Moving Forward in the recovery process

Katherine Victoria Vananderland
Apr 4, 2021
2 min read

Steps and Actions to use to find peace Enjoy the Journey to Mental Health Healing

Develop a social support system
Have friends and family who don't use any substances
Stay Active
Express creativity
Be involved in self-help programs for mental health, substance use problems or both
Be aware of the environment and how it affects you
Be in touch with spirituality
Make time for fun
Connect with Nature
Follow through with treatment choices

Make it your own:

Step One: Stay Active - Find a way to keep moving with exercise and guided meditation

Step Two: Express Creativity - Write a poem, sing a song

Step Three: Have friends and family who don't use substances, Meet with them and go out for an activity as a family with game night, or movie night

Step Four: Connect with nature: Be outside and smell the fresh air, touch a flower, see the beauty in the outdoors

Make a Plan for home practice this week:

What I will do: I will learn how to paint with acrylics

When: On Monday after Group

Where: At Anchor House

With whom: My group

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

Four major dimensions 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.

Develop a Recovery Plan

If you are struggling with a mental health problem, you may want to develop a written 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 longer term goals
Track any changes in your mental health problem
Identify triggers or other stressful events that can make you feel worse, and help you learn how to manage them
Get information about Partners for Recovery, which provides technical resources to those who deliver services for mental health and substance abuse conditions.