What Recovery Means To Us: Getting Past Learned Hopelessness - Does Recovery Work?

Written by Shery Mead, MSW and Mary Ellen Copeland, MS, MA

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Does Recovery Work Do Anything To Specifically Help A Person Avoid Situations Of Being Personally Unsafe Or A Danger To Others?

With the increased focus on recovery and the use of self-help skills to alleviate symptoms, it is hoped that fewer and fewer people will find themselves in a situation where they are a danger to themselves or someone else.

If the symptoms should become that severe, people may have developed their own personal crisis plan - a comprehensive plan that would tell close supporters what needs to happen to ward off disaster. Some of these things might include 24-hour peer support, phone line availability or speaking for or against some types of treatment. These plans, when developed and used collaboratively with supporters, are helping people maintain control even when it seems that things are out of control.

While disagreement about any kind of coercive treatment is widespread, the authors, both of whom have been in these kinds of high-risk situations, agree that any kind of forced treatment is NOT helpful. The long-range effects of coercive, unwanted treatment can be devastating, humiliating and ultimately ineffective and can leave people more untrusting of the relationships that should have been supportive and healing. Although both authors feel that all people are responsible for their behavior and should be held accountable, we believe that the development of humane, caring protocols should be everyone's focus.

Guidelines For A Recovery Focus In Service Provision

The following guidelines for health care professionals should guide and enhance all recovery work while decreasing resistance and lack of motivation:

Treat the person as a fully competent equal with equal capacity to learn, change, make life decisions and take action to create life change - no matter how severe their symptoms.
Never scold, threaten, punish, patronize, judge or condescend to the person, while being honest about how you feel when that person threatens or condescends to you.
Focus on how the person feels, what the person is experiencing and what the person wants rather than on diagnosis, labeling, and predictions about the course of the person's life.
Share simple, safe, practical, non-invasive and inexpensive or free self-help skills and strategies that people can use on their own or with the help of their supporters.
When necessary, break tasks down into the smallest steps to insure success.
Limit the sharing of ideas and advice. One piece of advice a day or visit is plenty. Avoid nagging and overwhelming the person with feedback.
Pay close attention to individual needs and preferences, accepting individual differences.
Assure that planning and treatment is a truly collaborative process with the person who is receiving the services as the "bottom line".
Recognize strengths and even the smallest bit of progress without being paternalistic.
Accept that a person's life path is up to them.
As the first step toward recovery, listen to the person, let them talk, hear what they say and what they want, making sure their goals are truly theirs and not yours. Understand that what you might see as being good for them may not be what they really want.
Ask yourself, "Is there something going on in their life which is getting in the way of change or moving toward wellness, eg., learned helplessness," or are there medical problems that are getting in the way of recovery?
Encourage and support connection with others who experience psychiatric symptoms.
Ask yourself, "Would this person benefit from being in a group led by others who have experienced psychiatric symptoms?"

The person who experiences psychiatric symptoms is the determiner of their own life. No one else, even the most highly skilled health care professional, can do this work for us. We need to do it for ourselves, with your guidance, assistance and support.

About The Authors

Mary Ellen Copeland, MA, MS

Mary Ellen Copeland has experienced episodes of severe mania and depression for most of her life. She is the author of:

She is also co-author of the book Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome, co-producer of the video Coping with Depression, and producer of the audio tape Strategies for Living with Depression and Manic Depression. These resources are based on her ongoing study of the day-to-day coping strategies of people who experience psychiatric symptoms and of how people have gotten well and stayed well. She has achieved long term wellness and stability by using many of the coping strategies she learned while writing her books. Mary Ellen has presented numerous workshops for people who experience psychiatric symptoms and their supporters.

Shery Mead, MSW

Ms. Mead is the founder and past Executive Director of three highly regarded peer support service program for persons with serious mental illness. Ms Mead is highly experienced in training, staff skill development, administration, management, advocacy, program design and evaluation. In addition to peer support program development, she has been a pioneer in establishing innovative peer operated respite programs that offer an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization. She has pioneered in the establishment of trauma survivor support groups and ongoing education initiatives for mental health professionals and court judges about recovery and parenting issues. Shery has recently become a full time consultant and educator to help other communities develop effective peer support and professional services.

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