Adjusting to Life After My First Psychosis Episode

It's very common to come out of the hospital not feeling ready to get on with normal life. It was explained to me that, if you were in the hospital with a heart attack or surgery, no one would expect you to just jump right back in once you're home. You're still recovering. Give yourself the chance. It's definitely possible to end up back in again if you let yourself get overly stressed. I know some things can't be avoided. Kids, husband, work, school, all the usuals, but let people know you're home but not fully recovered yet. Be sure not to neglect your "me time" It's important.

I acknowledge what you're going through - it's tough stuff! I had my first psychotic episode when I was 24, hospitalized, and put on heavy antipsychotics that left me feeling drugged and like a zombie. Bleh! Fortunately, 12 years and many adventures later, I've learned that a key component of understanding and healing from these experiences is learning to actively change your brainwaves! This is what years of meditation can do, exercise can do, getting in 'the zone' with art or playing sports can do. The reason you/we feel so strange after these experiences is that our brain chemistry has been affected not just by the episode itself (what happened, what we did, what we experienced, which can be traumatic in itself), but by being put on medication that dramatically affects our brain's ability to self regulate its own brainwaves. Situations that used to be comforting and familiar suddenly feel radically different. We can feel confused (scrambled brainwave), in high alert fight-or-flight mode (Beta brainwave), or dreamy and disconnected (Theta brainwave). So what to do? Keep taking your medication, go to therapy and support group, and do inner child/shadow work to uncover the emotional triggers that can lead to episodes and 'weird' behavior. This behavior are the results of unconscious and subconscious programming we received growing up. There are many trained professionals, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, coaches, empathic therapists, who can help you in this work. You will find the right fit! Further, to help you learn how to surf the brainwaves, check out YouTube for videos about brainwaves. YouTube also has music tracks that are tuned to specific frequencies to help you reach desired states. I suggest searching for 'brain entrainment' and 'healing Solfeggio frequencies,' for a start! Other modalities for changing your brain waves include yoga and meditation, but sometimes, we just don't feel like doing this at all - because our brainwaves are skittish or sluggish or weird! By actively re-training our brain to work with the environment around us, we can find confidence, peace, social acceptance, creativity, and our childhood sense of wonder again. I'm living proof of it! I believe in you and your journey, you are already on the path to wholeness! Namaste! 🙂🌈🐢

I know it's difficult 😥 I've been to psych ward more than one occasion unfortunately. & The hardest part is not realizing until this year ( after several years of needing help ) that medication is the only thing holding me together right now. For years I was fighting taking my meds cause I didn't understand that I really have to take them or I could have a relapse psychosis. But its more than medication, you have to all around work on your well-being & just do things that nourish your soul. Im so sorry you had to go through all that. I wish you the best. ❤️

I've been in a similar situation. Since you are on efficient meds, psychosis is less likely. The mental hospital for me was like a brain "reset". I changed my negative thinking patterns and changed them to more positive ones. Find a therapist if you can. There are also support groups locally. Let me know if ya need some support🙃

I’m sorry you went through this. It can feel extremely confusing but I assure you there is a way out. You just have to literally take things one day at a time. Talk to a therapist if you can, find a support group, and try to take as good care as you can of yourself. One day at a time. You are not alone. 💜