Wellness Recovery Action Plan

Learning self help skills for dealing with physical and emotional symptoms can be simple...but it's a much greater challenge using self help methods during the most difficult times-when they can help the most-and incorporating them into daily life.

This book presents a system developed and used successfully by people with a variety of physical and emotional symptoms. It has helped them use self care skills more easily to monitor their symptoms, decrease the severity and frequency of symptoms, and improve the quality of their lives.

The following example will help you be aware of how this plan can help when trying to avoid, or addressing a condition that seems to be rampant in our fast paced society. It is aptly called "burn-out" and it is caused by working too hard or under too much stress without taking time to take care of yourself. "Burn-out", if not addressed, will interfere with day to day functioning, and might even cause a more serious illness.

The symptoms of "burn out" often mimic a physical or psychological disorder. They include:

*irritability

*disturbed sleep

*increased anxiety

*poor memory

*feeling "spaced out"

*feeling like a failure at everything

*feeling overwhelmed

*feeling emotionally disconnected to things that have meaning in your life

*decreased ability to make decisions

*racing thoughts

*anger

*edginess

*nothing seems worthwhile

*feeling helpless, hopeless and worthless As you think about your symptoms, you may realize you are becoming "burned out" or are already "burned out". Then you would develop your book to address "burn out".

Unfortunately, many people respond to "burn out" by trying harder at everything, a strategy that is bound to fail. Your plans of what you need to do for yourself might include:

*stopping or decreasing the amount of time spent dealing with work and other

responsibilities

*rest

*talking and crying time (see Peer Counseling in the Appendix)

*a variety of creative activities (see Creative Activities in the Appendix)

*avoidance of activities that increase stress

*giving yourself permission to say "no".

If you follow your plans, you will notice that the feelings that indicated you are "burned out" will begin to abate. If they don't, you may need to change your plans, work with a section toward the back of the book that includes more direction, or see a health care professional.