Monday, October 13, 2014

Embracing an active, not passive, recovery

Lately I have been reflecting on the concept of leadership in mental health. When we’re anxious, it’s easy to adopt a “woe is me” attitude. We often turn to others for comfort. In my case, I would ask my loved ones the same questions over and over, seeking some sort of relief while irritating those who only wanted to help. I thought medications alone would quickly relieve my symptoms—I was quickly disappointed.

In essence, I was adopting a passive attitude toward my mental health. I was hoping that outside forces, whether they be friends, family members, therapists, or pills, would relieve my symptoms and make life more bearable. 

What I didn’t realize then, but I learned later in Recovery, is that anything meaningful in life takes effort and will power. We celebrate high school and college graduations because it takes hard work to achieve those goals. We don’t wait around for a promotion; to advance, we have to talk to the boss about why we deserve greater pay and responsibility. With something as important as our mental health, we can’t assume that things will simply get better or that others can transform our lives.

The path to sound mental health begins with self-leadership.

On this point, Dr. Low was clear. For our symptoms to abate, we must practice Recovery techniques to improve our lives. I emphasize the word practice because information alone doesn’t lead to meaningful change. You can read about improved mental health all day long, but you will not get well until you practice techniques, deal with uncomfortable feelings and sensations, and learn to control thoughts and impulses. To do this demonstrates self-leadership.

The concept of leadership has been enormously empowering in my Recovery journey. All the tools for wellness are right with me all the time, and I have the power to improve my life. Friends, family members and, in some cases, medications can certainly be important adjuncts to one’s own Recovery practice. Yet to truly embark on an active Recovery, on the path to wellness, one must embrace self-leadership, let go of a passive attitude, and embrace change, despite the road bumps one might encounter along the way.

35 comments:

Shawnn said...

I decided to google anxiety blogs.. to maybe start one myself or to be able to interact with others that are in the same state as I am, to get some comfort and maybe some solutions to help me in my process also. Do you have any suggestions? Or may we chat?

Thank you,
Shawnn

Unknown said...


Cannot agree with this anymore. For years, I had wondered why the techniques I was given didn't work. It was because I wasn't noticing the lack of work I'd put in.

It's important to be constantly vigilant of maladaptive thoughts. Sometimes they come up and you don't even realise. And every time they appear, you HAVE to apply things like thought challenging and other things to calm you down.

Now I actually have a better time moving on from times of perceived failures in social situations (I am overcoming social anxiety).

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
FoMHealth said...

You're so right, we need to take an active part in our recovery. Like school, recovery takes a long time and we continue to learn, recover, take steps, leaps, steps backwards...to continue to recover from our mental illnesses. And while using our friends and family to help us cope is a great technique, it doesn't help us 'recover'. Knowing when to practice and apply those coping and recovery techniques is incredibly important too. Acknowledging the signs, thoughts and actions when they happen and knowing which tools to use and when is imperative!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Bazzee said...

Hello Doug, I have just found your blog and it is great. As a person who has battled with anxiety for most of my life, a lot of what I read was so spot on. I look forward to reading your future posts.

I would love you and your readers to have a look at my blog that focuses on having a laugh at life.

I also have a section about my anxiety and a bit of a funny look at it.

http://bazzee.blogspot.com.au

Wishing you and all your readers all the best and to stay strong.

Best Regards,
Bazzee

Anonymous said...

I have also from social Anxiety.It is hard, really. I have try a lot of systems but few helped me... (One wich helped me I thinks it was the one in http://findsomehelp.net or a similar web )
My suggestions,do not stop, be strengh... fight by your dreams.

Sophie Wakeham said...

I would just like to say I've enjoyed your blog. I like to read other people's perspectives on anxiety as I have it myself and yours is interesting.
Currently on my blog I'm writing the results of some experiments I'm doing of alternative methods to reduce anxiety symptoms and I was thinking this could come of some use to you. Great blog, I'll share you with some friends :)

Unknown said...

You can google anxiety forums if you want to talk to people with the same problem. I know the site that helped me the most was dontworryaboutanxiety.com . I believe it was written by a younger adult, but the information on the site is very helpful.

escortbayann said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Vidya Gargote said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Vidya Gargote said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Robin said...

Thank you for this, I needed to read it today! I will be reading more about the RI program, it seems like just what I've been looking for.

Jack said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Carina Andrews said...

I just started a blog myself and I was looking for another similar blog to look up to and I have found it. I so agree with your opinions! Have a look at my blog too!
hey-its-okay.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Doug said...

Thank you all for your comments. I appreciate that you have visited my blog and found it helpful.

Anonymous said...

I definitely encourage blogging as therapy. Sometimes being honest with yourself and others is a huge leap forwArd in fighting against anxiety. Check out www.theanxiousturtle.com

Mahendra Trivedi said...

Thank you for your article, with your time and talent! I am also struggling with anxiety since 3 years and now I am on the recovering stage. I hope I would share my story soon to you guys.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Garima Arora said...

Femaleescortingurgaon Agency is very old for offering Escorts Services. They are providing Gurgaon Escorts Services with stunning girls.

Mahendra Trivedi said...

There are many forum site where you can share your views and get solutions from others experiences.

Unknown said...

Mayaescorts agency providing escorts services in all over Delhi and Gurgaon please read the following services:- 1) Chanakyapuri Escorts 2) Delhi Escorts Guide 3) Amusing Escorts Services in Delhi.

Anonymous said...


It is defined as a combination of some of the depression symptoms and some of the anxiety symptoms without either one of them being the ultimate diagnosis.
Unlike anxiety, mixed anxiety depressive disorder is not caused by an individual event or specific stressors in the life of the patient.
For more visit: anxiety depression disorder

Anonymous said...


Anxiety or panic attack is considered to be a normal reaction to stress or other situations that promote stress.
This symptom is often accompanied with other conditions such as general shortness of breath, chest pain, or abdominal distress.
Take a look: anxiety attack symptoms

uzzal said...


Generalized anxiety disorder is generally treated by cognitive behavioral therapy.
Studies have also suggested that there may be a genetic component, that if siblings or parents suffer from anxiety that there may be an increased risk of developing these disorders.
For more information: anxiety disorder

the weed man said...

cannabis products helps with anxiety


Buy Generic Medicines Online said...


Order Xanax Online

Buy Adderall Online

Buy Tramadol Online

Buy Ambien Online

Buy Xanax Online

Buy Adderall XR Online

wayrightmeds said...

Fioricet is a prescription combination drug. It contains a combination of acetaminophen, butalbital, and caffeine. Each of these substances works separately with their particular purpose.

Buy Fioricet Online
Buy adderall Online

Buy Dilaudid Online
Buy Ambien Online

James Smith said...

Online Medz Pharmacy is a website that provides various types of medications. We help the persons who are suffering from some severe diseases like sleep disorder, ADHD, Weight loss, pain relief and anxiety disorder by providing them Xanax, Vicodin, Tramadol, and other drugs. We have all types of Generics and brands of medications with several strengths.

Buy Xanax Online
Methadone for Sale
Buy Ambien Online

Painmeds365 said...


Really a very nice post and informative Blog. Painmeds365 is a popular accredited online pharmacy located in the USA. Enjoy further discounts when you buy in bulk. We sell a wide range of effective and very affordable anxiety remedies that you can order from your own home from our curated website.

Buy Lypin 10mg USA
Buy Clonazepam 2mg Online
Buy Bensedin Online
Buy Belbien Online
Buy Citra Tabletas

Buy Tramadol 100mg Online said...


Works for me with no side effects.

Dona Robert said...

Such a beautiful post, I want to share a testimony on how Dr itua healing herbs cure me.
The worst time has passed”However, it is true that there are more improvements than before...because of the rising numbers of people living with HIV in the state of Nevada. How could they stigmatize all of them? Therefore everything becomes a little easier and we start to share everything... We also started to invite and visit each other in a community. You know, it is six years since I started taking antiretroviral drugs...Yet whatever problems I face, the worst time has passed
When I was evicted from the family home by my mother, my father rented a small room for me. But my mother and brothers believed that having HIV was my own fault – and that I deserved to be punished...I also considered myself unworthy and without hope... But I have a child and eventually I convinced myself to live for my child’s sake.
My mother knew nothing [about HIV]. She didn’t understand anything. Do you know why? She didn’t have [the chance] to go out of the house and communicate with society. However, my father does interact with the community. I know his friends are mature and dignified in africa america. So he has a better understanding than her.
My father came call me on a sadfull day sitting on my couch about a friend of his from africa who introduce him to Dr Itua herbal cure in africa in which he advise we should purchase his herbal medicine to cure my hiv so we did and Dr Itua prescribed I should drink the herbal medicine for two weeks to cure although we were so curious about the whole thing ,I finished the herbal medicine like he advised then he talked to me to visit my nearest clinic for check up I did and now I'm totally cured from Hiv my father was my rock and I and my family are now happy together also Dr Itua has be helpful in my community ever since he cure my Hiv and my tinnitus so why I'm leaving my story on here today is to reach out someone out here to hope on God and never give up no matter the situation you that you are facing especially through this pandemic seasons which has really taught us all on how we should be helpful to each other and cherish one another.
Dr Itua cures the following diseases..... Herpes,Liver cancer,Throat cancerLeukemia. ,Alzheimer's disease,Chronic Diarrhea,Copd,Parkinson,Als,Adrenocortical carcinoma Infectious mononucleosis.
Intestinal cancer,Uterine cancer,Fibroid,Bladder cancer,Hiv,Esophageal cancer,Gallbladder cancer,Kidney cancer,Hpv,Lung cancer,Melanoma,Mesothelioma,Multiple myeloma,Oral cancer,Sinus cancer,Hepatitis A,B/C,Skin cancer,Soft tissue sarcoma,Spinal cancer,Stomach cancer,Vaginal cancer,Tinnitus,Vulvar cancer,
Testicular cancer ,Thyroid Cancer.
You can contact Dr Itua Herbal Center on E-Mail: drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com.