How Do I Avert Crisis and Remain Stable in Recovery?

Most people that experience a mental health crisis make significant progress with treatment and support. Once you are feeling more stable, it is vital to put plans in place for your recovery. This will help you avert crises that may come along in the future. Everyone will experience challenges and setbacks in their lives. This does not have to lead to a mental health crisis. It will be crucial for you to have healthy coping skills at your disposal and a plan of action in place to deal with unexpected events.

Treatment and recovery are not temporary states of being. It increases your chances for success if you have ongoing support for your mental health. Recovery from a mental health disorder includes making changes in your life that will help you improve your overall health. Being mindful and living with intention will help you become the best version of yourself possible. Having plans and support in place to help you achieve these goals is paramount to your recovery.

What Do I Need for a Successful Recovery?

Making sure that your basic needs are met can be a very powerful tool for mental health recovery. There are four major aspects of life that will support you in recovery. 

Health and Wellness

Meeting your physical health needs is essential for your overall sense of well-being. You can make sure that you are doing your best to eat three well-balanced meals a day. Drinking plenty of pure water will also ensure that your body is functioning at its peak. Adding exercise to your daily routine has multiple mental and physical health benefits.

Home and Security

Having a safe and stable home environment will go a long way in supporting stable mental health. You need a safe space where you can relax and unwind. Sticking to a consistent daily schedule can also help you build confidence. Human beings are creatures of habit. When we have a structure we can depend on, it reduces our stress levels. Between your home life and your daily schedule, there are things that will help you stay in control of your mental health.  

Sense of Purpose

Finding your sense of purpose will be another critical aspect of maintaining positive mental health. Discovering your sense of purpose will empower you when making decisions or setting goals. By defining what is most important, you can modify things in your life to align yourself with that purpose. A sense of purpose can come from any part of your life, career, family, volunteer work, or physical fitness. You can also have more than one or changing sources of inspiration for your sense of purpose.

Social Health

Building a strong circle of support around yourself with personal connections is one of the most critical things you can do. Being connected to a community of people is closely connected to your sense of wellness. When you feel connected to other people you will experience better mental and emotional health. Social connections can also lower levels of anxiety and depression. Maintaining relationships with friends and family can play a huge part in supporting your mental health.

Having a Crisis Plan

Sometimes life can throw us curveballs, and if you don’t have the tools to manage a crisis, it can send you into a mental health tailspin. A mental health crisis plan is a tool that you can put in place before a triggering event occurs. It is a plan of action so that you know what needs to happen to support your mental health stability. Instructions for people in your life can also be included. They will need to understand what kind of support you will need from them. Having a plan in place is a great preventative measure to have during a stressful situation because reasoning skills and decision-making become much more difficult. 

A mental health crisis plan is a plan of action that’s made before a crisis occurs so that you and the people in your support system know what to do when an emergency comes up. You can work with your mental health team to create one. Your crisis plan should include information on what your mental state might look like in the moment. There should be a list of resources, such as contact information for your therapist or doctor. An outline of instructions for what steps to take will help guide you during a challenge. 

Your crisis plan should be flexible enough to adapt to whatever situation you find yourself in. The purpose of having the plan in place is to serve as a roadmap toward making healthy decisions during an unexpected event. There is nothing more important than keeping your mental health recovery on track and having a plan in place to help you through life’s unpredictabilities.

Being mindful of your overall health is key to managing your mental health during recovery. Having a crisis plan will help you handle any unexpected challenges and reduce the impact on your mental health. It is critical that you and the people close to you know how to respond during an event that has the potential to trigger a mental health crisis. If you would like more information about crisis plans or help to create one, Alter Wellness Care has the resources to help you! We strive to support our clients through every aspect of treatment and recovery. Call us at (866) 311-3510 to find out how we can help you make a plan for recovery.