We're All In Recovery From Something...
Honestly, I wasn't sure how to start this blog off. I've always found introductory posts awkward. Should I go with the flow and introduce myself like most people? Or do something different and creative? After considering it, I decided to start with the definition of recovery. Recovery is essentially the theme of everything I do and my business is even named Center for Establishing Recovery. As a therapist, my job is help my patients recover from whatever is painful for them whether it is loss, divorce, mental illness, or addiction. Also, everyone deals with recovery at some point in their lives. We all go through trauma, death, loss, or illness.
Recovery has a lot of definitions and defining recovery is often a personal thing. A quick Google search pops up many options: the action or process of regaining possession or control of something stolen or lost; the process of combating a disorder (such as alcoholism) or a real or perceived problem; or a return to a healthy state of health, mind, or strength, just to name a few.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) worked on this very concept for years and their definition is the best, in my opinion. According to them recovery is "a process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their own potential." SAMHSA goes further and delineates four major dimensions and ten guiding principles making theirs a broad and holistic view. (Check out more here.)
To me, all of this means that recovery from any issue, loss, health problem, or crisis is a complicated process that impacts many areas of a person's life. What your recovery looks like and how you define it is completely up to you. We know best what areas we struggle with and what strengths we can draw from to be successful. We also know best what a life-worth-living looks like, for us. Often times though, we struggle with how to achieve it.
Studies have shown that many people still don't use professional support to successfully navigate the choppy waters of early recovery. Whether it's because of misinformation or stigma, therapy is still seen as something shameful. Needing or wanting therapy is not weird, it's actually far more normal than we ever give it credit for. Life is hard. It can be brutal at times. The good news is we can recover, even if we just need a little help along the way.
I often hear people say “I don’t need help. I can do it on my own.” And, you know what, you’re right. You could also roof your own house or change your own oil, if you wanted to, but isn’t it so much easier to get help from someone who’s a professional?
The truth is, people seek therapy for many reasons and share many common struggles around issues of freedom, justice, autonomy, loneliness, and love, to name a few. There's nothing wrong with wanting some help to recover a happy life. I think it's something all human beings go through at some point. As I once heard someone say, "We're all in recovery from something."
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