Recovery will not be rushed

Michael Carty

For any soul on any kind of road to recovery, it will prove a long and arduous process. But sticking with this path might be the only route to positive transformation.

I realised the other day that the start of this month marked the third anniversary of my embarking on my – for want of a better turn of phrase – mental health journey.* Comparing where I was in March 2022 to where I am now, the difference feels like night and day. At that point, I felt as if everything was collapsing and in crisis, my mind in turmoil.

Today I feel as though I am a long way along the road to recovery. I seem to be in a good ‘holding pattern’ of sorts, in terms of the relative stability of my mental health. I continue to take antidepressants and heart medication, and perhaps I always will. But the overall feeling now is one of stability and optimism.

Looking back to the start of this mental health journey, the first step was by far the most important.

Recovery must be willed

Before any process of recovery can even begin, it is likely the case that the person – the soul – in question must recognise that they face a significant problem or issue, and that they must want to recover, or want to change.

The change that needs to be made or the process of recovery that might transform everything for the better might seem self-evident to the outside observer. But for that person to make meaningful change, they must first recognise that change needs to be made, or realise what thing needs to be changed.

A person’s own actions or behaviours might be harming them. The circumstances or situation in which the person finds themselves might be harming them. An undiagnosed mental or physical ailment might be affecting them. They may or may not even be aware of where this harm is coming from. They might not even recognise that any harm is occurring.

You might see these signs in another soul. Even if these signs seem as clear as day to you, they might not be to the person you wish to help. They will only recognise the signs when the time is right. Be patient, and be there for them when they truly need you.

Recovery will not be rushed. Recovery will not be forced. Recovery must be voluntary.

Recovery must be willed by the soul at the centre of this process.

For any soul on any kind of road to recovery, it will prove a long and arduous process. But embarking on and sticking with this path might be the only route to positive transformation.

May you be nothing but kind today, to others and to yourself.

May today be nothing but kind to you and yours.

RESOURCES

  • Mental health (NHS) Information and support for your mental health from the NHS.
  • Information and support (Mind) Resources from Mind, the UK mental health charity.
  • NAMI Homefront (NAMI) Online resources from US charity NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
  • SANE Australia Visit the site of this “national mental health charity making a real difference in the lives of people affected by complex mental health issues”.

FOOTNOTES

* If the might be of use to you, here are all the posts so far in the ongoing series on my mental health journey over the past three years or so: Into the infinity of thoughts; Renewal; No words?; Mental health first response; Glorify; In our darkest hours; At the heart of things; No feeling is final; Relax harder. Anxiety: Your own worst enemy; All these moments; Mental health: Six things I’ve learnt in 2022; Coping?; The sun will return; Gratitude; Mental health: Night and day; Transitions; Peace?; It’s OK to forget; Stayin’ alive; and First rays.

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