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NikNik
Senior Contributor

Topic Tuesday **closed** The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself

Hi everyone,

This Topic Tuesday was inspired by Jackie Lane and her story of 'reengineering and rebuilding' herself' after being diagnosed with schizophrenia. Read her story here

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?

 

37 REPLIES 37

Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself

Good evening everyone and welcome to this month's Topic Tuesday - the road to recovery.

I though I kick start the conversation by asking you what your opinions are of Jackie's story? Is it something that you can relate to, and if so how, or how not?

@Paige @Rosie @kristin - tagging for a friendly reminder as you indicated that you might be attending tonight.

@Crazy_Bug_Lady @Alessandra1992 @PeppiPatty and @Former-Member, I've tagged you, following on from this dicussion, I thought it might be useful to hear about how Jackie managed work and her MI.

Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself

The best thing about my breakdown was realising I wasn't alone with mental health challenges.
The professionals I worked with were great at normalising my experience but my biggest breakthrough was joining a peer support group. Learning and sharing strategies was crucial as I felt although my friends were very supportive, and encouraging, I needed to hear the truth of lived experience. Someone else who had walked a similar journey was incredibly healing.
The best thing about my breakdown was the passion it gave me to give back to others. To share and be part of other people's journey is an honour and a privelage...
Changing careers was not what I planned to do, but I am so glad I have..and I still attend a peer support group as I still have times of anxiety, stress and stuffing up.. Which is pretty ordinary!

Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself

@Alessandra1992

I hear ya, being able to give back is a great privilege.

I think getting support, and connecting with others who get what you're going through is pretty important. I'm curious, how you found going to your first session. I imagine that is could feel really overwhelming. Have you got any pointers for people thinking about going to group support?

Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself

I can relate to Jackie, as she was in quite a powerful and high-paying job and found herself with schizophrenia. It is a great personal disaster when you have a career trajectory and lose it. I guess that's why she called it 'reengineering and rebuilding' for her recovery.

Its an interesting way to put it as 'engineer' refers to designing planning and constructing and 'build' has the definition of make, construct or form using parts and materials.

Its interesting the different symbols and metaphors people use for recovery.

 

 

 

Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself

Realising that at some point in time I needed to accept that being a 'success' didn't necessarily mean I had to be part of the 'standard' workforce - changed the way I felt about myself in terms of being a contributor to society.  I still struggle with my own perceptions of what a good citizen should offer their community (and that often leads back to thoughts of employment).  However, I try to make a difference where I can - and for me, it is most likely going to be in non-conventional settings (as far as workplaces are concerned).

Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself

@Rosie yeah, I thought he same thing when I saw the words 'reegineer' and 'rebuild'. When I saw these words I thought it conveyed starting anew, and creating something, or pulling together many pieces that can feel fragmented and scattered.

I'm curious to see hear how other people frame and perceive their 'recovery' or 'staying well', and what it involves for you.

@simply_me raised a great point about redefining 'success'. I think're-engineering ourselves can sometime mean letting go of notions of success - hanging on to them, in some instances, can just create angst. I've certainly had to reassess my ideas of success, and it's been immensely helpful.

Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself

To my point before, what have been people's ideas of success been in the past, and how have they changed over time to the present date?

I guess for me, I used to look at bench markers by a certain age (i.e., have a house at 30, kids at 33 etc), but now, my main measure of success overall, is just to be happy and surrounded by people who are supportive and accepting.

Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself

I guess the first step was taking medication for me. I had to admit there was something wrong to make the next moves to reengineer and rebuild, to recover and stay well.

 

Re: Topic Tuesday now open / The road to recovery: Reengineering and rebuilding yourself

Having lived with a MI for what seems like forever - I don't actually consider the word 'recovery' in my situation.  Staying well or avoiding becoming unwell are definitely themes I can relate to.  For me - recovery equated to cure - and I was never going to achieve this - and would spiral down due to yet another failure of achieving complete wellness.  Sometimes reframing what we regard as success and failure can have a major impact on achieving a goal or specific outcome.

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