Inspiring Stories of Recovery

October 23, 2013 by Dan King

Recovery from co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders is sustainable and possible; we see it every day at WestBridge. What we hear and see in the media, however, are the tragedies of untreated or ineffective treatment of co-occurring disorders, which continue to perpetuate the stigma and discrimination that may keep individuals and families from seeking help.

At WestBridge we know what type of treatment works. We know that when families are involved and working with us, we have good outcomes, and we know that recovery takes time and patience. The staff and participants at WestBridge believe it is important to “carry this message” to other people who may need hope or guidance, or who are looking
for effective treatment.

To spread this message, Katherine Armstrong, a consultant with Dunleavy Associates, and I worked together with 12 WestBridge participants to write “When the Door Opened,” a collection of stories of recovery. The book is written from three perspectives: the participants’, Kat’s, and mine. Participants self-selected to be part of the book. These are stories of strength, challenges, perseverance and an incredible will to live life to its fullest. It is vital to see the person and not the illnesses. Each person’s journey into recovery is
unique, yet there are common guiding principles that are discussed as well.

This book can be used as a resource for individuals, families and treatment providers. We hope that people will understand what it takes to recover and be inspired to advocate for legislative and social change that help recovery take place.