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History and Self-Directed Recovery Today we talk about recovery as if it is a new idea. However, the idea that people recover is not at all new. In 1881, the Superintendents at Worcester State Hospital in Massachusetts conducted a follow-up survey on 1,157 people discharged from that asylum between 1840 and 1893. They found that 58% of those people discharged as recovered, remained well for the rest of their lives, some as long as 40 years after discharge. The same researchers found that 51% of those discharged prior to 1840 also remained well for the rest of their lives. These recovery rates from the 19th century compare favorably with modern longitudinal studies of recovery that show that half to two thirds of people diagnosed with major mental disorders recover or significantly improve. If recovery rates are similar in the 19th century and the 20th century, then maybe these data say more about the fundamental resilience of people diagnosed, than about the "wonders" of modern treatment. This would be a consumer/survivor-centric interpretation of the data. People diagnosed with mental illness have been recovering across the centuries with, and sometimes in spite of, the "treatment" we have received. We need to reject the image of ourselves as fragile human beings who are broken or who need to avoid stress. We are strong, resourceful and resilient. We can and often do direct our own recovery. From a historical perspective there are many examples of this. One need only read the story of John Perceval's recovery in the early 1800's. In this fascinating first person account of self-directed recovery we learn of the wide variety of coping strategies that Perceval discovered in order to find his wellness. Among other strategies his voices taught him a form of meditation in which he attended to his breathing: "Moreover I have remarked, that when my mind is most disturbed, I breathe at that time violently and rapidly, and with difficulty through the nostrils...The spirits also which I conceived to speak to me, used to direct me to control my breath, and to 'breath gently up one nostril and down another.' I have often found too, that when I am depressed or agitated by any passion, a deep-drawn breath will change the whole complexion of thought and the tenor of my desires." (Perceval/Bateson p. 274). Perceval also learned to be a close observer of his own behavior as well as that of others. He learned to listen to the helpful voices. "Now the voices I used to hear during my illness at Dr. Fox's (madhouse) told me...'keep my head and heart together,' not to let 'my head go wandering from my heart,' - that 'if I kept my head and heart together,' I should do well." (p.272). In time Perceval learned that these voices had something of value to teach him. To paraphrase what his voices told him: Keep your heart and your head together and you will do well. Don't let your head go wandering off from your heart or you will be out of touch with what you really desire and need. What you really need is what your heart and health dictate. Keep your head focused on that. Sage advice!! Perceval also learned to challenge the voices that tormented him or threatened harm. Early on in his stay at the madhouse his voices were ordering him to do a variety of things and if he disobeyed, he was told he would be struck by a lightening bolt. In an act of courage Perceval defied the command, only to find that the thunderbolt struck harmlessly by his side. By challenging his delusional voices he was able to reality test the extent of their power. He condluded that they were not as powerful or correct as he as assumed: "A kind of confidence of mind came in me the evening after I had been threatened (by voices), and saw the thunderbolt fall harmlessly by my side...nothing ensuing, confidence again came in me, and this night a change took place in the tone of the voices." (p.54) Over the course of four years Perceval was able to use these and other self-directed recovery strategies to rid himself of his delusions and to think freely again. If you are interested in reading more about John Perceval's self-directed recovery, you can find his books excerpted in a text called "Perceval's Narrative", edited by Gregory Bateson (1974). I think we can learn from our history. Recovery is not a new idea. People have been directing their own recovery across the centuries. We are immersed in disease centered treatment systems. Recovery is a person centered model that acknowledges that we are not diseases. Diseases don't recover but people do. We need to remember to look to ourselves and to our peers to learn what we are already doing to help ourselves cope with our distress. We don't always need to look to professionals for answers. Sometimes our answers lie within us if only we listen. Posted by Pat : June 8, 2004 09:54 PMComments
Pat, I heard you speak at the EAGALA 5th Annual Conference in TN. I have been trying to get hold of the Inside/Outside video for our local Mental Health Association and have not been able to find it. It simply states that it will be released in Spring 2004. I was hoping that you might have some more updated informtion about it and when it will be released. I am on the board of our local MHA and we have been anxious to receive a copy of that video. Truly enjoyed your lecture. Do you lecture around the US and how much do you charge. We were considering having you come to our area but need to know a cost and what your schedule is like. Thank you so much for your persistance in your recovery. You give me much hope for those I work with and for. Sincerely, Dear Pat, I am the relatively new Executive Director here at Spectrum Human Services in Buffalo, N.Y.. Spectrum is a diverse human Services agency primarily serving adults who are in their recovery process. It appears to me to be very person-centered in its content and approach, which is important to me personally and is also an important aspect of a County-wide initative to integrate person-centered planning and values into the local mental health system. I would be very interested in your perspective on the Ohio approach, how person-centered you see the process, and whether there are any elements you would look to strenghten or change? We have a work group here forming to take the Ohio material and make it a beginning point for our own planning model. Your thoughts would be appreciated as another form of expert input into our thinking. Sincerely, Bruce Posted by: Bruce Nisbet at July 28, 2004 03:05 PMHello Pat, It has been awhile.I miss David alot and know that his spirit lives because of efforts by you and those others who truly care to make a difference. Hope to see you again one fine day. Yours truly, Karen Angela Carter Advocate (circa 1970) Posted by: Karen Angela Turgeon-Carter at July 29, 2004 01:36 AMHello Pat, I would like to give my sincirely appreciate to your work and way trying to give and ask everyone conserning mental health to seek for more wisdom. sincirely Hi Patricia and everyone, Best regards, This is my first time here and was wondering how often posts are made? Posted by: rita lee at November 2, 2004 02:00 PMHi Rita. Glad you stopped by the website. I try to drop and read comments a few times a week. |
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