THE RECOVERY JOURNEY

There are many illnesses that are ongoing or ‘chronic’. They often need continuing treatment to keep symptoms under control - for example, diabetes or asthma. Psychosis can be similar. With psychosis, some people will only ever have a single episode, but for many it tends to come back every so often.

Recovery is about getting your life back on track after an episode of psychosis, and finding ways to take control of your future.

To begin with, recovery is often about getting symptoms under control so you can get on with your life. Then it can be about staying well, making sure that symptoms don’t return and that relapse is avoided. These stages of recovery usually involve a combination of treatments and support such as medication, coping strategies, lifestyle changes and positive people who can help you meet your own needs for sustaining an enjoyable and meaningful life. These can help you build a firm foundation for ongoing recovery

Recovery often isn’t a straight road; it can involve many ups and downs, and twists and turns. Sometimes there will be setbacks, but don’t sweat it if you can’t always stick to your plans, be realistic, pick yourself up and start over. Recovery is about having goals for your life and working toward them, even when it’s tough.