Consider some of the things that might make it hard for people to engage in a process of self-help or self-management. Can you identify what could help to address this and support people to engage in self-help and self-management?
Sometimes, people have to think about and reflect on a time of crisis or distress. While this can help them to gain more control in future crises, it can also be difficult and painful to look back to when things were at their worst.
It is important to have skilled facilitators who can support people to work through this type of reflection — particularly if the facilitators have worked through similar challenges themselves. Some people also find it hard to take a structured approach to planning their recovery because the tool or approach being used doesn’t fit their view of the world or their experiences. The actual tool or approach being used is not as important as whether this works for the person.
People are unique as is recovery so no one tool or approach will be suitable for everyone. It is important for there to be choices for people.
Other people just don’t feel ready for this type of approach. Their experiences could be too raw or difficult, and the solution here would be to find a better time when they do feel ready.
Self-help and self-management approaches are often shared in groups and for some people the idea of discussing their experiences in a group setting is be off-putting. Some people might find it hard to connect to others in the group or feel that they don’t have enough in common.
They might also feel that they are in a different place in their recovery from other group members. For these people, working through a book, working one- to-one with someone or completing an online course are possible alternatives.
It is also worthwhile remembering that recovery is a journey and what works for people and what they feel they can engage in will change over time.
