Recovery is Possible

Most people with mental health problems can get better. Treatment and recovery are ongoing processes that happen over time. The first step is getting help. 

What Is Recovery?

Recovery from mental disorders and/or substance abuse disorders is a process of change through which individuals:

  • Improve their health and wellness
  • Live a self-directed life
  • Strive to achieve their full potential

Four Dimensions of Recovery

There are four major dimensions that support a life in recovery:

  • Health: Make informed, healthy choices that support physical and emotional well-being.
  • Home: Have a stable and safe place to live.
  • Purpose: Engage in meaningful daily activities, such as a job or school, volunteering, caring for your family, or being creative. Work for independence, income, and resources to participate in society.
  • Community: Build relationships and social networks that provide support.

Guiding Principles of Recovery

  • Recovery emerges from hope: People can and do overcome the internal and external challenges, barriers, and obstacles that confront them.
  • Recovery is person-driven: Individuals define their own life goals and design their unique paths towards those goals. 
  • Recovery occurs via many pathways: Recovery looks different for each person based on their strengths, talents, coping abilities, and resources. Recovery is non-linear and can involve clinical treatment, medications, support from family, friends, and peers, faith-based methods, and other approaches. 
  • Recovery is holistic: Recovery encompasses a person’s whole life, including mind, body, spirit, and community. 
  • Recovery is supported by peers and allies: Peers encourage and engage each other to provide a sense of belonging, supportive relationships, valued roles, and community. 
  • Recovery is supported through relationships and social networks: The presence and involvement of people who offer hope, support, and encouragement, suggest strategies and resources for change, and who believe in the individual’s ability to recover is an important factor in the recovery process. 
  • Recovery is culturally based and influenced: Culture and cultural background, including values, traditions, and beliefs, are key in determining a person’s journey and unique path to recovery. 
  • Recovery is supported by addressing trauma: Trauma is often a precursor to mental health concerns or substance use. Services and supports should be trauma-informed to foster safety, trust, empowerment, and collaboration. 
  • Recovery involves individual, family, and community strengths and responsibility: These strengths are the foundation for recovery. Each of these groups have a responsibility towards themselves and others involved in the recovery process to provide support and opportunities. 
  • Recovery is based on respect: Acceptance and appreciation for people impacted by substance use and mental health disorders is crucial to recovery; it is important to acknowledge the courage involved in making steps toward recovery. 

Develop a Recovery Plan

If you are struggling with a mental health or substance use problem, you may want to develop a recovery plan.

Recovery plans:

  • Enable you to identify goals for achieving wellness
  • Specify what you can do to reach those goals
  • Include daily activities as well as long-term goals
  • Track any changes in your mental health or substance use concerns
  • Identify triggers or other stressful events that can make you feel worse, and help you learn how to manage them

Call 211 or 988 today to learn about resources for recovery!

All information taken from SAMHSA- Recovery and Recovery Support