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Jackie courageously shared her story to mark Schizophrenia Awareness Week, which takes place 17 May - 23 May. Her story about recovery however, is relevant to many of us regardless of diagnosis.
We may not all be at a point of recovery.. but we have taken a first step (coming onto the Forums is a step forward).
Tuesday's discussion will focus on what was the turning point or moment that moved you towards 'reengineering and rebuilding' yourself?
In response to: Topic Tuesday **closed** The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
PaigeCasual Contributor
Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
@simply_me
I agree that notions of failure and success greatly affect recovery and how we view our progress. I have noticed that I adopted societies notion of success- go to Uni, get a good job, find a partner, save for a house, get married, and then live happily ever after. Every episode I had seemed to disrupt that path and it would make things worse.
I have learnt to define my own life, which may not fit in my "pre-organised" timelines or how society dictates. And surprisingly, I feel awake and alive more than ever. I found I was just going through the motions, trying to abide by the the "shoulds." But now I am making decisions that make me truly happy. And secretly, I kind of like doing things slightly differently, because they are best for me. Once you let go of the "shoulds" you truly start living.
In response to: Topic Tuesday **closed** The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
-karma-Senior Contributor
Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
@simply_me yes our society is very focused on what people do in terms of work, and a lot of people highly identify with what they do. It's a process to shift away from this, and still maintain a sense of self and self esteem.
In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
CherryBombSenior Contributor
Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
Yeah! What @Paige said! I couldn't have said it any better.
I reckon it's so important to do things that make you happy. Trying to live by standards set outside of you, places your own happiness outside you. Social pressures/expectations can place a lot of unnecessary stress on people. Nothing is one size fits all!
Welcome to the Forums @Paige - I've not seen you around before. May I ask how you had that realisation? I ask this for any people out there who may be struggling with this - what would you say to them?
In response to: Topic Tuesday **closed** The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
RosieSenior Contributor
Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
I can't let go of my notions of success, becasue I want to be better as a grow older.
In response to: Topic Tuesday **closed** The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
-karma-Senior Contributor
Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
Has anyone read, 'Tell me I'm here', by Anne Devenson?
In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
simply_meContributor
Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
@Paige - the shoulds were / still are difficult to totally ignore - However, like you, perhaps the aspects which we previously considered to be 'different' are now in some ways strengths and characteristics which we can embrace - much easier to do when we are feeling strong and the resilience factor is high!
@CherryBomb - I think you asked the question re the process of changing the notion of success. As a psychiatrist told me about 35 years ago - some things will get easier with age. It may have taken 30 years - but I have found those observations to be fairly accurate. It hasn't meant letting go of the dream of being able to participate in the workforce as I would dearly love to - what it has meant is that I am now much more kinder to myself because of the fact that my MI virtually precludes me from doing so. Bittersweet is a term I use regularly!
In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
CherryBombSenior Contributor
Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
@-karma- no, what is it about?
@Rosie, I agree, I don't let go of wanting success otherwise it can feel like I've got nothing to work towards. Though I find that my ideas of success change as i change - as long as I'm sticking to my values, I find that I'm generally doing well.
In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
simply_meContributor
Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
I haven't, but will check it out. Thanks (re. 'Tell me I'm here', by Anne Devenson)
In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
CherryBombSenior Contributor
Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
I have a question for you all @simply_me@Rosie@Paige @-karma-
What were the most challenging obstacles in reegineering/rebuilding yourself? How did you overcome them/how are you working through or with them?
In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
simply_meContributor
Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself
I need to head off - many thanks for the great thoughts and discussions - look forward to catching up again.
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