The Four Principles of Recovery

 I think that your four principles are great !   The strategy you have laid out for yourself seems to work for you.   I found myself "shopping " for whatever I would need from your suggestions.

 I think that recovery is such an individual experience that the reader feels compelled to compare notes with you and take only what applies to their situation or state of wellness.           From the people I meet in the mental health consumer community, most of them have a set "pattern" of things they do to keep well, whether it's a volunteer job or seeing a therapist regularly.

Your point about medication was well taken.         I'd probably be out in the cold somewhere if it were not for seroquel.           Denial of the experience of having schizophrenia for life is a very difficult thing to accept, especially when you're young.

However, as you grow older, it's important, as you know, to stay close to your mental health professional regarding the amount of meds you may need.

  Again, because we are individuals, we all have somewhat different  coping strategies to help us through the recovery process.        And for you people reading this, listen to people like Christina.        She's been there, and she knows the way home.

Sincerely,

Don Fraser

"Seeking help instead of going at it alone" sticks out in my mind.  I am stubborn when it comes to my recovery.  Because I don't like to talk, I keep all of my struggles inside of me and try to get better on my own.   Well, I've surrendered.  I realize now that I can't do it by myself. 

I'm planning to start therapy within the next month and really look forward to it.  Maybe opening up to my family may help but I don't want them to worry about me so I pretend that nothing bothers me.  This web site is also helping with all of the support offered. 

I too take Geodon - I know that if it weren't for this medication I wouldn't have progressed to the point I am at today.  I just have to keep working on myself to better handle life's challenges especially since my daughter may be coming into my life soon.

Have a great weekend!

Compassion is one of our best assets.  I don't always reach my goal of being compassionate because I get impatient with other people who I think are on the wrong track.  But I am learning that we each have our own track -- they are never all alike except we all struggle toward the goal of recovery.  There is rarely only one way to get where you are going.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (6 sessions earlier this year) also helped me.  It retrained me to feel that what I want can be achieved, such as independent living.  Managing my own finances.  Ultimately, taking charge of my own life.  I admit sometimes the "dailies" are a stress -- washing clothes, cooking, buying groceries, etc. -- but I have found yoga to be a good stress reliever.  And I have learned that I don't have to do everything perfectly -- sometimes good enough is good enough.

And yes, it is important to reach out in compassion to others around us, even in small ways.  That is what will really count in the end.  And in a very real sense that is a measure of our recovery -- when we can take our eyes off ourselves and be willing to meet the needs of our fellow men and women.

Carolyn

Good Morning Christina and family, Ysraal here and I just read the post and I am compelled to comment. Recovery is a process that just like the illness is also chronic and lifelong. I had to accept my illness because to resist was to feed the persistence of the illness. Acceptance is a very important principle for all starts there. Recovery I mean. Recovery starts with acceptance. Schizophrenia is a very cunning and devious illness, much more than alcoholism because it also will tell you that you are not ill. We must work with our providers to the best of our ability and ask for the best from our providers and be ready to try things int he process of recovery for it trully is a very personal affair. I am on geodon and seroquel and topamax with multivitamins and fish oil. I see a psychiatrist.individual psychotherapist, and a licensed mental health counselor. I am also in a research therapy and I am always looking for other therapies for I know that only through staying on top can I have a chance at preventing relapse and having a good quality of life and I will. We all can. There is no cure for schizophrenia, but we can manage it but acceptance is very much important. Keep hope, have faith and move forward.

When I was working, I was in the position of helping others. I was a cook that worked directly with mentally disabled people. I learned compassion and empathy.

I have accepted my illness years ago. I accepted that I will hear voices forever. I also learned that taking meds has gotten me this far.

Seeking help is a hard one for me. I'm learning however to ask when needed.

Writing has been a source of joy these last two years. Cooking and baking have helped also. Those 3 things I do outside myself.

I also believe that all of my hardships, failings, and trials have lifted me to this very spot. I learned hard lessons. I am grateful for that.

Dave