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Recovery Or Management?


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We occasionally see people comment on here, when asked how far they are on the road to recovery, give a percentage figure - 60,70,80 %.

Any progress is good. Progress that means a sufferer is fit enough to apply for jobs and get back into the work culture is brilliant. 

But can we hope to just manage our OCD sufficient to live a reasonable normal life, or can we hope to do better than that?

This illness is a tough opponent. It uses our own brainpower against us, builds layers of restrictions, plays games with us, throws out more hurdles, new themes, repetitions, blurred "memories. So is it just too difficult to completely recover - are the odds too heavily stacked against that? 

Talk to those percentage recoverees and I reckon they will all say they want more. Full recovery is their Holy Grail, the target they want to reach. 

They look for what's holding them back. They will try additional things to CBT. Maybe meds, mindfulness, hobbies - greater exposure. 

We needn't be satisfied with management. Different things suit different sufferers to different degrees. It is so worthwhile keeping on that journey, following the yellow brick road that may get us to that recovered state. 

I would just love to change my status to ex-sufferer, but I don't think that will happen any time soon. 

I am wary, not going to put pressure on myself, mindful of hiccups setbacks relapse possibilities. 

But I am still on the pathway, always looking to improve - using what I have learned, not avoiding, keeping up exposure, practising good exercise, diet, meditation, mindfulness and sleeping well. 

And I do find seeking to help others also helps myself. 

 

Edited by taurean
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I believe in you Roy and one day you will be able to change your status :yes: just look how far you’ve come in the last eighteen months you have done amazing :cheer:and your always working hard to make this happen :yes:

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Thanks lost. I have something further to aim for, but meanwhile I am just enjoying the freedom to do things without fear. 

The CBT wasn't the only thing I needed. It's core to recovery, but other techniques may be needed in addition, so I think my personal experience is an indicator that having an open mind to recovery is important. 

You and I, lost, have found mindfulness beneficial in that regard. I also identified well with The Four Steps - that concept cast off blinkers that were holding me back. 

Here is so beneficial, because we are sharing experiences. Unfortunately what works for one may not work for another - but who knows unless we try it. 

And when someone reaches the end of a course of CBT, it's not the end of the journey, it's a kick-start towards successful management - and needs the hard work putting in by the sufferer to change the unhelpful negative OCD mental thinking and behaviours that have gone on before. 

All of us are on a voyage :boat: of discovery. We can anchor in port when we are managing well. 

But if we want further success, up must come the anchor ⚓ and we must continue to sail the recovery seas. 

Edited by taurean
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From the outside looking in my life seems normal I work,socialise go to the football,I suppose you could call me high functioning mentally ill but I'm still so desperately unhappy and can't see how that's gunna change? 

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I think it doesn't help you to keep branding yourself as mentally ill. 

A little reframing will go a long way to creating some happiness. 

An old man was being interviewed on TV and was asked why he was so happy. 

" I make it my business to be happy", he said. "I can choose to be happy or sad. I choose happy". 

For me, having a mental illness, or some other disability, is not a defeat. It's an opportunity. It's an opportunity to use knowledge I can learn to create a better me. 

If we believe in defeat, we will be defeated. If we are determined to change things for the better, we will do so. 

Reframing is a part of this. Challenges are opportunities, not defeats. 

Negative bias, and catastrophising, can be changed to a happier perception. Blue can become pink. 

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1 hour ago, taurean said:

Thanks lost. I have something further to aim for, but meanwhile I am just enjoying the freedom to do things without fear. 

The CBT wasn't the only thing I needed. It's core to recovery, but other techniques may be needed in addition, so I think my personal experience is an indicator that having an open mind to recovery is important. 

You and I, lost, have found mindfulness beneficial in that regard. I also identified well with The Four Steps - that concept cast off blinkers that were holding me back. 

Here is so beneficial, because we are sharing experiences. Unfortunately what works for one may not work for another - but who knows unless we try it. 

And when someone reaches the end of a course of CBT, it's not the end of the journey, it's a kick-start towards successful management - and needs the hard work putting in by the sufferer to change the unhelpful negative OCD mental thinking and behaviours that have gone on before. 

All of us are on a voyage :boat: of discovery. We can anchor in port when we are managing well. 

But if we want further success, up must come the anchor ⚓ and we must continue to sail the recovery seas. 

What a great way to explain it Roy :yes: I totally relate to what you are saying and it’s spot on :yes:

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