PSAN Recovery Speaker Series – Rob Macdonald

Description of Talk
Rob’s Talk will explore his experience overcoming psychosis, substance-use disorder, and hallucinations among other recovery topics. Rob will talk about how different recovery tools worked for him, some conventional, others learned through direct experience, and how the mental health recovery field is rapidly changing often with new treatments and coping skills emerging. Some of the recovery tools talked about will be spirituality, Dual Recovery Anonymous, peer support, service to others, and resilience. Rob will also talk about how creativity, through writing and performing music, lowers stigma and encourages self-expression.

Bio
Rob Macdonald has been working as a peer specialist for the Metro Boston Recovery Learning Community for the past two years, and was previously a volunteer for the MBRLC for the prior two years. Having lived experience with depression, substance-use disorder, and schizoaffective condition Rob has learned to navigate his conditions with a holistic approach of psychiatry, independent research, peer support, spirituality & self-advocacy. After being exposed to the power of peer support at a treatment program, service to others became a cornerstone of Rob’s recovery as he learned that helping others not only gave back but also helped his own recovery. Rob studied philosophy at Portland State University for several years before graduating with a Bachelor’s in Arts & Letters. Learning that creativity and self expression are part of self-care, Rob co-founded two music venues and went on to a music tour through the Pacific Northwest.

—