What It Means To Be In Recovery

          Mental health recovery. What does it look like? What does it mean to be in recovery? I think there's a popular misunderstanding of how recovery is supposed to go when it comes to mental illness. People tend to think, that when you're in recovery, you're all better. This is wrong. Choosing recovery does not mean that everything is better, it means you've decided to do what you need, to get there.

The definition of recovery:

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re·cov·er·y

/rəˈkəv(ə)rē/

noun

1. 1.

   
   

   a return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength.
2. 
   
3. 2. the action or process of regaining possession or control of something stolen or lost.

          I underlined process for a reason. Recovery is not something that you just decide to wake up and have. It is something that you have to go through, and work for. It is a process.

          Think about someone who is in recovery, whether from an injury, physical illness, or procedure. There are certain things these people need to do, to help themselves regain their strength. Some even need physical therapists to help them get to where they need to be.

          Mental health and physical health are not so different. They both require forms of self care, dedication to getting well, and support from others. Is some cases, medication, and therapy are needed.

          Just because people are in recovery, doesn't mean there wont be struggles. Recovery is a vulnerable place. You've gone through a lot and you've chosen to get better; to dedicate your time to this process. 

          Just like physical health, mental health can have set backs. They happen to even the most dedicated, but recovery isn't going to be a straight line upwards to your goal. I say this a lot, because it is true. Recovery looks more like ups and downs, zig-zags, and loops all over the chart. You're learning along the way, and that is okay. Recovery is something you have to choose, and aim for every day. So, even if you have set backs, or relapses, you haven't failed. You have a whole new opportunity to wake up tomorrow and start fresh. That is how it goes. Strength isn't in getting everything right the first time, it's not getting it right, and trying again anyway.

          Recovery is a place where healing happens. Where you give both your body and your mind the attention it needs. Understand that healing happens at a different pace for everyone.

-ToriLynn

1. 1. fdkdk
      

      Th	2the action or process of regaining possession or control of something stolen or lost.