In First Person Accounts of Mental Illness, case studies of individuals experiencing schizophrenia, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, substance use disorders, and other mental ailments will be provided for students studying the classification and treatment of psychopathology. All of the cases are written from the perspective of the mentally ill individual, providing readers with a unique perspective of the experience of living with a mental disorder. "In their book First Person Accounts of Mental Illness and Recovery, LeCroy and Holschuh offer the student, researcher, or layperson the intimate voice of mental illness from the inside. First Person Accounts of Mental Illness and Recovery is a wonderful book, and it is an ideal, even indispensable, companion to traditional mental health texts. I am grateful that they have given the majority of this book to the voices that are too often unheard." —John S. Brekke, PhD, Frances G. Larson Professor of Social Work Research, School of Social Work, University of Southern California; Fellow, American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare "This is absolutely a must-read for anyone who has been touched by someone with a mental illness, whether it be personal or professional. It is imperative that this book be required reading in any course dealing with psychopathology and the DSM, whether it be in psychology, psychiatry, social work, nursing, or counseling." —Phyllis Solomon, PhD, Professor in the School of Social Policy & Practice and Professor of Social Work in Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania A unique volume of first person narratives written from the perspective of individuals with a mental illness Drawing from a broad range of sources, including narratives written expressly for this book, self-published accounts, and excerpts from previously published memoirs, this distinctive set of personal stories covers and illustrates a wide spectrum of mental disorder categories, including: Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders Mood disorders Anxiety disorders Personality disorders Substance-related disorders Eating disorders Impulse control disorders Cognitive disorders Somatoform disorders Dissociative disorders Gender identity disorders Sleep disorders Disorders usually first diagnosed in infancy, childhood, or adolescence Reflecting a recovery orientation and strengths-based approach, the authentic and relevant stories in First Person Accounts of Mental Illness and Recovery promote a greater appreciation for the individual's role in treatment and an expansion of hope and recovery.

It is only in the past 20 years that the concept of 'recovery' from mental health has been more widely considered and researched. Before then, it was generally considered that 'stability' was the best that anyone suffering from a mental disorder could hope for. But now it is recognised that, throughout their mental illness, many patients develop new beliefs, feelings, values, attitudes, and ways of dealing with their disorder. The notion of recovery from mental illness is thus rapidly being accepted and is inserting more hope into mainstream psychiatry and other parts of the mental health care system around the world. Yet, in spite of conceptual and other challenges that this notion raises, including a variety of interpretations, there is scarcely any systematic philosophical discussion of it. This book is unique in addressing philosophical issues - including conceptual challenges and opportunities - raised by the notion of recovery of people with mental illness. Such recovery - particularly in relation to serious mental illness such as schizophrenia - is often not about cure and can mean different things to different people. For example, it can mean symptom alleviation, ability to work, or the striving toward mental well-being (with or without symptoms). The book addresses these different meanings and their philosophical grounds, bringing to the fore perspectives of people with mental illness and their families as well as perspectives of philosophers, mental health care providers and researchers, among others. The important new work will contribute to further research, reflective practice and policy making in relation to the recovery of people with mental illness.It is essential reading for philosophers of health, psychiatrists, and other mental care providers, as well as policy makers.

Focuses on a shift away from traditional clinical preoccupations towards new priorities of supporting the patient.

An essential volume for improving understanding of the recovery process for people diagnosed with schizophrenia Schizophrenia is widely considered the most severe and disabling of the mental illnesses. Yet recent research has demonstrated that many people afflicted with the disorder are able to recover to a significant degree. Living Outside Mental Illness demonstrates the importance of listening to what people diagnosed with schizophrenia themselves have to say about their struggle, and shows the dramatic effect this approach can have on clinical practice and social policy. It presents an in-depth investigation, based on a phenomenological perspective, of experiences of illness and recovery as illuminated by compelling first-person descriptions. This volume forcefully makes the case for the utility of qualitative methods in improving our understanding of the reasons for the success or failure of mental health services. The research has important clinical and policy implications, and will be of key interest to those in psychology and the helping professions as well as to people in recovery and their families.

Early in her life, Sandra started to exhibit the symptons of paranoid schizophrenia which came as a surprise to her unsuspecting family. Her book chronicles her struggles, hospitalisations, encounters with professionals, return to school, eventual marriage and success as an artist, writer, and advocate.

“Both timely and critical for recovery-oriented practice, this book provides practitioners with the focused, essential knowledge and skills to be truly person-centered and recovery-oriented when supporting an individual’s recovery journey. Dulmus and Nisbet have provided the field with an overdue practical resource. Making the recovery planner’s best practice individual recovery plan format available on Website is brilliant, and every agency will want to incorporate it into its EMR.” —Linda Rosenberg, President/CEO National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, Washington, D.C. “This is a practical and useful tool for case managers and community support workers who are assisting people with serious mental illness toward recovery. Working in a person-centered fashion is what our consumers want and expect, but to date, there have been few published tools with practical value for frontline staff. This resource is timely and relevant.” —Michael F. Hogan, PhD Hogan Health Solutions, Delmar, New York; former NYS Commissioner of Mental Health and Chair of the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, 2002–2003 Proven guidance for creating effective person-centered plans that facilitate the recovery process for individuals with serious mental illness Recent national and international mental health policy is promoting service delivery models that incorporate person-centered and recovery-oriented approaches, in which individuals are in the lead role, defining their own goals for their individualized recovery plans. Person-Centered Recovery Planner for Adults with Serious Mental Illness provides mental health practitioners with a useful resource to implement person-centered planning within a recovery framework when working with individuals with a serious mental illness. Providing a succinct overview of the historical roots, philosophy, and practice of person-centered recovery, Person-Centered Recovery Planner for Adults with Serious Mental Illness is organized around the three stages of recovery—Beginnings, Moving Forward, and Leaving Your Practitioner Behind—yet still allows both the individual and practitioner to revisit any of the three stages during the ebb and flow of an individual’s recovery journey. Sample recovery plans are included, covering the individual’s status, personal priorities, short-term objectives, and recovery steps, and are organized around common recovery goals including: Self-advocacy Family relationships Health and wellness Community involvement Stress management Relapse prevention Personal crisis planning Transportation Social relationships Meaningful activities Life skills A companion Website provides all of the plans found in the book in an easily customizable word-processing format. Person-Centered Recovery Planner for Adults with Serious Mental Illness assists practitioners in becoming effective person-centered facilitators and advocates for recovery that meaningfully supports individuals in achieving their hopes and dreams.

A comprehensive and groundbreaking workbook addressing the stigma and distorted self-image issues experienced by those suffering with mental illness.

During his second semester at college, Kurt Snyder became convinced that he was about to discover a fabulously important mathematical principle, spending hours lost in daydreams about numbers and symbols. In time, his thoughts took a darker turn, and he became preoccupied with the idea that cars were following him, or that strangers wanted to harm him. Kurt's mind had been hijacked by schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder that typically strikes during the late teen or young adult years. In Me, Myself, and Them, Kurt, now an adult, looks back from the vantage point of recovery and eloquently describes the debilitating changes in thoughts and perceptions that took hold of his life during his teens and twenties. As a memoir, this book is remarkable for its unvarnished look at the slow and difficult process of coming back from severe mental illness. Yet Kurt's memoir is only half the story. With the help of psychiatrist Raquel E. Gur, M.D., Ph.D., and veteran science writer Linda Wasmer Andrews, Kurt paints the big picture for others affected by adolescent schizophrenia. Drawing on the latest scientific and medical evidence, he explains how to recognize warning signs, where to find help, and what treatments have proved effective. Kurt also offers practical advice on topics of particular interest to young people, such as suggestions on managing the illness at home, school, and work, and in relationships with family and friends. Part of the Adolescent Mental Health Initiative series of books written specifically for teens and young adults, My, Myself, and Them offers hope to young people who are struggling with schizophrenia, helping them to understand and manage the challenges of this illness and go on to lead healthy lives.

The publication of this work resulted in a public outcry in the 1900's that began an inquiry into the state of U.S. mental health care and psychiatric services. It contributed significantly to the mental hygiene movement and to establish the National Committee for Mental Hygiene