THE WELLNESS RECOVERY ACTION PROGRAM

The Wellness Recovery Action Program (WRAP) was developed by Mary Ellen Copeland, MS, MA, as a means to deal with her Bipolar Disorder. She recognized the cycles of relapse with her mental health symptoms and wanted to make a practical self-action plan toward recovery from her symptoms.

The plan can apply to a variety of life circumstances, illnesses and even minor daily stressors. It is a system used to monitor, reduce, and eliminate uncomfortable and dangerous symptoms and feelings. WRAP can be used by anyone who wants to create positive change in the way they feel.

WRAP includes five steps, all of which must be followed for the program to be successful.

1. Develop a Wellness Toolbox.
   This is a list of things you have done in the past to help yourself stay well.
2. Develop a Daily Maintenance Wellness Plan.
   This includes discovering and recording certain things you need to do everyday to maintain your wellness.
3. Identify Triggers.
   These are stressors-events or circumstances that make you feel uncomfortable.
4. Identify your Early Warning Signs.
   These are often internal and unrelated to stressful situations. Being able to recognize these signs can help you take action before stress and symptoms worsen.
5. Develop a crisis plan.
   This ten step plan needs to be made in collaboration with health care providers, family members or other support providers.

In order to use WRAP successfully, you must be willing to spend up to 15 to 20 minutes a day reviewing your Daily Maintenance Plan and performing the activities you listed. If you recognize that your Daily Maintenance Plan and activities are not helping, be willing to take action and make changes.

For questions, information, or requests for more in-depth WRAP training, you may contact Mark Davis, MSW, Recovery Center Director at the Mental Health Association in Tulsa at 918-382-2483 or mdavis@mhat.org.