Finding Your Way: The Mental Health Journey

You might hear mental health professionals say that recovery is not a linear process. And we here at The LegalMind Society know just how true that is. For someone struggling with their mental health and well-being, the idea of recovery might seem out of reach, or else it might be daunting and full of terrifying unknowns. Some might also resist the idea of recovery, not ready to face the challenges they need to. The fact is that recovery is a journey. It might start in a dark and difficult place, travel through amazing peaks filled with sun and brightness, only to sink into valleys of gloom again. So, how do you find your way while on a mental health journey?

There are no maps, no right answers. If you’ve seen one person’s recovery, you’ve seen one person’s recovery. What worked for me might be different from what works for you and is probably different from what works for someone else. Thus, it is up to you to make your own map.

Journaling and therapy can help. These tools can help identify trends, route markers if you will, that will help you know yourself. Seeking support through therapy or from a peer support specialist can also help. Peer support, in particular, can act like a guide, showing things that enabled them and working with you to identify what works for you. Moreover, simply having someone who is there to hear you and let you know you're not alone can be such an important reality when dealing with recovery.

There is also no ending point in a traditional sense. You will hear people say they are recovering, not that they are recovered, because there are always risks of backslides, of bad days, and times that the darkness creeps back in. Sometimes you see it coming, like a storm on the horizon, and other times it sneaks up on you out of nowhere. Yet just as with any storm, the light comes out again.

If you are lost on your mental health journey, or even if you just need a little extra support, know that you are not alone and that help is available. Reach out to us at info@thelegalmindsociety.org or sign up for a support time through our website.