What is Recovery?

To discover more on ‘What is Recovery?’ we have put together the following useful information to help you better understand what recovery is not, Changes definition of recovery plus useful quotes and definitions on recovery

What recovery is not:
Finding a definite cure for your condition
Returning to a previous state
Always functioning without support.

Having some hope is crucial to recovery; none of us would strive if we believed it a futile effort. I believe that if we confront our illnesses with courage and struggle with our symptoms persistently, we can overcome our handicaps to live independently, learn skills, and contribute to society, the society that has traditionally abandoned us. Leete, E. (1989)

Recovery is a process, a way of life, an attitude, and a way of approaching the day’s challenges. It is not a perfectly linear process. At times our course is erratic and we falter, slide back, regroup and start again . . . .The need is to meet the challenge of the disability and to re-establish a new and valued sense of integrity and purpose within and beyond the limits of the disability; the aspiration is to live, work, and love in a community in which one makes a significant contribution. Deegan, P. E. (1988) 

Recovery has been described in many different ways as a process, an outlook, a vision, and a guiding principle.  The common factor among these descriptions is a key shift of emphasis: instead of focusing on symptomatology and relief from symptoms, a recovery approach aims to support an individual in that person’s own personal development, building self-esteem, identity and finding a meaningful role in society.  Recovery does not necessarily mean restoration of full functioning without support, including medication; it does mean developing supports and coping mechanisms that build on the strengths and resources of each individual, enabling the person to deal actively with mental health experiences rather than being given “supports” by mental health services in a passive model of rehabilitation.

“Recovery requires the right atmosphere or organizational climate in your mental health organization  one that is sensitive to consumers, and values independence of the individual.  It allows consumers to risk, to fail.  It holds that every consumer has a right to the same pleasures, passions, and pursuits of happiness that we have.  It looks at potential, not deficits”. (Weaver, 1998)