Stage 4: Rebuilding

Rebuilding involves actively working towards a positive identity, and setting meaningful goals.

You may find that you learn new things about yourself as you work towards recovery.

Rebuilding may involve the following:

  • Increased sense that I am in control of my life.
  • Redefinition of self.
  • Forging and integrating a new identity as a carer. 
  • Seeing mental illness as a possible source of growth.
  • Reinvigorated engagement in life.
  • Willingness to take appropriate risks.

Cityscape

Rebuilding your Sense of Self [ii]

Witnessing your relative experiencing psychosis can be traumatic and affect your sense of self, others and the world.  

You might start to feel hopeless and lose confidence in your strengths and abilities.

Through recovery you can start to nurture a more active sense of self, someone who can have a sense of control over future situations.

You can start this process by setting yourself a particular goal. You could try a new hobby, a new recipe, or walking somewhere different.

It is important to break your goal into smaller steps, to set a time when you will do it, and use other people around you to help support your efforts and to get feedback. 

You can test the water gradually with your new active sense of who you are.

Gradually you will feel stronger and more in control of your own life.

You can use your active sense of self to cope with ongoing difficulties.

Try to write down your responses to these questions:

  • What am I good at? What do I enjoy doing? How can I get out there and start doing it again? What do I want to know more about? Whichevening classes could I join?
  • Is today the day to start doing something I have often thought about doing, but kept putting off for another day? Why not let today be the day!
  • What helps me to get through the day? What can I think of that will help me some more? What helps me find purpose in life and pleasure in small everyday moments?
  • Is now a good time to look for a job or to find some voluntary work? Offer skills or my time to a local charity or organisation I would like to support?
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[ii] Davidson, L. & Strauss, J.S. (1992). Sense of self in recovery from severe mental illness. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 65(2), 131-145.