Recovery Articles and Videos
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"Mind precedes its objects. They are mind-governed and mind-made." - The Buddha |
Knowledge is Necessity. If you're one of the lucky ones, your medication will clear your head, restore your judgment, raise your IQ, make you lose 50 pounds, put ten million in your bank account, and have Brad or Angelina (take your pick) salivating over the prospect of 20 minutes alone with you.
On the other hand, if you're like the rest of us, you have your work cut out for you. The encouraging news is you don't have to settle for a miserable half-life. The sobering news is getting well and staying well involves being smart and disciplined - a fairly daunting prospect when we have our illness and a host of side issues to contend with.
The articles in this section serve the dual purpose of letting you know what you're up against and of giving you some answers. The recovery techniques here are simultaneously as old as the hills and backed by modern science, but there are no guarantees. You won't find out if they work for you or not until you put in the work.
The pic to illustrate Recovery is Vermeer's "The Lacemaker." I also use Vermeer to illustrate "Treatment." The Treatment pic has two people in it, suggesting the wisdom of seeking expert help. The Recovery pic has a solitary woman actively engaged in a pursuit, reinforcing the notion that we are in charge.
Recovery Principles
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Living well should not be a dream. |
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An innovative researcher discovers that patients know best. |
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We know our capabilities better than our clinicians. |
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How do we find peace and acceptance in the face of adversity? |
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These people are actually DOING it. |
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People problems, fears, bad habits ... |
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The definitive cheat sheet. |
Mindfulness
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Mindfulness - The Ultimate Mood Stabilzer What is arguably the most effective recovery tool requires a highly disciplined mind. |
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Mindfulness - Living in the Present Successfully negotiating the present allows us to make peace with our past and face the future with hope. |
Diet, Exercise, Sleep, Stress
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It's official. Good food is good for you. |
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Obesity is a worldwide epidemic. Fortunately you don't have to be part of it. |
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Moderation is good. |
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Read the label, first. |
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If you have a mood disorder you have sleep issues. |
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The catch is you have to do it. |
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The Stress-Emotions Connection Feeling an episode coming on? You're probably experiencing major stress. |
Spirituality
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This just in - faith and spirituality work. |
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Don't just stand there - sit. |
The Pursuit of Happiness
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We elude happiness more than happiness eludes us. |
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True happiness is doing it the hard way. |
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When things go wrong, do you blame yourself? |
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The basic virtues are universal. So why are they news to us? |
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Aiming for a life of meaning may be a more realistic goal. |
Play and Laughter
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Remember what being five-years-old was like? Neither do most of us. |
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Enjoy the peanut butter and other pearls of wisdom. |
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Snap! Everything in life is suddenly hysterical. |
Connecting and Reconnecting
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Reconnecting with others is all about active listening. |
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Let your words be few. |
Something Very Important
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The front line against depression is the home front. |
Where Meds Fit Into All This
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Meds are a complement to your recovery practices, not the other way around. |
Suicide Prevention
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Living well requires preparing for - and managing - the worst. |
Videos
