RECOVERY: It's not a tap, but a slide...

RECOVERY: It's not a Tap, but a slide...

I write this blog for current clients and previous clients so that folks can come here to review concepts identified in our meetings and the chief purpose of this blog is to convey a minimal amount of information to promote, or better yet, provoke you, the consumer of information, to go out into the webosphere and acquire info that will help you take charge of your mental and physical well being.

I may be licensed as a psychotherapist/clinical social worker, but my main function is that of salesman. I am trying to sell a product to everyone I work with and that product is a package of ideas, concepts, theories, strategies, tools, skills, techniques, etc, etc, called RECOVERY.

Recovery is the relentless pursuit of healing within the limitations imposed by mental and physical conditions, always seeking to extend those limitations to increase self actualization and fulfillment.

As someone who has been through several recovery processes (and am currently in the maintenance stage of recovery from an autoimmune disorder) I not only have the knowledge of how to effectively engage the recovery process, through many years of working with individuals engaged in that process, but the experience of my own recovery process.

The time a recovery takes is different for every individual and there is no cookie cutter approach to developing an effective recovery plan. At first it may feels you're tapping around in the dark to achieve even some moderate degree of change and relief, but soon benefits will arise and you will slide into a natural healthy mode of being that will become a lifestyle. There are 5 basic stages of recovery/change.

Who should be in a recovery process:
1. Chemical and behavioral addictions
2. Autoimmune disorders (Lyme, lupus, fibromyalgia, MS, chronic fatigue, etc)
3. Chronic pain and chronic illness
4.Trauma
5. Mood disorders (depression, generalized anxiety, panic disorder, bipolar, etc)
6. Trauma (developmental PTSD, complex PTSD, classic PTSD, etc)
7. Cancer
8. "Mental illness" (depression, anxiety, panic, bipolar, etc)
8. Loss of a loved one and any major life stressor

Wellness Recovery Action Plan
Mary Ellen Copeland, Ph.D

Components of a recovery plan: (Biopsychosocial Holistic approach)
1.   Abstaining from unhealthy/dysfunctional/maladaptive behaviors (relapse prevention)
2.   Identify and eliminate stressors (adrenal fatigue)
3.   Diet/food/chemical consumption (alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, processed foods)
4.   Exercise (move the body)
5.   Supplementation (vitamins/minerals/herbs/adaptogens/meds
6.   H2O (hydration therapy)
7.   Support (therapy/community groups/trusted friends/family/online communities)
8.   Meditation (relaxation/stress reduction/breathing)
9.   Education (know your condition and treatment protocols)
10. Belief (belief in yourself and your goal of recovery)
11. Laughter (humor is crucial!)
12. Fun (recreation, hobbies, interests, within your limitations)
13. 80/20 Rule (80% productive 20% consumptive daily activities)
14. Purpose/meaning
15. Be Relentless (don't quit...)

Problems in Recovery:
1. Stress and boredom (stay active)
2. Episodes of utter abject hopelessness and periods of emptiness
3. Isolation
4. Chronic worry, depressive rumination (affects cortisol levels which can aggravate inflammation)
5. Long periods of laziness, inactivity (resulting in loss of vigilance and motivation)
6. Cognitive decline
7. Non-acceptance (Suffering = pain + resistance)

Wellness Recovery Action Plan. pdf

Sample Wellness Recovery Action Plans

Veterans Group Sample WRAP plan