May 6, 2020Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. As a Blogger, I was chosen to participate in the Texas Campaign for SOBA Recovery.
I worked in the mental health field for almost 8 years. I facilitated support groups. I was a trainer for many different conferences. I offered hope to those who did not have any. I am a person with lived experience.
When I first was diagnosed with Bipolar back in 1996, there were no support groups available. A person had two people they could reach out to, their Psychiatrist and/or their Counselor.
There was and still is so much stigma around mental health. People are naive to the fact that people do recover. I am here to tell you people can and do as I am the evidence that recovery is possible.
I was employed at one of the nine State Hospitals in Texas. I was a Certified Peer Support Specialist. I received extensive training to work in this field. As a Certified Peer Specialist, two of the requirements were being a person with lived experience and a person living in recovery. Another requirement was being able to share my story when appropriate. I did not share the war stories of my mental illness, but I did share HOPE.
Something that was introduced to me when I was going through my own recovery was the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) - a self-designed prevention and wellness process that anyone can use to get well, stay well and make their life the way they want it to be. It was developed by Mary Ellen Copeland.
During my employment at the hospital, I worked with individuals who had been admitted to the hospital for various reasons. One of the things I spoke to them about was the WRAP. This was done either by one on one or in a group setting. There are many layers to a person's WRAP plan. A few of the areas we discussed in great detail were Triggers, Daily Maintenance Plan, Action Plans, and the Crisis Plan.
Something that was introduced to me when I was going through my own recovery was the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) - a self-designed prevention and wellness process that anyone can use to get well, stay well and make their life the way they want it to be. It was developed by Mary Ellen Copeland.
During my employment at the hospital, I worked with individuals who had been admitted to the hospital for various reasons. One of the things I spoke to them about was the WRAP. This was done either by one on one or in a group setting. There are many layers to a person's WRAP plan. A few of the areas we discussed in great detail were Triggers, Daily Maintenance Plan, Action Plans, and the Crisis Plan.
Recognizing what and how Triggers (arousal of feelings or a memory from a traumatic event. i.e. a sudden loud sound, the popping of a balloon, a certain song, a certain smell) affect a person is vital to their recovery. We have to be able to identify triggers in our life in order to work towards our wellness.
Once triggers are identified, conversations can be had to discuss how a person's Daily Maintenance Plans (DMP) (a list of things a person needs to do daily to maintain wellness. i.e. taking medications, bathing, eating, etc.) might look.
After the DMP, Action Plans were created. An Action Plan is (a document listing specific steps to achieve a specific goal. i.e. at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I will take 3 of my 5 prescriptions. Naming each prescription).
Once the Triggers, Daily Maintenance and the Action Plan is identified, the last step is to create a person's personal Crisis Plans (a document that outlines what a person is like when they are well, specific people to contact and not contact, describes physical and mental health issues, will list medications that work and don't work, gives others an idea of how to care for a person during a crisis. i.e. When I am feeling good, I am cheerful, outgoing, and happy. When I am in a crisis, I will be angry, confrontational, and easily aggravated.)
Subjects like Depression, Bipolar, Schizophrenia, Substance Abuse, and Alcoholism would come up when working with individuals at the hospital. Being able to educate them on mental health recovery and how they too, could move from a place of crisis into recovery was rewarding.
I'm thankful I was introduced to the Wellness Recovery Action Plan as it was vital in my recovery. Today, I still use my plan. It has been in place since 2005.
I'm thankful I was introduced to the Wellness Recovery Action Plan as it was vital in my recovery. Today, I still use my plan. It has been in place since 2005.
If you are in crisis or feel like you need intervention before a crisis begins, you may reach out to Soba Recovery. They have a simple admission process with addiction specialists on standby 24/7. Here is the direct admissions helpline 866-547-6451 and their website is https://sobarecovery.com
I wish you all the best and know, Recovery IS Possible!
Heart to Heart Soul Creations
H2hsc2020
Twitter: H2hsc2020
Instagram: Heart to Heart Soul Creations
Pinterest: Heart to Heart Soul Creations (H2hsc2020)
#SobaMentalHealth, #MentalHealthAwareness, #TexansHelpingTexans, #HOPE,
#recoveryispossible, #Iamtheevidence, #WRAP
So, as they say in Hollywood, that's a wrap!
ReplyDeleteGlad you've got yours.