Recognizing Early-Warning Symptoms
Early-warning symptoms are a flare-up of symptoms that serve as a sign that a crisis may be about to occur. Your loved one may not realize that he or she needs treatment and may become less cooperative. Many people stop taking their medication in this stage. This is the time to start crisis prevention. Your goal now is to keep the early-warning symptoms from developing into a crisis.
At first, your family member may have trouble sleeping and may stop taking his or her medication. After several days or weeks, the person may be unreasonable or on the verge of losing control. See if you can recognize this stage by the descriptions of symptoms below:
Trouble Sleeping
Sudden changes in sleep habits signal that a crisis situation may be near:
- Feels as though he or she does not need sleep or thinks sleeping is not important
- Stays up at night and sleeps most of the day
- Stays awake for 24 hours or longer
- Goes to bed at a reasonable time, but can't get to sleep for hours
- Goes to sleep easily, but wakes up during the night and can't get back to sleep
Symptoms Return
Your loved one may tell you that his or her “average symptoms” are getting worse or that new symptoms are occurring. Your loved one may go without much sleep or begin spending money on things he or she doesn't need. He or she may not want to interact with people, or may have much less energy.
Stops Medication
People who stop their medication can become very ill within a few days or weeks. The chemical imbalance related to their symptoms gradually begins to take over again. Be alert to this warning symptom—you may be able to take action at this point to offset a crisis.
Other Changes in Daily Habits
A sudden change in dress, grooming, eating, or social habits is the first sign of crisis for some people. Watch to see if your loved one:
- Starts to act fearful, anxious, depressed, or frightened for no apparent reason
- Begins to neglect personal grooming
- Changes his or her attitude toward treatment (eg, refuses to see the doctor and other healthcare providers)
- Stops eating
- Wears flamboyant clothes or makeup
- Says or does unusual or strange things
- Expresses grandiose or overly ambitious ideas
- Becomes more easily irritated
- Talks more and/or more rapidly
