However professionals who have studied the method concede that it has the scientific basis of CBT, that is, 'Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.' All the same, we are more concerned with the outcome of internalizing the method.

1. Briefly describe the event coped with.
2. Narrate the physical and mental symptoms experienced due to this event.
3. Which tools of Dr Low did you use to cope with this event?
4. Compare the experience before and after using the Recovery method.

In the first step, the person who is sharing has to recall a single event, which upset him. Care is taken to see that the event chosen is one specific event, not a general issue like marriage, employment etc. It should be one single thread of an event. For example, the person may have had an argument with his sibling that morning. He simply describes that specific argument without getting into his sibling's general attitude, past experiences etc.

In the next step the person shares with the group the symptoms, both physical and mental, while the event occurred. For instance, he may have felt blood rushing to his head, palpitation, throat drying up, hands trembling etc.

Now the third and a very important step: being able to recall any of Dr Low's tools at the crucial time. This is known as spotting appropriate tool to cope with the event. For example, he may have recalled the tool" My internal peace is my supreme goal." And this may have made him take a better perspective of the situation and be able to maintain peace instead of ending up in an argument.

In the last step, he tries to understand what would have

Been the situation had he not used the method. Perhaps, in this particular example, the person would have let the argument escalate to such an extent he could have lost control. But because he used the tool in time, the situation got resolved without any harm. After sharing the event in these four steps the person endorses himself for his effort to use the method and deal with his symptoms.

I hope I have been able to explain this method to your satisfaction. However complete understanding would come only after one actually attends the support group meetings.

After this whole cycle is completed others from the group also endorse him. Further they 'comment,' as it is called in 'Recovery' language, i.e. they express as to what other tools also he has unknowingly used in dealing with this event. Thereafter it is someone else's turn in the group to share.

Recovery self-help support group advantages:
- Helps release pent-up feelings.
- No fear of criticism or judgment.
- Breaks stigmatized isolation.
- Encourages socialization.
- Generates a sense of belonging.
- Opportunity to learn from each other.
- Promotes mutual inspiration.
- Supportive attitude of members.
- Builds sense of hope & security.
- Helps members develop insight.
- Triggers self-initiatives.
- Nurtures self-confidence.

1. Maintaining inner peace is my supreme goal.
2. My internal peace is more important than my anger.
3. Helplessness is not hopelessness.
4. Nervous symptoms are distressing but not dangerous.
5. I can't control external but only my internal environment.
6. Setback is part of life. I am an average person.
7. Feelings are not facts.
8. People do things that irritate us, not to irritate us.
9. We can't control feelings & impulses; we can control muscles and thoughts.
10. We can't control outer environment but we can control our reaction to it.
11. Illness is fate-appointed, not self-appointed.
12. We can break old habit patterns.
13. Endorse for the effort, not just for the outcome.
14. Have the courage to make a mistake.
15. There is no right or wrong way to view trivialities of everyday life.
16. Feelings will rise and fall if we don't attach danger to them.
17. Changing our thoughts from insecure thoughts, to secure thoughts.
18. It is hard to feel comfortable in an uncomfortable situation.
19. Try-fail, try-fail, try-succeed.
20. Don't look regretfully into the past or fearfully into the future.
21. I should lower my expectations.
22. Recovery method is simple but not easy.
23. Fear feeds the symptoms and the symptoms feed the fear.
24. Every act of self-control leads to self-respect.
25. Strive for peace, order and balance.
26. Fearful anticipation is worse than the realization.
27. Be willing to bear discomfort and comfort will come.
28. Self-imposed expectations lead to self-induced disappointment and frustration.
29. Commanding your muscles to move transforms the vicious cycle of helplessness into the vitalizing cycle of self-confidence.
30. Don't measure good mental health by how you feel.
31. It is how you function, not how you feel.
32. Feelings can be expressed with culture and control.
33. Practice being self-led, not symptom-led.
34. Thoughts can be rejected, suppressed or dropped.
35. Controlling your speech muscles.
36. Take the total view.
37. Lower your standards and performance will rise.
38. Re-training the brain.
39. Do it in part-acts.
40. Excuse rather than accuse.
41. It happened by chance, not by choice.
42. Self-appointed expectations lead to disappointments.
43. Be group-minded.

At Pune we now have separate groups for Shubharthis who are comfortable with English and another one for Marathi.

The word 'recovery' indicates progress on the path of improvement. A gradual positive change. Hence this word is applicable for a person at any level of his well being.

In fact persons who have attended Recovery groups have not only recovered but they also serve as facilitators or motivators. Some members of our groups can be said to be role models.

I would like to clarify one thing here though. This method is purely psychological and so it does not address the biological cause of mental illnesses. Recovery helps deal with its symptoms. Thus, a shubharthi cannot substitute psychiatric care with this method. In fact to derive maximum benefit both have to be undertaken simultaneously.

On the other hand, with sufficient trained manpower two groups may decide to meet on two different days, say, on Thursdays and Saturdays. Those who want to participate more than once a week will be able to do so. Perhaps, for those for whom Saturdays are not suitable can attend on Thursdays rather than not participate at all. Today manpower is our primary constraint.

A new activity started on experimental basis is yielding remarkably positive changes in them. This consists of indoor/outdoor light physical exercises plus breathing and relaxation techniques.

Encouragement for practice and performance of variety entertainment before a large and appreciative audience has also suddenly boosted their self-worth, ability to communicate and develop relationship with the outside world. They are a few steps closer than ever before to reintegration into the community.

In a couple of months, SAA will also have a 5000 sq. ft. facility for shubharthis' vocational and recreational activity center at Dhayari, Pune. Skills gained here are expected to help about fifty shubharthis to generate some income of their own and thus boost their self-esteem and confidence!

Meanwhile at Kamala Nehru Hospital we have already started day-care activities in which about ten shubharthis participate. Drawing, painting, singing, story-telling, games, discussion of news items etc. keep them interestingly occupied.