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effectiveness of the medication. Mixing prescribed medications with alcohol or other drugs
can also have dangerous consequences including overdose and possibly death.
• If you use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs and are on medication, let your doctor know if
you are planning to stop using alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. When you stop drinking,
smoking or using, the blood concentrations of other medications can also be affected so
the doctor may need to adjust the dose of your medication.
Tips for staying well
There are a number of things you can do to look after yourself:
•
Recognise early warning signs.
Early warning signs of psychosis include not sleeping
well, feeling more anxious, stressed or fearful than usual, hearing or seeing things,
and feeling ‘strange’. If you experience these symptoms, it is important that you seek
professional help to reduce the risk of developing long-term psychosis.
•
Take care of yourself.
Make sure you eat healthily and get regular exercise. Exercise
can help by giving you an outlet for the stress that has built up in your body.
•
Plan to do something you enjoy each day.
This doesn’t have to be something big or
expensive as long as it is enjoyable and provides something to look forward to that will
take your mind off your worries.
What are some things that you like to
do that are pleasant or enjoyable?
•
Make time for rest and relaxation.
Stress and anxiety can make any problems seem
worse. Try to reduce stress and anxiety by giving yourself time to rest and relax. You can use
techniques such as
controlled breathing, progressive muscle relaxation
, or
mindfulness
(these
techniques are described on pages 9–12), or any other activity you find relaxing (e.g., reading,
listening to music, going for a walk). These techniques can also help you manage your
cravings or urges to use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs.
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