What is Recovery?
By definition recovery is the return to an original state; the gradual healthing through rest after sickness or injury; and the act of regaining or saving something lost (or in danger of becoming lost) such as a life.
Since the mid-1980s, a great deal has been written about mental health recovery from the perspective of the consumer (client), family member and mental health professional. The amount of research of various aspects of recovery continues to grow. Early research by Courtney Harding (1987) and others challenged the belief that severe mental illness is chronic and that stability is the best one could hope for. They discovered there are multiple outcomes associated with severe mental illness and that many people did progress beyond a state of mere stability. As such, the concept of recovery began to obtain legitimacy (Sullivan 1997).
Although there are many perceptions and definitions of recovery, William Anthony, Director of the Boston Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation seems to have developed the cornerstone definition of mental health recovery. Anthony (1993) identifies recovery as " a deeply personal, unique process of changing one’s attitudes, values, feelings, goals, skills and/or roles. It is a way of living a satisfying, hopeful, and contributing life even with limitations caused by the illness. Recovery involves the development of new meaning and purpose in one’s life as one grows beyond the catastrophic effects of mental illness."
Ultimately, because recovery is a personal and unique process, everyone with a psychiatric illness develops his or her own definition of recovery. However, certain concepts or factors are common to recovery. Some of these are listed below.
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Hope |
Hope is a desire accompanied by confident expectation. Having a sense of hope is the foundation for ongoing recovery from mental illness. Even the smallest belief that we can get better, as others have, can fuel the recovery process.
Early in the recovery process, it is possible for a treatment provider, friend, and/or family member to carry hope for a consumer. At some point, however, consumers must develop and internalize their own sense of hope.
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Medication/Treatment |
While many people are frustrated by the process of finding the right medications and the side effects of medications, most persons with a psychiatric disorder indicate that medications are critical to their success (Sullivan, 1997). For many, the goal is not to be medication-free, but to take the least amount necessary.
Likewise, mental health consumers often report that mental health professionals and treatment programs are valuable to their recovery. Especially when consumers feel they are engaged in a partnership with their treatment provider and are involved in their treatment planning.
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Empowerment |
Empowerment is the belief that one has power and control in their life, including their illness. Empowerment also involves taking responsibility for self and advocating for self and others. As consumers grow in their recovery journeys, they gain a greater sense of empowerment in their lives.
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Support |
Support from peers, family, friends and mental health professionals is essential to recovery from mental illness. It is especially beneficial to have multiple sources of support. This not only reduces a consumer’s sense of isolation, but also increases their activity in the community, allowing them to obtain an integral role in society.
In addition to support from individuals, participation in support groups is an important tool for recovery. Consumers frequently report that being able to interact with others who understand their feelings and experiences is the most important ingredient for their recovery.
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Education/Knowledge |
In order to maximize recovery, it is important to learn as much as possible about our illnesses, medications, best treatment practices and available resources. It’s also important to learn about ourselves, including our symptoms so that we can gain better control over our illnesses.
Consumers can educate themselves by speaking with health care professionals, attending workshops and support groups, reading books, articles and newsletters, browsing the internet and participating in discussion groups.
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Self-help |
While most consumers recognize the value of professional treatment, self-help is often viewed as the conduit to growth in recovery. Self-help can take many forms including learning to identify symptoms and take actions to counteract them, reading and learning about an illness and its treatment, learning and applying coping skills, attending support groups and developing a support system to rely on when necessary.
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Spirituality |
A broad definition of spirituality is that it’s a partnership with one’s higher power. For many consumers spirituality provides hope, solace during their illness, peace and understanding and a source of social support.
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Employment/Meaningful Activity |
Frequently, when we meet new people, they ask "what do you do?" Whether it is fair or not, what we do shapes others' opinions of who we are. As a result, it is common for a person's identity to be significantly impacted by what they do. Likewise, what a person does influences his/her confidence, esteem, social role, values, etc. Simply put, employment/meaningful activity affords most consumers the opportunity to regain a positive identity, including a sense of purpose and value. More
Beginning recovery...taking small steps to getting better.
We tend to turn to recovery as a means to escape the eating disorder that has had us, for so long, in it's grip. Sometimes we say "Enough is enough. I'm tired." "I
want a better life." "I don't want to have to battle with this for the rest of my life," or "My family and I don't deserve this pain."
Whatever our reason, getting better as an individual is what we want, need and strive to accomplish. Recovery is not an easy process. You will not wake up one day and feel as if you are 'cured' and that your eating disorder will be no more. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way. But rather, it takes committment, determination and most of all, support. Everyday is a constant struggle, but you HAVE to take it a day at a time. Never lose sight that recovery IS possible. You have to believe in yourself and committ yourself to the process whole-heartedly.
The Recovery Process:
Step 1: Being able to admit to yourself that you have a serious life-threatening problem. Have a one on one discuss with yourself. Ask yourself questions such as: Is getting healthier really what I want? Where do I see myself in five years if I continue down this path of having an eating disorder? How would my life be without my eating disorder? What do I have to lose by recovering?
Step 2: Get help. Think of ways in which you can get help. Go online and do research about recovery centers, therapists and nutritionists. Or, get a local phone book and find eating disorder clinics and hospitals in your area, such as the costs of the services that they provide.
Step 3: Talk to someone. If you don't feel like talking to relatives or friends, call an eating disorder recovery hotline and ask for advice. Tell them what you have been going through, and ask given your situation what should you do. The advice you will receive will be of a lot of help to you in the future.
Step 4: After making that anonymous call, it's time to tell a family member, your parents, a counselor at school, or a close friend about your eating disorder. I know it's going to be hard, but it's inevitable. In order to succeed in recovery someone close to you must know so they can help and support you along your recovery path so that you don't permanently relapse back into your eating disorder.
Step 5: Make the necessary preparations for recovery. Again, contact treatment centers and make appointments to discuss the best treatment options for you.
Step 6: Be honest with your therapist, doctor or nutritionist. If there's a specialist or doctor that you feel uncomfortable with, get another. You must find someone to your liking and that YOU feel will understand your feelings.
Step7: Stick to the meal plans, therapy session, and appointments that you have been given. If you feel that you can't handle a certain meal plan, speak with your nutritionist about coming up with something else that you favor. Whenever you feel uncomfortable about something there is no harm in asking or making a suggestion. Just know that the professional knows what's best and will do nothing to harm you.
How to begin the recovery process? Healthy Place answers this question. Click Here
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