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Continue Acknowledging Recovery -September "National Recovery Month"

September is "National Recovery Month." It seems that I almost forgot this?! However, I do not want you to let this special month of recognition go by without additional reflection on the meaning of recovery.

Despite living with mental health challenges since my diagnosis in 2007, my definition of recovery changes to me! Although I was diagnosed with schizophrenia, my treatment team switched my official diagnosis to schizo-affective disorder early on without much discussion. As you may be aware, already, schizo-affective disorder is schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Over the years I gained a lot of knowledge about schizophrenia, and not enough about bipolar disorder, which I will work on, every diagnosis requires attention at recovery! Every diagnosis can damage a good person and their loved ones, however, recovery can overcome many struggles with mental health concerns...

In 2007, I was hospitalized. And, in 2018, I was hospitalized, again. Through my experience I gained a better understanding of mental health conditions, and the meaning of recovery to me. Even though an individual may experience a setback in their life and recovery, this does not change my definition of recovery right now.

Many persons may select the definition of recovery, 'to restore,' which is correct in most if not all dictionaries. Opposite, I used to hold the viewpoint that recovery is the same as maintaining a good place. I was wrong! Recovery is an action, which demands life-long attention. 

Recovery is to keep trying. While I was at my worse, without full-knowledge of the extent of how poor if a state that my condition had on me, overall, I learned how to cope better, harder, and to keep trying despite distractions!

I was writing my follow up book to my first, prior to my recent time away. My first book is a collection of posts from this blog entitled: What's On My Mind? and available on Amazon. Through my experience, and ongoing redirection, and effort to practice recovery, I learned a significant piece of wisdom... The definition of recovery is the effort to live, the strength to keep on, and the hope in trying again, and again... 

Do not let this month go by without paying closer attention to recovery for people like myself, and you, and others living with mental health challenges. Everybody is enduring a fight to overcome. Many persons are living with a diagnosis and continue to practice recovery!

My upcoming book, What's On My Mind? Coping Takes Work! will articulate my challenges, but also my triumphs during my inpatient hospital visit. My hospital stay required a lot of me, in order, to stay empowered, and to try again at recovering from my conditions. 

I remember a close friend's identification and common concern... whenever a somebody goes into the hospital an individual buys them flowers. However, when a peer goes into an inpatient mental health hospital some of us do not consider to purchase ourselves and fellow peers flowers... stigma. Mental health conditions are a medical condition too! Next time, if you know anybody going in or getting out of a mental health hospital consider buying them some flowers even if they do not value them generally, trying to put forth effort is always a good place to be in with the stigma we live daily. With that said, upon my return home, I brought myself some flowers, and a card to celebrate my mind, and recovery!

September is National Recovery Month. Continue to acknowledge it. Continue to learn more.  Continue to reach out, and continue to support recovery in its diverse meanings, especially this month (September, National Recovery Month!)... Thank you.


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