When most people think of relapse, addiction immediately comes to mind. Movies and media in general have generally portrayed an image of a person reverting back to old addiction habits, never to return to their recovery; unfortunately, this depiction spreads a misconception – relapse can be a small incident, and a person can immediately turn to their recovery afterwards. Relapse can also occur for those who have solely a mental illness. With depression in particular, a relapse typically means the following:
- Feeling symptoms of depression return after having not having felt them at all for quite some time, or experiencing them significantly less since you began your journey to recovery
A number of unintended consequences could stem from a relapse, including: self-harm, isolation, substance abuse, experience abeyance in treatment and therapy, missing activities that a person has become involved in, and more. If you’ve recently relapsed, it’s important to remember that you are not alone, and this does not mean that you have failed in your recovery. This simply means that you need to push back even harder, to fight for your mental health and reach out to your support group. Utilize the resources that you’ve learned in treatment thus far to help get you back out of this.
A 2016 study conducted by researchers from the UK sought to explore relapse prevention as it relates to recurrent depression. Nine studies total were analyzed for major themes of relapse prevention treatment, with a total of 1,258 participants total. Overall, the researchers found mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to be very effective in relapse prevention for depression. What is this type of treatment?
Mindfulness-based CBT ultimately works to combine CBT, meditation, and a cultivation of an attitude and practice called “mindfulness”. Mindfulness works to keep you here in the present moment, and teaches you to accept whatever thoughts come along, without placing special meaning or emphasis on them. The goal here is to let those thoughts float by without reacting on them – too often, depression causes us to really sink our teeth into negative thoughts, to dwell on them until we believe those thoughts to be true.
If you haven’t already, speak with a professional from a reputable treatment center to learn more about mindfulness-based CBT and how you can incorporate this into your treatment regime.
Everyone’s story begins before treatment. Through intensive, individualized trauma care, everyone’s story can change. At The Guest House Ocala, you’re welcomed with open arms, no matter your story. We’re here to help you find healing. For information on our concierge level of customization and programs for the recovery from trauma, addictions, and related mental health issues, call us today: 855-483-7800