Reflecting Recovery

A zen garden in Kamakura, Japan






INTRODUCTION
Seeds of Recovery,  Flowers of Transformation

Recovery is both a process of personal transformation and a way of relating to the world. A path of Claiming and Reclaiming personal dignity and meaningfulness from the effects, shame and stigma associated with being disabled by symptoms of mental illness and its treatment.

Recovery is a catchword these days for many things and interpreted in many ways.  At base Recovery it is only 'real' in the lived experience of human beings. Of people themselves. People who are sometimes called, or call themselves, clients, consumers, patients, ex-patients. (Many believe however that Recovery has nothing to do with these labels.)

At the same time this vision of Recovery as a way of thinking, acting and being has fueled a powerful social movement, one that I hope to be able to contribute to in my work. This social movement inspired originally by consumer activists has finally driven the recognition and establishment of a national program for mental health systems transformation.

"Transformation" is a word easily used without respect for its deeply catastrophic sense.  I believe the Recovery Transformation of mental health systems represents a powerful shift in the way people are viewed and treated, one that is essential in advancing a more just and humane society. This is no simple thing however and powerful in its implications. To my view the Recovery Transformation presents a radical agenda for social change beginning at the level of the inner person but ultimately effecting even the world's most cherished and monied institutions.

Both the personal human level and the social change movement of Recovery is something that I will discuss here, from the frame of my work attempting to be a change agent inspired by this vision. I will also hope to try to keep the frame of these together as much as possible, because I believe that if the two are uncoupled -- the human is taken out of the theory or policy, or vice versa if our personal work and experience does not seek to advance larger progress in this area, the potential for positive transformation is limited.

At this page then I do not claim or intend to be authoritative, comprehensive or even internally consistent. Its my hope here to capture and distill the essence of consumer voices participating in this process, to observe parts of the journey of this worldwide project and to notice roadsigns on the way of transforming attitudes and ideas, practices and approaches of mental health and other systems.

The idea for this blog began as simply a place for me to put my random musings, rants and thoughts on  my  own work and life. The goal was to reflect on this mental health Recovery transformation as I experience it in my own life and work, to say what I really think and why I do this, and why I think it is important, partly to remind myself but also with the hope of inspiring you, readers and colleagues.

But I hope to expand upon this by building a community of thinkers, a place for dialogue and discussion of the difficult, critical and finer points this work that so many are dedicated beyond reason, beyond hope, perhaps beyond their own best interests a times. I will invite specific peopel to write in at times as well as present here relevant comments. Recovery and Transformation Journal may have the chance to evolve then into a genuine e-zine or print journal.

The dialogue of the Recovery movement is reshaping the world around us -- it is not always easy or even a peaceful conversation. Nor should we expect it to be-- all things important and powerful generate controversy, passion, resistance, sometimes even conflict.

Yet I believe that in this dialogue exists true power for change, change which makes  healthier  more actualized people and which also advances social justice. It's my hope you will join me with your thoughts on this complex and important issue. That you will add your reflections and knowledge, that we can thereby contribute to the dialogue and keep it growing.

If we keep this garden of thoughts seeded and watered, if we work together to grow new possibilities, if we protect it against the elements with our hearts and hands, we will all gain. We will gain strength from work, nourishment from the fruits and joy in hope and color of many flowers to come.