A research paper by Sandy Walker and James Wilson
“Recovery is about building a meaningful and satisfying life, as defined by the person themselves, whether or not there are ongoing or recurring symptoms or problems”
(Shepherd et al 2008).
I wholly concur with the above sentiment and have said for a number of years that I have fully recovered, even though I still need to take daily medication to remain stable. I wrote about stigma and recovery in my first book: PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA, MY LABEL, MY LIFE and to give you a sneak preview I’ve reproduced the poem, with which I chose to end the book, below:
My Label, My Life
v1. Wherever I go, my label sticks out,
Oh, you suffer from schizophrenia,
Or is it Bi-Polar?
v2. Whichever it is, you’re not welcome.
You’re not serious,
How can you say, “I have recovered!”
v3. Recovered, Yes,
But I still need to take
My medication every day.
v4. Recovered from angina,
Kidney failure, or liver disease?
Will it pass? No, nor will those.
v5. Tablets, capsules and pills, control
Angina, kidney failure and liver disease,
In the same way these control my affliction.
v6. Do you mean to say,
I have to live in isolation?
No, I make friends instead!
v7. But a relationship with the other sex,
Goes sour when they hear ‘mental illness’.
They evaporate, a mirage, gone for good.
v8. Happiness is where I am satisfied,
Pleased with my life, pleased to be me,
Pleased to do my own thing.
v9. I’m independent, happy, free to come or go
Wherever I please. No one to answer to
No one to chide or deride me.
v10. I am an individual,
No different from any other,
Yet unique, like no other.
v11. I celebrate my illness,
It is me, it is my life.
Respect yourself, as I do me.
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