Recovery is a concept that recognises that people can be in control of their lives despite mental health problems, and can regain a meaningful life despite a serious mental illness.Components of the process of recovery:
Finding and maintaining hope – believing in oneself; having a sense of personal agency; optimistic about the future;
Re-establishment of a positive identity – finding a new identity which incorporates illness, but retains a core, positive sense of self;
Building a meaningful life – making sense of illness, finding a meaning in life despite illness, engaged in life;
Taking responsibility and control - feeling in control of illness and in control of life.
(after Andresen, Oades & Caputi, 2003 Making Recovery a Reality, Sainsbury 2008)
'There's a Hole in my Sidewalk' A poem by Portia Nelson, read by Adria Firestone
