The Family Guidelines: Ways to hasten recovery and to prevent a recurrence.

1. Believe in your power to affect the outcome: you can!

2. Make forward steps cautiously, one at a time.

Go slow. Allow time for recovery. Recovery takes time. Rest is important. Things will get better in their own time. Build yourself up for the next life steps.

3. Consider using medication to protect your future.

A little goes a long way. The medication is working even if you feel fine. Work with your doctor to find the right medication and the right dose. Take medications as they are prescribed.3

The Family Guidelines: Ways to hasten recovery and to prevent a recurrence

4. Try to reduce your responsibilities and stresses, at least for the next six months or so.

Take it easy. Use a personal yardstick. Compare this month to last month rather than last year or next year.

5. Use the symptoms as indicators.

If they re-appear, slow down, simplify and look for support and help, quickly.

Learn and use your early warning signs and changes in symptoms. Consult with your EAST counselor or psychiatrist.

6. Anticipate life stresses.

The Family Guidelines: Ways to hasten recovery and to prevent a recurrence

7. Keep it Cool.

Enthusiasm is normal. Tone it down. Disagreement is normal. Tone it down too.

8. Give each other space.Time out is important for everyone. It’s ok to reach out. It’s ok to say no.

9. Set limits.Everyone needs to know what the rules are. A few good rules keep things clear.

The Family Guidelines: Ways to hasten recovery and to prevent a recurrence

10. Ignore what you can’t change.

Let some things slide. Don’t ignore violence or concerns about suicide.

11. Keep it simple.

Say what you have to say clearly, calmly and positively.

12. Carry on business as usual.Reestablish family routines as quickly as possible. Stay in touch with family and friends

The Family Guidelines: Ways to hasten recovery and to prevent a recurrence

13. Solve Problems Step By Step.

Make changes gradually. Work on one thing at a time.

14. Keep a balanced life and balanced perspective.

Keep an outside occupation, but don’t work too hard for a while. Take time to cool out.

15. Watch out of the effects of street drugs and alcohol.They make symptoms worse and may cause a relapse. Never use meth, cocaine, or hallucinogens! Keep alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine to a bare minimum as hard as it may be.

The Family Guidelines: Ways to hasten recovery and to prevent a recurrence

16. Explain your circumstances to your closest friends and relatives and ask them for help and to stand by you.

Learn to accept support from your network. Decide who you want to know about the situation. Dodge the bad scenes and look for good ones.

17. Don’t move abruptly or far away until stability returns.

If you have to move prepare well in advance. Keep a social network intact and do not try to change it without lots of preparation.

The Family Guidelines: Ways to hasten recovery and to prevent a recurrence

18. Attend the Multi-Family Groups.

Enthusiasm is normal. Tone it down. Disagreement is normal. Tone it down too.

19. Follow the treatment plan.

Follow the recommendations of all of the professionals on your team.

20. KEEP HOPE ALIVE.