"Stuck" In Our Recovery - What Is Going On?

Here's a question no one has ever asked here before. On the "Ask" feature, "U won't like me when I'm angry" writes:

"I am a researcher with bipolar diagnosed many years ago - I am interested in giving something back to others with bipolar. There may be research funding available for a small to medium research project."

I didn't even have to think about this. An answer - or in this context a suggestion - instantly popped into my head. Here's the background:

For seven years, I regularly attended support groups. During three of those years, I ran a DBSA group in Princeton, NJ. Since moving to southern CA two and a half years ago, I have been a sporadic attender. What sticks out most in my mind is the number of people I came across who are "stuck" in their recovery.

These are people who have had satisfactory results with their meds. Not necessarily good results - there are always meds issues - but they have achieved a reasonable degree of stability and are in a position to get their old lives back. But here's the problem - they don't. Typically, they are out of work and their chances of finding meaningful employment are slim. If they are not in a loving relationship, they are in no position to seek one out. If they are, the relationship tends to be in jeopardy. Often, coming to a support group is their only social interaction all week.

Many of these individuals are fairly adept in managing their illness. The are compliant with their meds, they keep to regular sleep schedules, they manage their stress and are vigilant with regard to avoiding mood triggers, and they even make smart lifestyle choices. But still - they remain stuck.

So, what are they doing wrong? Loaded question, as we are assigning blame, but let's ask it anyway. That was the gist of my response to U won't like me.

In 2005, The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry published an article by Melbourne researcher Sarah Russell PhD. Dr Russell did something I've never seen in research before or since: She solicited the wisdom of patients.

What she did was survey 100 "well" patients and ask them what they did to get well and stay well. In an article on my website, I reported:

The patients informed Dr Russell that they were extremely mindful of their diagnosis and “how they were responding to their mental, emotional, social, and physical environment.” Rather than simply taking their meds and forgetting about their illness (an impression created by their doctors), patients would “move swiftly to intercept a mood swing.” Moving swiftly often meant a decent night’s sleep and other strategic stop and smell the roses moments.

I'm sure Dr Russell only thought she was conducting a modest, low-budget study, but in my Newsletter from that year I acknowledged her efforts with "Study of the Year" honors. Without doubt, this is the definitive research on "what patients are doing right," and we could use many many more.