Hideki Muramatsu
These findings highlight recovery as a non-linear, intersubjective, and socially constituted process. The study contributes to the conceptual development of recovery by emphasizing the coexistence of ambivalent experiences and the significance of relational and contextual dynamics. For mental health nursing practices, this study suggests the importance of mental health professionals respecting individuals with mental illness' "flat periods" not merely as stagnation but as part of a complex, socially structured recovery and supporting value-based activities that allow individuals to transcend the salience of their illness even during these periods.
OBJECTIVE: This study explores how personal recovery is socially constituted in everyday life, providing a novel perspective through the experiential knowledge of an expert-by-experience (EBE) explored using autoethnography. It aims to contribute to the advancement of recovery frameworks by examining the intersubjective dynamics of recovery.
METHODS: The data comprised a personal diary maintained over 85 days, beginning April 1, 2024. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted on 2,142 textual units to identify recurring patterns and themes. Analytic rigor was supported through iterative coding, repeated engagement with the data, and reflexive analysis grounded in established autoethnographic principles.
RESULTS: Four overarching themes emerged: (1) interpersonal relationships during recovery; (2) recovery process sensations; (3) environmental factors influencing recovery; and (4) cognition of the recovery process. A key finding is that recovery experiences are deeply relational and socially embedded, shaped by both supportive and challenging interpersonal dynamics as well as environmental constraints. Notably, recovery trajectories frequently include "flat periods" and emotional ambivalence, where positive and negative experiences coexist simultaneously instead of following a simple linear progression.
CONCLUSION: These findings highlight recovery as a non-linear, intersubjective, and socially constituted process. The study contributes to the conceptual development of recovery by emphasizing the coexistence of ambivalent experiences and the significance of relational and contextual dynamics. For mental health nursing practices, this study suggests the importance of mental health professionals respecting individuals with mental illness' "flat periods" not merely as stagnation but as part of a complex, socially structured recovery and supporting value-based activities that allow individuals to transcend the salience of their illness even during these periods.