11.1 Recovery - What is recovery?

Outline - Chapter 11: Recovery

• What is recovery?
• Key factors in recovery

What is recovery?

Recovery is a one-of-a-kind journey for each person with its own rewards and perils along the way. There is no one definition of recovery, and no single way to measure it. All definitions of recovery share a focus on developing new meaning and purpose in life as people grow beyond the impact of mental illness and substance use.

When I first started in the family support group, I found myself listening to other family members who were doing really well and had been in situations similar to my own. So it's the hope—it's the giving of hope, that it really is possible to get through it; that no matter how tough it's been and how often the treatment has failed, that it still may one day succeed, that recovery is possible. And no matter how many people turn away from you, or what they think of you, things will get better.

Please click the link below to view/print the Activity 11-1 PDF:

• Activity 11-1: What does recovery mean to me? PDF

As a family member, loved one, friend or significant other of someone with concurrent substance use and mental health disorders, my definition of recovery is:

Recovery has been referred to as a process, an outlook, a vision and a guiding principle. Recovery has also been described as a process by which people recover their self-esteem, dreams, self-worth, empowerment, pride, dignity and meaning. For professionals and families, recovery is about treating the whole person: identifying their strengths, instilling hope, helping them to function by helping them take responsibility for their lives.

Recovery is also about refusing to settle for less. A positive way of looking at recovery is to embrace the humanity of people and their potential for change. People are people before they are diagnoses, or cases, clients or consumers. They are not defined or controlled by their symptoms.

People should be encouraged to:

• have hope for change
• form meaningful connections with others who understand their situation
• set their own goals
• nurture their interests and learn new skills
• develop self-awareness about aspects of their own illness and behaviour.

Recovery is defined by a belief in one's self. It is nurtured by the kindness, understanding, compassion and respect of friends, family and others who are significant in one's life. Ultimately, recovery involves sharing and gaining support from others.

Recovery:

• doesn't necessarily move in one direction; recovery implies learning from setbacks and having the courage to move forward in spite of them
• may occur even when symptoms are present; recovery does not necessarily mean that people will never again experience symptoms, go through hard times or relapse
• is facilitated by access to a support system, but it can occur without the intervention of mental health professionals
• must also involve attending to other areas of life, such as work, leisure time, life goals and dealing with stigma.

Relapse can be part of the overall recovery process. It is important to use setbacks or relapses as valuable learning opportunities.

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