Recovering from recurrent mental health problems: giving up and fighting to get better
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The purpose of this paper is to present selected findings of a grounded theory study that aims to explore individual processes and desired outcomes of recovery from recurrent health problems in order to build up a theoretical framework of recovery in an Irish context. Volunteers included mental health service users or participants of peer support groups who have experienced recurrent mental health problems for two or more years, consider themselves in improvement, and are willing to participate in individual interviews. The current paper is based on the analysis of 15 audiorecorded and transcribed interviews. We identified two open codes of 'giving up' and 'fighting to get better'. Giving up was associated with accepting a passive identity of a patient with a chronic mental illness and a lack of intrinsic motivation to get better. Fighting had both positive (fighting for) and negative (fighting against) dimensions, as well as internal and external ones. The fight for recovery entailed substantial and sometimes risky effort. Starting such a fight required strong, self-sustained motivation. Service providers might need to discuss internal and external motivators of fighting for recovery with service users, with a view to including such motivators in the care plans.
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Accounts of recovery found in the literature that fall within this category include "being positive" (78), "being happy and successful" (67, 77), "finding hope and purpose" (48), or "having a meaningful and satisfying life" (69), without a deeper description about what this meant.
“Accounts of recovery found in the literature that fall within this category include “being positive” (78), “being happy and successful” (67, 77), “finding hope and purpose” (48), or “having a meaningful and satisfying life” (69), without a deeper description about what this meant.”
From Recovery from Severe Mental Health Problems: A Systematic Review of Service User and Informal Caregiver Perspectives (2021) · cites this paper as [77]
A representative description of this understanding of recovery can be found in Kartalova-O'Doherty and Tedstone Doherty (77) "Personal definitions of recovery fell into two broad areas: getting rid of negative feelings, such as anxiety, depression, or panic attacks; and acquiring positive feelings and actions, such as peace of mind [...]."
“A representative description of this understanding of recovery can be found in Kartalova-O'Doherty and Tedstone Doherty (77) “Personal definitions of recovery fell into two broad areas: getting rid of negative feelings, such as anxiety, depression, or panic attacks; and acquiring positive feelings and actions, such as peace of mind […].””
From Recovery from Severe Mental Health Problems: A Systematic Review of Service User and Informal Caregiver Perspectives (2021) · cites this paper as [77]
Another important aspect within this theme was the idea of recovery as having peace of mind.
“Another important aspect within this theme was the idea of recovery as having peace of mind (59, 61, 77).”
From Recovery from Severe Mental Health Problems: A Systematic Review of Service User and Informal Caregiver Perspectives (2021) · cites this paper as [77]
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- Authors
- Kartalova‐O'Doherty, Y., & Tedstone Doherty, D.
- Venue
- International Journal of Mental Health Nursing
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2010-01-06
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 3-15
- ISSN
- 1445-8330 (ISSN-L)
- 1447-0349
- PMC
- PMC2839479
- OpenAlex
- W2081047292
- Cited by
- 31
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 4.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- International Journal of Mental Health Nursing (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Health Research Board
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Mental Health and Patient Involvement
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychiatric care and mental health services
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- chronic mental illness, giving up, patient identity, intrinsic motivation, peer support groups, service user experiences, care planning
- MeSH terms
- Mental Disorders, Convalescence, Humans, Recurrence, Health Behavior
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