Recovery-What does It Mean to You?

What does recovery mean? It asked this same question on the NAMI survey that will be ending September 30th. The survey rates states on public mental health care.

Recovery to me is getting your life back. Recovery is an ongoing process that demands attention and effort to maintain. It cannot be attained overnight. Recovery is a lifelong goal that requires steps to success. Recovery is living a healthy lifestyle emotionally, mentally, and physically. Recovery is:

• Having a hopeful outlook on life in spite of having a mental illness
• Feeling better about yourself
• Playing an active role in the community by participating in clubhouses, peer groups, or other rehabilitation centers
• Talking about symptoms with a health care provider
• Being aware of your illness and not in denial
• Performing some duty that makes you feel better about yourself such as volunteering or working
• Being responsible by taking your medication
• Making and maintaining relationships
• Taking control of your attitude and behavior
• Managing symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and negative symptoms
• Exercising your mind by taking on challenges such as meeting new people
• Minimizing the voices
• Reducing or preventing hospitalizations and relapses
• Not being withdrawn from people who love you
• Taking care of personal hygiene

I am at the beginning phase of recovery. I was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in the summer of 2007. I am not in denial about my illness. I am aware of my illness and I take steps to learn more about it by attending peer groups and participating in NAMI's monthly meetings. I have hope and goals such as completing my bachelor's degree in business and marketing. I have overcome hallucinations and delusions, and I am working on eradicating negative symptoms such as flat expression through medication. I am embracing the people that love me and I am not isolating myself from them. I am taking care of personal hygiene.

What does recovery mean to you?