re·cov·er·y
/rəˈkəv(ə)rē/
- a return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength.
- the action or process of regaining possession or control of something stolen or lost.
Google/Oxford Languages
Recovery can seem like an elusive thing when you have a body-focused repetitive behaviour (BFRB). In fact, last year during BFRB Awareness Week, when we had our day of discussion about hope and recovery, many shared that they felt recovery for BFRBs wasn’t possible. We get it. BFRBs can seem uncontrollable and therefore insurmountable. Recovery can seem like a false promise that maybe we shouldn’t hope for.
This year, we wanted to take that idea and turn it on its head. At CBSN, we believe that BFRB recovery is possible. It’s not necessarily easy, and the pathway for recovery might not be clear, but we believe it’s there and that it’s attainable. We believe that life with BFRBs doesn’t have to be pain and struggle and misery all the time. We believe that recovery can come along and make a difference. We believe that everyone can take steps to BFRB recovery.
Looking at the definitions of recovery like the one above, it can seem like a rigid notion, but we ask you to keep an open mind and consider ways that recovery could be a part of your life with BFRBs. If you see recovery as synonymous with cure, we ask you to pause and reconsider. While there may not be a cure of BFRBs, there are ways to recover from them.
The key takeaway from the above definitions is process. Recovery isn’t one step and then you’re done. There are many steps to BFRB recovery from approaching it for the first time, to finding what works for you, to continuing to work at it. The more we work at it, the stronger our skills in managing BFRBs and recovery become. The less of a toll the disorders have on our mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.
Join us during BFRB Awareness Week 2021, during which we’re going to be discussing BFRB recovery. Each day, we’ll be sharing new ways you can consider recovery and what you can do to put it into practice. BFRB week is great for raising awareness of these disorders to the general public, but we’d also like to take it as a time to really focus in on these kinds of discussions with you.
By sharing, commenting, and reacting to what we share during the week, you’ll help others learn about BFRBs and BFRB recovery as well. Join the conversation with #stepstoBFRBrecovery. We hope to see you during BFRB Awareness Week, October 1-7, 2021. In the meantime, check out our BFRB Awareness Week 2021 headquarters to see our social media images and printable signs and to learn all the ways you can get involved.