Individual Accountability

           At times, there are mountains of rules and regulations that consumers have to climb through to receive mental health services, because the system is not designed to be user friendly, and these challenges can be overwhelming to consumers that know the course they need to go. So imagine the difficulty that consumers face; perhaps, this is why two-thirds of people with neurobiological symptoms don’t seek care (National Alliance on Mental Illness, n.d.).

            The recovery model has many facets and is a nonlinear process that causes individuals with a neurobiological disorder to fluctuate along the recovery process, thus making it difficult for not only the individual but for mental health professionals as well (Gehart, 2012; Onken et al., 2007; Pilgrim, 2009; Segal, Silverman, & Tempkin, 2010).  According to ecological theories in social work and social psychology Jaccard, Litardo, Wan, Dodge, & Dittus (1999, 2002) there are five broad classes of variables that may affect behavioral change and they are demographics, familial characteristics, social networks, personality variables, and provider characteristics. It should be noted that there are variables beyond anyone’s control; for example, financing, governance, organizational culture and climate, and so on (Jaccard et al., 1999, 2002).       No matter what the barriers are each individual is accountable for their health and wellness.

            Prochaska, Velicer, Rossi, Goldstein, Marcus, et al. (1994) explain how individuals can move forward or backward in their stages of readiness to change. The Transtheoretical model of change includes six stages of readiness to change: “precontemplation, contemplation, determination-preparation, action, maintenance, and relapse;” perhaps, it would benefit the individual to know about the service options that are available at each stage, so that they can have a meaningful share in the opportunities available to them (Prochaska, et al., 1994, p.40).

 

Individual Accounts

The following statements are responses from individuals with a neurobiological disorder or substance abuse disorder (often combined with neurobiological disorder) which are moving through the many facets of recovery:

Internal struggles regarding the reality of recovery…

I can't say I'm recovered, because I'm still ongoing, you know. I'd like to have a recovery. I never thought about that, I never talked that term with the doctor before, so I don't know. Maybe I am recovered, with the voices being gone, but they said I'd have to be on medication for the rest of my life. It doesn't go away. I'm not recovered. That would make me not mentally ill anymore (Windell, D., Norman, R., & Malla, A. K., 2012).

Internal struggles regarding a better future…

I don't know. [Recovery] could be unreachable for the rest of my life. I don't know. According to people, I'll be able to get out of it, but is there such a thing as 100% recover in psychosis? (Windell et. al., 2012).

The value of hope and embracing change…

[Recovery] means getting well, getting better. Not going through the same old situations. Giving up some old habits and getting some new things coming into my life. Changing people, places and things (Hipolito et al., 2011).

Overcoming the internal and external challenges…

I've recovered... Even the thoughts that are there now... aren't... I do have thoughts that could take over, but they don't. Without acting on it and placing a lot of significance... to take the thoughts with a grain of salt. I have to stay strong... and I have to know where to draw the line (Windell et. al., 2012).

Defining one’s own life goals and paths…

I'll know if recovery’s occurred for myself when I do get a job and I keep the job. And I do make new friends and get into a relationship. So once those things start happening and I'm able to keep those things in my life, then I'll know recovery has happened (Windell et. al., 2012).

Everyday obstacles…

I never have food, very little. I go to a food store that comes into our neighborhood every other week. There you can live on 3 loaves of bread, a bag of potatoes, and a bag of rice. My eating habits are very poor. Sometimes I go without eating for a long time … I would love to eat fresh, nourishing foods like fruits and vegetables. I dream of them. I can get a piece of watermelon so close to my mouth in my dreams, and then, for some reason, I can’t taste it … It is hard to sleep, I am so hungry sometimes (Davidson et. al., 2010, p.104).

Difficulties with family members…

I have a daughter who is in her twenties. I am a little upset about it right now because she was raised by her father from the age of 4 and now she lives out of town. She works. It is her birthday this month. Every birthday and holiday, I always send her gifts. I spent a lot of money on gifts for her, and they got sent back to the post office… I bought her some beautiful gifts. It sounds like I have a lot of money. I am on Social Security. That is all the money I have, and I spent like $300 on her. It took me 3 months to save up the money and I really put so much attention into what I got for her to show her all the love I have for her. It hurts that she doesn’t want her gifts. I am very, very hurt (Davidson et. al., 2010, p.104).

Cognitive impairments and inpatient trauma…

My memory loss. It’s scary … I forget a lot of stuff. I forget a lot of stuff. Names, names. I was so sick for 5 years in that hospital, I was so, so sick. I didn’t even know we had a war. There was always these new actors. I didn’t even know their names. My sister took me on the highway one day and it was a whole new highway. I had lost so much. It was frightening, very frightening. I don’t want to end up in the hospital again. That is a big fear. That is something I don’t want to happen. (Davidson et. al., 2010, p.110).

Hindrances when one’s spirituality is not integrated into the recovery…

They don’t care about your spirituality, but that’s what got me through…I probably would still be in an institution. But I worked through it. I don’t know how I did it. God must have helped me. (Davidson et. al., 2010, p.111).