Stay well
TESS
When you recovered fully, you will be impatient to get on with your life. You will want to get back to the same tempo that you had before your illness.
The idea of wanting to recover fully quickly is understandable. Howeve, you will have after-effects which will not be visible, and outwardly you will appear back to normal. But you should still take care of yourself during this critical phase.
You may find it easier to understand this if you compare your depression with a physical illness. Imagine, you have broken your thigh bone, your leg has been in plaster for three months. When the plaster is removed, your thigh muscles will be weak. You went through only 1 session of physiotherapy. Do you think your thigh muscles will be the same as before?
In the same way, you will also need to "get yourself fit again" after a depression. You need time to collect yourself because you are still fragile and less tolerant to stress and disappointment.
If you have been admitted for depression, and when the doctor deem fit for you to be discharged. This is a happy event, but it may also give you some cause for concern. You may be asking yourself:
- Can I cope?
- Have I really recovered?
- Can I function normally again?
Remember you are still vulnerable. Therefore, it is vital you take care of yourself: After you are discharged, you should preferably be on sick leave for about a month.
During your sick leave, you will have time to get back to your day to day - little by little. It would be best if you start with the activities that you enjoy best. This applies to both physical and mental activity.
You should also continue taking your medicine, even if it is tempting to stop when you are feeling better. As a general rule, you should continue taking your medicine for six months after you have recovered fully. The doctor who is treating you will be able to tell you more accurately when you should stop taking your medicine.
Only by continuing to take your medicine and, where appropriate, having psychotherapy will you be able to prevent a relapse. We advise you to keep in close contact with your doctor or psychiatrist during this period.
Perhaps you were previously unable to receive psychotherapy, but now is a good time to start psychotherapeutic treatment. Read more about psychotherapy here.