Author Archive | Jillian Exel

For years I felt stuck, chained, and trapped by the psychiatric diagnoses that I had been given. I wanted to be free of the unwanted effects of medication and to be able to travel without having to worry about missed appointments or whether or not there was a pharmacy that would fill my prescriptions and […]

I became acquainted with WRAP two years ago. I had started a new job in Peer Support, and was researching tools and techniques to use with members of our drop in center. My supervisor suggested I read some materials that she had about WRAP. I really liked what I was reading. Soon after, I began […]

Before I developed a personal W.R.A.P. (Wellness Recovery Action Plan), I had been recovering from what the medical profession labeled as “severe psychiatric symptoms” that caused me a lot of difficulty. I was taking ineffective medications with unacceptable effects and felt victimized by my symptoms. I have a supportive husband that truly held the hope […]

I thought I’d share my story. I shared it with Recovery To Practice three years ago, so updated the dates (and added a shameless plug for WRAP Around the World and Life Is Amazing Consulting)… hard to believe I’m three years older. Happy Birthday of WRAP and thank you to all of the amazing people […]

1997, I remember it well. My beautiful identical twins were 7 and I had just returned home after having been sectioned for the 4th time in 7 years. My temporary spill into madness had been halted as usual by my being knocked out and as usual, when I knew I was better, I “checked” the […]

When Things Are Breaking Down I Am Empowered Now WRAP has added a toolbox to my daily life which have given me skills, awareness, and a new thought life. The result of having this new toolbox in my life is I am able to recognize when I have different levels of obstacles and challenges. This […]

What I wish to share with you this afternoon is that I am a really normal person…who happens to be mentally ill. I suffer from Bipolar II disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Borderline Personality Disorder. But more than this, I share my story, using WRAP…WELLNESS RECOVERY ACTION PLAN by MARY ELLEN COPELAND to help others […]

I have had a rough life growing up as child. I have went through a lot of trauma and abuse. As a small child, I grew up wondering what I did to deserve the abuse I got. I was abused for 9 years and for the longest I wondered does anyone love me. Having a […]

I have had a bipolar diagnosis since my late 20s although, as is typical it seems, I had been treated for depression for years but nothing seemed to help. After my marriage broke up, I had the most serious depression of my life and spent four and a half months in a psychiatric hospital. Over […]

My own journey from physical and mental health disabilities was a challenging disheartening journey but I survived. As I began to hear glimmers of stories about what people called WRAP and I became curious and began to follow the plan for myself. When our agency started the Peer Support Program I learned about WRAP from people […]