Table 3 Participant recovery strategies

“You get a lot of experience from struggling. Also recovery. I mean, you get recovery from all the experience you have with struggling(…) Recovery is finding good techniques for mastering life.(…) Less stress, try to be in the here and now. And don’t create worries that aren’t here yet, worry when the time comes to worry. (Female, 30s)

“try to have an active life and do what one is capable of.” (Female, 50s)

“I didn’t quit because I know that there are people walking around that are doing ok. It’s not the right strategy for everyone, but for me it works to bite down on the shin (idiom) and keep on until things get better.” (Male, 40s)

“I’ve always exercised (…) It means a lot for the mind…in my thoughts. It gives me more space and I feel better. Life gets calmer and you’re better equipped to handle thoughts, they can just come and go and you can handle it no matter what. Then there’s less stress.” (Female, 40s)

“I have a planner, and I try to schedule the week (…) I try to have an activity every day. Changing tires, emptying the dishwasher, vacuum, clean the bathroom. And find a rhythm, structure, structure, structure.” (Male, 30s)

“On with your shoes, on with your jacket, go out for a walk… What’s been the most helpful for the brain is to go out for a walk.” (Female, 60s)

“When I meditate and find that space, when I focus on what makes me happy…then the racing thoughts don’t start as easily(…) if you can create that space so the shame lets go then it’s not so bad to be in pain, then it’s not so bad that you can’t do everything you wanted.” (Female, 50s)

“I’ve started to notice what’s around me. The joy I feel on a fall morning is so deep that it’s hard to explain.” (Male, 40s)

“Recovery is that I can get up in the morning(…) It means that you’re keeping up with something. That you can manage a 50% job, or some program, or that you’re going somewhere and taking a class or whatever. That you’re headed somewhere, in a way. (…) I know I can work more than 50%, but I think 50 is nice for getting some peace and for my concentration…and that I need some rest between activities and because I still need to be considerate to myself every day.” (Female, 20s)

“The first medicine is to get enough sleep, right. To calm the mind and get some rest.” (Male, 40s)

“you have to let yourself collapse. If you have a barn that’s rotten through to the foundation you actually have to tear that shit down and build a new one.” (Male, 30s)