Over the past year I’ve had some significant events that have altered my path of recovery. These events have forced me to take a hard look at what I was doing for my health, for my recovery, and an even harder look at myself. With support I was able to reengage in my own wellness and explore new programs to help me along the way. That led me to where I am now, coming full circle to the roots of my recovery. Back to a Wellness Recovery Action Plan or what most of us call a WRAP.
A Little History
When I was first retiring from the Marine Corps I participated in multiple programs. One was akin to Intensive Outpatient where I had a dedicated team and they all had their own realm of responsibility. Medical evaluations, pain management, physical therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral health therapy, physical health and wellness, yoga, acupuncture, and then some additional groups. Getting into a better state of mind was my full time job and was a requirement for a rapidly approaching retirement date.
In one of those groups I had to develop a Wellness Recovery Action Plan. It was forced and frustrating. It was regularly reviewed by the group leaders and took weeks to get fully approved. When it was finally done, I tossed it in a nightstand drawer and forgot about it. Ironically, that mass of worksheets in the nightstand kept me out of crisis time and again. Here I am, coming full circle, using the same practice that got me through years ago.
What the Hell is a WRAP?
A Wellness Recovery Action Plan is a practice you can use to get to know yourself and stay well through life’s challenges. I’ve used mine regularly since I grabbed it from the nightstand about 6 months after I created it. I made a WRAP because I had to, I used it because I got stuck.
It’s broken down into six different parts and a wellness toolbox. That toolbox is ultimately made up of all the things you need to do to stay well. The first part is your daily plan, it’s a lot like a daily agenda. At least, that’s how I used it. Then you have stressors where you identify potential issues and how to cope. Then early warning signs that things might be getting tough. Next is when things are breaking down, this is where I have to take some action. Crisis Plan is the next portion and functions similarly to an advanced directive. Honestly, I have an advance directive because of my crisis plan. Finally, there’s the post-crisis plan. I use it like an after action report. What happened, what worked, what didn’t, what can I do better in the future.
WRAP in Action
For years my WRAP was a living and breathing part of me. I used it daily to make sure I did everything I needed to stay on my path of recovery. My stressor section was detailed as I picked apart the different things that I struggled with. Then I developed mini action plans for the different things I could identify. I’d even cross reference things that worked in multiple areas. My early warning and breaking down sections had red flags to force me to stop and take a look at what was going on. As I grew and changed, so did my WRAP.
The beauty about developing and using a WRAP is that you use what parts work for you. It’s fully customizable for your needs. As time passed I didn’t use the daily plan as often, I just didn’t need it. I had a great flow going and the need was no longer there. However, other sections I used an updated, only in different ways.
Coming Full Circle
If you’ve read When Life Narrows, or my most recent post The Aftermath of Toxic Exposure, you’ll understand that I’ve had some challenges recently. Recognizing how much I was struggling was due to my WRAP. Seeking out help and going to a focused wellness retreat was something new I tried. It was integral in helping me reframe what I was going through. As I’ve taken another direction with my recovery, I’ve incorporated new practices. The struggle has been finding a way to track my practices to make sure I do them each day and during certain time frames.
It took a minute before I realized I could use something that kept me on track for years, the Daily Plan from my WRAP. Here I was, more than 10 years later, coming full circle to use my WRAP with my new practices. It looks a little different, rather than having a binder I use my task app on my phone.
Another part of my recovery is using my phone and any technology at hand to my advantage. This is through the task app on my iPhone which is linked to my Macbook. With the help of Semper Fi Fund I was able to transition to an all Apple set up which keeps the syncing between everything seamless.
Looking Back
My biggest take away from all of this has been to take a look back at my path every once and a while. Think about what helped me get to where I am and if there is anything it would support today. Coming full circle feels pretty good when you realize we have a lot of the answers we need already. We have the strength. We have the tools and know the practices. We’re enough.
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