers, welfare rights advice and employment schemes. They also provide practical support, which may include access to meals-on-wheels, laundry services, counselling, home helps and befriending schemes. Social services can make their own assessment of your needs, and those of your carer, if asked. You can also approach voluntary organisations, such as local Mind associations, directly yourself. (For more information about community care services, consult the Mind website, whose details appear under Useful organisations, further down.) Talking treatments Some GP practices have a counselling service available or can refer you to a local counsellor. Counselling usually takes place once a week, and focuses on helping you find better solutions to your problems. Psychotherapy is sometimes available on the NHS. It is more intensive, and tends to look deeper into the underlying causes of difficulties. You may be referred to a counsellor or psychologist who may offer cognitive behaviour therapy as a short-term, practical therapy for finding the links between feelings, thoughts and behaviour, and developing new coping strategies. You can also find your own counsellor or therapist, privately, who may be able to offer you reduced rates. Medication If you are on medication following your breakdown, or are offered medication by your doctor, it's your right to ask questions about this. It's a common experience that making your own decisions about medication is better than being pressurised into taking medication that you are unsure about. If your doctor is very insistent that you take medication that you find unpleasant or unhelpful, do seek other advice, from Mind or your Patient Advice and Liason Service (PALS). You can find your local PALS by asking your local hospital, clinic, GP surgery or health centre, or NHS Direct. Find out as much as you can about the medication offered to you, and the alternatives, including combinations of complementary therapies, talking treatments and support groups. What about finances and work? Benefits It's important that you get good advice on what benefits you, and anyone caring for you, may be entitled to during your period of recovery. You could contact the Benefits Enquiry Line, a local CAB, your GP, CMHT, social services department or local library, for more information on benefits and employment schemes. Getting advice or training For many people, work is important to recovery, whether this means returning to their current job, finding a new job or training course, or finding interesting and worthwhile voluntary work. If you have been a patient of a psychiatric hospital, there may be a rehabilitation service where you can get advice and help on how to get into work again. This might include courses on regaining your confidence and social skills, interview techniques, and skills training. Other potential sources of support and advice about work include CMHTs, Mind or other mental health charities, your Jobcentre or Jobcentre Plus, or local CAB. There may be a local employment support project, which can help you get back into work. You will need advice on how your benefits will be affected by returning to work. The Government's New Deal for Disabled People is an attempt to make returning to work easier for people who have experienced health problems or disability. Voluntary or part-time work Doing part-time or voluntary work may be a useful way to get started again, if you feel you need to take things slowly or want to change direction. Getting back to previous work is important for many people, but may present some problems, at first. Flexible working arrangements can be very helpful but, for some, this is not possible or desirable. Some people find that getting back to their normal way of life, quickly, actually helps them recover. "I found that when I was told in hospital these things take time' it was the most pessimistic and devastating statement I could have heard. Time was the one thing I did not have, as I needed to get back for my kids. I made a quick recovery (in hospital for one week only) and I think it was mainly because I refused to take any drugs I love my job and I was aware that all the time I was in hospital I was putting it at risk. I managed to get back to work after a total of seven weeks off and worked one day a week less for 10 weeks. I actually felt much better once I was back to my normal hours." Further Information British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - Offers a database of counsellors across the country.  HYPERLINK "http://www.bacp.co.uk/"www.bacp.co.uk Citizens Advice Bureau - Offers support, advice, information and counselling to people who have legal, housing or financial problems.  HYPERLINK "http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/"www.citizensadvice.org.uk Living Life to the Full - Offers advice, information and training to people who are looking to improve their own life skills.  HYPERLINK "http://www.livinglifetothefull.com/elearning/"www.livinglifetothefull.com Mentality - A Department of Health commissioned web site, offering support, advice and information to people who are improve their own mental health.  HYPERLINK "http://www.mentality.org.uk/"www.mentality.org.uk Mental Health Foundation - An organization that undertakes research into mental health issues, a valuable source of information.  HYPERLINK "http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/"www.mentalhealth.org.uk MIND - Offers support, advice and information to people who are experiencing mental health related problems and also supports their families.  HYPERLINK "http://www.mind.org.uk/"www.mind.org.uk )*_t } ~ CXY g"")))))000m3w3x3s66666777;;;;???нЬЬЬЬЬЬЬЬЬЬЬ#hv-hv-5CJOJQJ^JaJhGCJOJQJ^JaJ h^JhGCJOJQJ^JaJ$h^JhG0JCJOJQJ^JaJh^J0JCJOJQJ^JaJ#h^Jh^J>*CJ4OJQJ^JaJ4h^JCJOJQJ^JaJ6)` t ~ n mvCYt"$a$gd^Jgd^JD_ g""&$%%'',()))x*,-00m3x34s66677L9gd^JL9;;=??@iAABCCDDD$1$5$7$8$H$a$gdv-gdv-gd^J ?)@_@`@a@@@@@@@@AALAMANAgAhAiAAϻ}Y}Ϛ}5}}Gjhv-hv->*B*CJKHOJQJU^JaJmH phsH Gjhv-hv->*B*CJKHOJQJU^JaJmH phsH 8hv-hv->*B*CJKHOJQJ^JaJmH phsH Ajhv-hv->*B*CJKHOJQJU^JaJmH phsH &hv-CJKHOJQJ^JaJmH sH ,hv-hv-CJKHOJQJ^JaJmH sH 2hv-hv-5CJKHOJQJ\^JaJmH sH AAA"B#B$B?B@BABJBBBBCCCCCC2CCȫȫmYȫ5ȫmGj!hv-hv->*B*CJKHOJQJU^JaJmH phsH &hv-CJKHOJQJ^JaJmH sH 2hv-hv-5CJKHOJQJ\^JaJmH sH GjThv-hv->*B*CJKHOJQJU^JaJmH phsH 8hv-hv->*B*CJKHOJQJ^JaJmH phsH Ajhv-hv->*B*CJKHOJQJU^JaJmH phsH ,hv-hv-CJKHOJQJ^JaJmH sH CCCCCCCCCoDpDqDDDDDDDlX4lGj}hv-hv->*B*CJKHOJQJU^JaJmH phsH &hv-CJKHOJQJ^JaJmH sH ,hv-hv-CJKHOJQJ^JaJmH sH 2hv-hv-5CJKHOJQJ\^JaJmH sH Gjhv-hv->*B*CJKHOJQJU^JaJmH phsH 8hv-hv->*B*CJKHOJQJ^JaJmH phsH Ajhv-hv->*B*CJKHOJQJU^JaJmH phsH DDD h^Jhv-CJOJQJ^JaJhahv-KHmH sH ,1h. A!"#$% DyK yK .http://www.bacp.co.uk/DyK yK Dhttp://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/DyK yK \http://www.livinglifetothefull.com/elearning/DyK yK :http://www.mentality.org.uk/DyK yK @http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/DyK yK 0http://www.mind.org.uk/@@@ NormalCJ_HaJmH sH tH DA@D Default Paragraph FontRiR  Table Normal4 l4a (k(No Listb^@b G Normal (Web)ddd[$\$B*CJOJQJaJph*W@* GStrong5\.X@. GEmphasis6]<X)`t~n mv C Y  t"_ g&', !!!x"$%((m+x+,s...//L1335778i9A:;;<<<0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000`tn mv C  t"_ g&', !!x"$%(m+,s../L15<<<@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0@0K00 K00@0?ACDD#()*+L9D$&'D%`8889M9g99#:?::;;;;;p<<<<XXXXXXnormal confidence relationships sort_of_helpfinancesX|!~.<X|!~.<<<*}~ X Y gg!!!!$$((w+x+r.r...//33337<<<whlF^`CJOJQJo(^`CJOJQJo(opp^p`CJOJQJo(@ @ ^@ `CJOJQJo(^`CJOJQJo(^`CJOJQJo(^`CJOJQJo(^`CJOJQJo(PP^P`CJOJQJo(whv-^J~i G@$<P@UnknownGz Times New Roman5Symbol3& z Arial7&  Verdana?5 z Courier New;Wingdings"h f2& 3n 3n!r4<<2QKX)?G2qThis booklet is for anyone who has had a breakdown, for their family, friends and for mental health professionals Lucy Gardner Lucy Gardner Oh+'0 8DP` x   tThis booklet is for anyone who has had a breakdown, for their family, friends and for mental health professionalsLucy GardnerNormalLucy Gardner5Microsoft Office Word@vA@5|F@ 3՜.+,D՜.+,\ hp  >Homen< rThis booklet is for anyone who has had a breakdown, for their family, friends and for mental health professionals Title 8@ _PID_HLINKSA$ 1http://www.mind.org.uk/1-  http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/@  http://www.mentality.org.uk/U[.http://www.livinglifetothefull.com/elearning/SE"http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/g1http://www.bacp.co.uk/  !"#$%&'()*+,./012346789:;<=>?@ABCDFGHIJKLNOPQRSTWRoot Entry F`*YData -1Table5TWordDocument.XSummaryInformation(EDocumentSummaryInformation8MCompObjq  FMicrosoft Office Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.89q