Recovery

You deserve...to put your life as the top priority

...to learn, stretch and grow

...to make choices about your life

...to have options to draw from

...to fulfill your personal goals

...to celebrate the steps along the way

...to feel renewed

...to recover!Pathways to Recovery

10 Tips on Recovery• Believe in yourself and in your own

abilities to manage your illness.

• Maintain regular sleep patterns, a healthydiet, and daily exercise routines.

• Connect with a Peer Specialist or someoneyou know who has survived a mentalillness, and share your experiences.

• Learn everything you can about yourillness, including which medications andtreatment options are available.

• Talk to a professional about creating anindividualized treatment plan and learnabout what services are available to help.

• Discuss managing your illness withfriends and family and develop a supportnetwork of those who care about you.

• Keep a diary of which medications you’vetried, noting the side-effects and benefitsof each; also, track your symptoms, andtry to identify any specific triggers orpatterns.

• Develop a Wellness Recovery Action Plan(WRAP) for daily living and in case ofcrises situations.

• Join a community organization, such as asocial club or church, participate inrecreational activities, and explore work orvolunteer opportunities.

• Explore alternative and holistic forms ofhealing such as meditation, yoga, reiki,acupuncture, or spiritual/energy work.

70 Executive Center, 4851 Independence Street

Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-6715

303-425-0300 www.jcmh.org

“You gain strength, courage andconfidence by every experience inwhich you really stop to look fear inthe face. You must do the thingwhich you think you cannot do.”Eleanor Roosevelt

Jefferson Center offers various recovery groups.Talk to your provider for more information.

Recoveryfrom mental illness

...it ’s about restoring lives

What is Recovery?

RECOVERY: overcomingthe effects of one’smental illness andliving a satisfying and hopeful life.

Recent advances inmedical science haveproven that with the rightcombination oftreatment and servicespeople with mental illnesscan overcome the effects of the disease andlead full lives that reflect their dreams. Aswith any illness, the individual with mentalillness plays the central role to achieverecovery.

Recovery is a processover time, a journeywith hills and valleys.The journey is differentfor each person. It

begins with a new awareness that you cantake charge of your life.

As recovery progresses, people find it becomesa part of their entire life — mind, body, spirit,work, relationships, family and friends. Youbegin to live the life you want, with meaningand purpose, as you reverse the impact ofyour mental illness. By helping individualsrecover from mental illness, Jefferson Centerfor Mental Health is committed to supportingindividuals and families toward greaterindependence and community integration.

Recovery is possible

Recovery isa journey

Hope is the mostimportant part ofrecovering from amental illness. Believingthat recovery is possiblefuels the change indirection. Everyone has strengths. Hope meansbelieving in yourself and using your strengths tomanage and overcome the effects of your illness.Recovery requires risks—doing things likeconnecting with others that may, at first, seemoverwhelming or uncomfortable. Believe inyourself, and trust in your ability to overcomemental illness.

The path to recovery requires great courage andself-determination. No one knows your illnessbetter than you. You are the expert on what does

and doesn’t work foryou. The more you knowabout your illness, thebetter you can manage itby recognizing early

warning signs of a change in symptoms andlearning how to better monitor them in thefuture. It is important for you to determine yourown path towards recovery. Work with aprofessional—someone who is right for you—someone you can build trust with and sharemutual respect. Determine which medicationsand treatments have or have not worked for youin the past, and learn about other treatmentoptions, programs and services. Define both yourpersonal and treatment goals.

Hope is the key(believe in yourself)

You are incharge

You are not alone on this journey. Therapists,doctors and peer specialists will partner withyou as you work toward your recovery. They canhelp you understand therecovery process andsupport you in planningyour goals and steps toachieve them.

Connecting with others is an important part ofyour recovery. Seek out people who believe inyou and in your ability to overcome mental

illness. Your networkof support can comefrom many sources:friends, family, supportgroups, classes,

churches, clubs, volunteer jobs, work, recreationcenters, social events. Some will be friendlyacquaintances and others will be people withwhom you share your challenges andsuccesses. Participate in activities that reinforceyour strengths.

Jefferson Center is committed to providingmental health services that support youthroughout your recovery journey. A wide andgrowing variety of programs and services areavailable here at the Center, and many more inthe community. Talk to us and find out more!

But not alone

Connect with others

Restoring Lives...Renewing Hope

A Path to Growth and Change