What Is Recovery?
There is no standard definition for mental health recovery. People define recovery in their own ways. Some may think of recovery as more of an end goal, while others may think of it as an ongoing (sometimes lifelong) continuous process.
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What is Recovery?
What Is Recovery?
Recovery means more than symptom reduction. It means:
• Gaining insight into your patterns
• Building empathy and emotional regulation
• Developing authentic self-worth not built on performance or control
• Learning to form reciprocal, respectful relationships
Recovery doesn’t mean becoming “un-narcissistic.” It means becoming whole.
There is no standard definition for mental health recovery. People define recovery in their own ways. Some may think of recovery as more of an end goal, while others may think of it as an ongoing (sometimes lifelong) continuous process.
Recovery means more than symptom reduction. It means:
• Gaining insight into your patterns
• Building empathy and emotional regulation
• Developing authentic self-worth not built on performance or control
• Learning to form reciprocal, respectful relationships
Recovery doesn’t mean becoming “un-narcissistic.” It means becoming whole.
There is no standard definition for mental health recovery. People define recovery in their own ways. Some may think of recovery as more of an end goal, while others may think of it as an ongoing (sometimes lifelong) continuous process.
Recovery doesn’t mean becoming “un-narcissistic.” It means becoming whole.
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Is “recovery” the same thing as a “cure”? What about “remission”?
Is “recovery” the same thing as a “cure”? What about “remission”?
The word “cure” when used in context of mental illness is often met with strong opposition, intolerance and lack of openness. Often people will say “there is no cure for any or most mental illnesses”, but just as the word “recovery” has no official definition in mental health context, “cure” also has no official definition. I’ve seen personal accounts within the NPD subreddit of people sharing their recovery story and using the word “cured” - they no longer struggle with narcissism. That is their story and their truth and it’s important to respect that others may define things differently.
“Remission” does have a more specific definition within medical context and can be applied to mental health. Remission happens when someone no longer meets criteria for a diagnosis. For example, a person diagnosed with a personality disorder must initially fit a set or subset of criteria from a predefined list (DSM or ICD criteria), and remission in this context is defined as no longer meeting the criteria required for diagnosis. Sometimes there’s a time period associated with remission, for example going 2 years without fitting criteria for a diagnosis.
Remission is not necessarily a permanent state, it’s entirely normal to have relapses with behaviors during the recovery process. I highly recommend looking into the Stages of Change Model (aka The Transtheoretical Model) to learn about the 6 different stages of change people go through when attempting to change behaviors. ( https://psychcentral.com/lib/stages-of-change )
The word “cure” when used in context of mental illness is often met with strong opposition, intolerance and lack of openness. Often people will say “there is no cure for any or most mental illnesses”, but just as the word “recovery” has no official definition in mental health context, “cure” also has no official definition. I’ve seen personal accounts within the NPD subreddit of people sharing their recovery story and using the word “cured” - they no longer struggle with narcissism. That is their story and their truth and it’s important to respect that others may define things differently.
“Remission” does have a more specific definition within medical context and can be applied to mental health. Remission happens when someone no longer meets criteria for a diagnosis. For example, a person diagnosed with a personality disorder must initially fit a set or subset of criteria from a predefined list (DSM or ICD criteria), and remission in this context is defined as no longer meeting the criteria required for diagnosis. Sometimes there’s a time period associated with remission, for example going 2 years without fitting criteria for a diagnosis.
Remission is not necessarily a permanent state, it’s entirely normal to have relapses with behaviors during the recovery process. I highly recommend looking into the Stages of Change Model (aka The Transtheoretical Model) to learn about the 6 different stages of change people go through when attempting to change behaviors. ( https://psychcentral.com/lib/stages-of-change )
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Examples of how others may define recovery:
“Recovery from mental illness is not like recovery from the flu. It’s recovering your life and your identity.”
“Recovery for me is having good relationships and feeling connected. It’s being able to enjoy my life.”
“I live in the present moment instead of avoiding uncomfortable emotions by living in constant fantasies and daydreams.”
“Being more independent is an important part of my recovery process.”
“Eliminating symptoms long term enough to the point I no longer fit criteria for diagnosis…
I might struggle here and there with certain things but in general my life is stable and fulfilling.”
“Recovery for me is about building a life experienced as worth living. Finding and creating purpose for myself instead of expecting it to be there or being entitled to it. Taking my power and autonomy back from the mental illness.”
“Harm reduction is the main goal of my recovery, at this point I can’t view a life completely without my disorder but there are certain things I want to work on right now.”
“Recovery for me is having good relationships and feeling connected. It’s being able to enjoy my life.”
“I live in the present moment instead of avoiding uncomfortable emotions by living in constant fantasies and daydreams.”
“Being more independent is an important part of my recovery process.”
“Eliminating symptoms long term enough to the point I no longer fit criteria for diagnosis…
I might struggle here and there with certain things but in general my life is stable and fulfilling.”
“Recovery for me is about building a life experienced as worth living. Finding and creating purpose for myself instead of expecting it to be there or being entitled to it. Taking my power and autonomy back from the mental illness.”
“Harm reduction is the main goal of my recovery, at this point I can’t view a life completely without my disorder but there are certain things I want to work on right now.”
Some may think of recovery as more of an end goal, while others may think of it as an ongoing (sometimes lifelong) continuous process.
