To be discharged from partial hospitalization, I had to create an After-Care Plan. I like plans. My journals are full of them. The structure is comforting—the act of numbering and creating a tidy list, all that lovely white space around simple steps. It brings the chaos to heel. Here’s my Plan as approved by the professionals.
Assessed Needs
- Improve Tolerance to Distress
- Monitor for Lapse Symptoms and Put Emergency Plan into Action
- Improve Confidence and Self-Talk
Strengths
- Insight, Experience, Commitment to Wellness, Creativity, Intelligence, Willingness
- Supportive Therapist, Supportive Friends and Family, Basic Needs are Met
Obstacles
- Fear of Failure, Negative/Distorted Thinking, Ongoing Rapid Cycling
- Support System needs Repair, Limited Resources
Goals for the First 30 Days
- Continue to Function at a 9-10 (on a 1-10 scale)
- Maintain New Behaviors
- Spend More Time with Friends in Play
- Work on My Bucket List
- Lose 8 Pounds
- Finish First Draft of Technical Consultant
Keeping my Plan in the front of my brain will help me stay on track, so I’ll spend some time here posting about my goals—the Action Steps for each one and how I’m succeeding at them. Five days out of treatment and I can feel how much work this will be. How much work it already is. But, it’s a good kind of work, like a big sweat from hard manual labor. The body finds a rhythm. The muscles and bones do what they were created to do. The mind steps back.
And the harder I work, the sooner these new behaviors will become habit. But, until then it’s a grunt and takes constant reminding about why I’m doing all this. Living better, feeling better, remembering who I am. That’s The Plan.
SandySue Altered
A Mind Divided 
Jun 02, 2014 @ 07:29:42
I like plans too. They are the first action step that moves energy in the right direction.
I’m rooting for you! May you find more and more peace and freedom as you move with and through your plan.
Jun 02, 2014 @ 23:35:24
Thanks so much, Brenda.
Jun 02, 2014 @ 08:21:21
You go, girl!
Jun 02, 2014 @ 23:34:57
🙂
Jun 02, 2014 @ 10:43:30
I like what you have to say here – “it’s a good kind of work”. That is how I feel each day as I set about doing the task’s that need doing. It doesn’t have to be physical work. Keeping that positive mental attitude and flourishing in my plan for the day is a good rhythm for me… rocking along at a happy pace!
Jun 02, 2014 @ 23:34:44
You work so hard. I can imagine the satisfaction.
Jun 02, 2014 @ 11:40:41
Sounds like a plan.
Jun 02, 2014 @ 23:33:56
HeeHeeHee
Jun 02, 2014 @ 20:06:28
I have always admired you, Sandy. You ARE one of my heroes, and I love you. The universe is on YOUR side! You will suceed.
The card reminds me of a similar pic I have of my Grandma and one of her friends, but they are facing forward… the memory of it made me smile.
Jun 02, 2014 @ 23:33:45
Thanks, my friend.