Principles of Recovery
(-- the basics needed to recover from anything)

by Kay Johnson McCrary, Ed.D., Director, Patient & Family Education
G. Werber Bryan Psychiatric Hospital, Columbia, S.C.
http://www.state.sc.us/dmh/bryan/bryan.htm
Copyright 1998

1. FOR BEST-POSSIBLE RECOVERY OF THE BODY--

• FIND A QUALIFIED DOCTOR WHOM YOU TRUST,
• HAVE REGULAR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, AND
• ON A DAILY BASIS FOLLOW YOUR PLAN OF TREATMENT EXACTLY.

2. LIVE A BALANCED LIFE. HAVE "CHOOSING TO BE AS WELL AS POSSIBLE" AS YOUR FOCUS.

Find this balance and best-possible wellness in

• the "Triangle of Health" (get enough rest & stimulation --pace yourself well, eat right, exercise),
• the "Triangle of Mental Health" (love, work, and play), and
• the "Three-Legged Stool" (body, mind, and spirit --all three legs must be there to keep you from falling).

3. RECOGNIZE THAT, ULTIMATELY, RECOVERY INVOLVES YOUR MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT.

• "Joe may have cancer; but cancer doesn't have Joe." First point: you are more than a disease, much more. Second related point: human beings have the capacity to transcend difficulties.
• Many recoveries require getting well "from the inside out". For example, recovery from any addiction requires mental and spiritual change in addition to physical abstinence; otherwise faulty thinking or bad attitude will soon lead to relapse.

4. SEEK TO RECOVER A "LIVING IN COMMUNITY" LIFESTYLE AND PERSONAL LIFE SATISFACTION.

• "Recovery" is not necessarily the same thing as "cure".
• We were designed/intended to exist in fellowship. Humans are social animals/tribe animals so DON'T ISOLATE YOURSELF. Your life satisfaction will be found in community with others.
• Have friends. Be a friend.
• Have a hobby for enjoyment.

5. TO RECOVER AND STAY IN RECOVERY, YOU NEED TO BE SOMEONE WHO IN SOME WAY CONTRIBUTES, IS PRODUCTIVE, AND/OR HELPS OTHERS.

Have a reason to get out of bed each morning. Your contribution can be as simple as being a good example, a friend, and a good citizen. If possible, work or volunteer.

6. KNOW THAT EVERYONE ENDS UP HAVING TO RECOVER.

You are not alone in the struggle. "Be ye kind to one another."

7. ACCEPT THAT LIFE IS CHANGE.

That's the way it works. When you lose the old "normal", be patient, hang in there doing your best, and you will get "normal" back. It may be a new "normal".

8. TO RECOVER, YOU MUST FIRST ACCEPT THAT YOU NEED TO CHANGE.

• Accept that you have a problem. Quit blaming.
• Realize that "VICTIMS DON'T GET WELL". (Quit having a "pity party".) Move beyond being a victim toward wholeness.

9. QUIT PUTTING CONDITIONS ON YOUR RECOVERY.

Let go of "--I would be able to follow my plan if ... " because life doesn't play by your rules and if you're waiting for it to do so, you'll never get well. Live in the "now"; deal with the "what is"--let go of the "what should be."

10. TO RECOVER, YOU MUST HAVE HOPE.

• You gain hopefrom fellow human beings who share their own recovery. Seek them out and listen and learn from their stories.
• You gain hope from inner resources developed through a spiritual life. Your recovery matters. Others will draw strength and inspiration from your example.
• You gain hope from God who loves you and who is present with you. Use visualization: Visualize yourself in the palm of God's hand. Use coping self-statements: Say, "I am in God's hands." Use surrender: give your problem to Him and ask for His help ("let go and let God").

11. STAY POSITIVE. LIVE IN GRATITUDE.

Cultivate positiveness; avoid negativity for the sake of your wellness. Use positive copers (example: hobby); avoid negative copers (example: alcohol). Be grateful to God for what you do have. Count your blessings daily/ hourly/ constantly. Come to realize that your cup is half-full. Then come to realize that you are, in fact, living in abundance and that your "cup runneth over."

12. USE THE "TRIED AND TRUE" RECOVERY TECHNIQUES.

• Use the sayings --your self-talk matters!
• Use support groups.
• Use five-minute phone calls.
• Use an advisor/ counselor/ sponsor.
• Use the recovery literature (--for example, the Hazelden daily meditations.).
• Self-monitor

--Know and watch for early warning symptoms of relapse and