Things are moving forward
When you feel better, things will get better slowly:
- It will be normal for you to get the sleep you need
- Your appetite will return
- Food will begin to taste nice, like it did before you were ill
- You will become interested in your surroundings
- Colours will become sharp again
- Smells will become more vivid again
- You will want to resume your old hobbies and interests, but it is important that you do not try to do too much
When the worst symptoms of depression have passed, you may expect things to run smoothly in the future. You may therefore get frustrated if your condition continues to fluctuate. You may still have spells when
- sadness overwhelms you
- the tears come easily
- the tiredness will not disappear, and so on
It is important for you to know that these fluctuations are natural experiences on the way to recovery. Such spells usually do not last long and they will become less and less painful.
After the worst symptoms of depression have passed, there will be a spell of two to three months when you can still be a little frail. During certain life experiences you may experience brief periods when your condition deteriorates.
BUT: These minor deteriorations are not a sign that your condition is deteriorating. They also do not mean that your treatment is not working.
Worries?
It is very important that you discuss your concerns with your doctor and/or psychologist. If you are admitted, we advise you to speak to your contact person on the ward.
It is a characteristic of depression that you may find it very difficult to retain an overview of your situation. You may also find it difficult to retain an overview of your condition even during the phase when you are starting to feel better. You may have a tendency to focus more on the periods when you are not feeling so good. But when you talk to the person who is treating you, you will quickly realise that these periods are fortunately very short. Most of the time you will feel well.
Discharge
If you have been admitted, when you really start to recover you will start to spend more time at home during the day. At some point you will start to have overnight stays at home. If you have been admitted for a long time, it is important that you try to sleep overnight at home before you are discharged.
The environment in a psychiatric ward is often very secure. You can for example always speak to someone. When you are not feeling so good, it can mean a lot for you to be in a secure environment. It can make you feel protected. Before you are discharged, it is therefore important that you have tried to function in your normal environment.
The old you
When you have recovered from depression, you will be the "old you" again with the same old character traits and the same old behaviour. This means that other people will experience you to be the same loving spouse and parent and the same pleasant neighbour and valued colleague as before.
Some "stubborn" symptoms may take a little longer to disappear. Yet depression is also characterised by you returning to your "original" (or habitual) condition. This means that you will not suffer from any lasting effects.
You will therefore function at exactly the same physical, mental and intellectual level as before you became ill. But remember not to take things too fast in the beginning.