For me, the process of developing my own plan was empowering because the focus was on me as a person, not my illness, and it helped me define my personal needs. It is a tool that assists in communicating my needs to family, friends, co-workers, professionals and others I choose to include. By going through the WRAP process and developing my own plan, I feel that I have more control over my own life on a daily basis. Having my own plan has made it easier to ask appropriately for what I need. By reviewing my plan on a regular basis I stay focused on personal needs rather than on the symptoms of my illness.
Symptoms are indicators, rather than insurmountable problems.
My own personal view of recovery is the ability to understand and meet my own needs with as little dependence on the mental health system as possible. I have achieved a lot of independence over the past 8 years, and I believe my Wellness Recovery Action Plan has increased that independence. I believe that the WRAP process can be beneficial to any consumer that wants to use it. Call the CSN office for further details. Wendy Rea is a CSN RRC Coordinator in St. Cloud.