By Ken, WRAP community member from Japan
I’m Ken, and I’d like to share my personal recovery journey with you. From a young age, I struggled with feeling different and isolated. School was challenging, and I faced bullying. To cope, I often told myself that the person experiencing those difficulties wasn’t the real me.
While I managed to attend university, I found work life extremely challenging. After changing jobs multiple times, I was laid off at 39. The experience was devastating, leaving me feeling hopeless and disconnected from others.
During this low point, I was introduced to WRAP, though I didn’t immediately embrace it. I went through a period of isolation and tried various approaches to improve my situation, including disability employment programs and different therapeutic techniques.
What made a significant difference was connecting with peers who were also striving for employment. Their support and shared experiences gave me the strength to continue my job search, eventually landing a position after many applications.
However, the workplace presented new challenges. As someone with an invisible disability, I often felt misunderstood and overwhelmed by expectations. It was during this time that I revisited WRAP and truly began to engage with its principles.
Attending peer support events and hearing others’ recovery stories inspired me. Through WRAP, I started to identify what was truly important to me and began to feel a sense of hope through connections with others.
A crucial realization came when I noticed that the “five important things” I had identified in my WRAP were not static. They began to evolve and interconnect as I continued my recovery journey. This showed me that even as I approached 50, I was still capable of growth and change.
This realization was incredibly empowering. It helped me break free from limiting beliefs about my capabilities and potential that I had internalized from past negative experiences.
Today, I see my ability to change and grow as a source of hope. I’m excited about the future and curious to see how I’ll continue to develop. While I recognize that recovery is an ongoing process, I feel more equipped to face challenges and celebrate my progress.
WRAP has been a vital tool in my journey, helping me advocate for myself, build resilience, and nurture hope. I’m sharing my story in the hope that it might resonate with others who are on their own paths to wellness and recovery.

WRAP community member from Japan