From Pain to Power through WRAP®
Urban Eco May 4, 2015
by Janette Ward
Hello Urbanites,This month I’d like to tell you more about Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP®) and share some elements of my own WRAP® plan.
I created my WRAP® plan in 2004 with the hope that it would help me to cope with the depression I had experienced for seven years. It quickly became an integral part of my life. It is simple, practical and is amazingly effective to create and follow. As a result I have not experienced depression for the past eleven years.
WRAP was created in America in 1997 by a group of people led by Mary Ellen Copeland who were experiencing mental health challenges. There is more information about WRAP® at www.mentalhealthrecovery.com. WRAP® is used worldwide by people who are dealing with all kinds of health and life challenges. It helps decrease and prevent intrusive or troubling feelings and behaviours.
WRAP® has proven to be extremely effective for people with mental health issues, medical issues (such as diabetes, weight gain and pain management) and also life issues such as addiction and trauma. It is delivered to people of all ages – in prisons, schools, hospitals, GP surgeries, groups and organisations etc
Key elements of WRAP®
- Wellness Tools
- Daily Maintenance
- Triggers
- Early Warning Signs
- Breakdown
- Crisis
- Post Crisis
Wellness Tools are things that make us feel good, that we enjoy – some of mine are yoga, being with my granddaughters, walking, being by the sea, dancing, spending time with friends, journaling and meditating. Many wellness tools are free and simple, it is essential to do them regularly because it is very important to feel good every day.
Triggers are those things that cause us to feel uncomfortable, anxious, stressed, depressed. They can be experiences, situations, thoughts, people etc. Identifying our triggers increases self-awareness and creating an action plan for each, means that the trigger has less power over us, we have actions to take and therefore feel better able to cope. One of my triggers is a difficult person in my life. My action plan includes, confiding in a friend; being assertive; limiting contact with that person; exploring the reason for feeling the way I do; being honest and telling the other person how I feel and also accepting that none of us get along with everyone.
Being in a WRAP® group fosters hope that it is possible to get well, stay well and do the things we want in our lives. Participants are treated with dignity, compassion and mutual respect. The emphasis is on peers working together and learning from each other to increase mutual understanding and knowledge. The focus is on individual strengths and away from perceived deficits. Self-determination, personal responsibility, empowerment and self-advocacy are key aspects.
I am not exaggerating when I say WRAP® has transformed my life. I feel more in control and am happier than I have ever been. I am resilient with a belief that whatever happens I will cope.
My experiences led me to training as an Advanced Facilitator and facilitating many groups including for GP practices, Carers, LGBT groups, for young and older people etc over the past six years. In my opinion WRAP is the future of mental health services, it is evidence based and cost effective.
For more information or about accessing a WRAP® group or receiving one to one WRAP® coaching please contact Circles Work Community Interest Company [email protected] or www.circleswork.co.uk