It can be very difficult to live with the stigma of mental health. Just the stigma alone can cause more anxiety for someone with mental heath problems. Mental Health is getting more positive in acceptance aspects and understanding in recent years. However the stigma still exists. This stigma can prevent many people from seeking help.
There are steps that families of people with mental illness can take to help with coping with this stigma. Some simple steps that can be taken include:
Never Forget That It is your choice: You can decide who to tell and who to not tell about the mental illness. You can also choose what to tell them. It is still a choice that gives the family as well as the patient some control over the situation. Using this control can give the patient some sort of power.
Always Remember that There are others with the same problems: It is often difficult to keep in mind that you are not alone. There are many people who suffer from some form of mental health issues from various degrees of severity. There are many people who commonly struggle with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, substance abuse, and many other mental illnesses. You are not alone. This can be an important fact when it comes to dealing with mental health. Often the patient and the family feel isolated from the rest of the world. They feel like they are the only ones dealing with mental health problems. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
It is important to Remember to Never Give Up HOPE: It may take a while to find the right medication that works for each individual. Sometimes this can feel like it has been too long and no real improvement has been made. It is important to remember that Safe and effective medications and psychosocial treatments are available. There are many medicines on the market today to treat mental health issues. There are also newer treatments being developed on a regular basis. It does take time thoug, to find the correct medication and the correct dose for each individual. Each person may require different to treatment. Try to be patient and show support to your loved ones. Do not ever give up or loose hope. Time is on your side.
Encourage Loved ones to seek help: Mental health treatment can often be a difficult road to travel. It is important to remember to be patient. It will take time to try a variety of new medications. It can also be difficult to cope with the side effects of the medicines used to treat the patient. Often patients must also learn new behaviors including the way they think and view everday life. This is the time that they need support and strength from someone who loves them. It may have never been as important than now for you to show that they are important and have your full support. Remember, it is important that your loved one needs very much to feel good about him or herself . This can be a key element in being patient for them.
Remain active: Often the first thing a person does when he is suffering from mental illness is isolate themselves from everyone else. This social isolation can be a negative side effect of the stigma linked to mental illness. The process of isolating oneself from others leads to discontinuing the activities that once was enjoyed. This act alone can increase the depression stage as well as anxiety rather quickly. Volunteer work can be an asset at this time in life. It can help them to see that they are still needed. They still have a purpose in life that only they can give. They need to feel that there are others who need them. They are needed in many ways and can still offer something valuable to others. This will help greatly with the self image aspect of mental illness.
People who suffer from mental illness need support more than they ever have in their lives to stay focused on the treatment plan. They need to know they are still important, loved and needed by others. It is more difficult to remain hopeful at this time in their lives than ever before. Life can feel meaningless to those who suffer from any form of mental illness.
Keep in mind that Mental Illness is a medical problem just like any other medical problem. The Doctors that help them are medical doctors just as your famiy doctor is. This is an important fact in helping those who suffer to understand they do have a medical problem just as someone with high blood pressure or other health problems.
It is possible to make a difference in someone’s life when they are suffering from mental illness. They need all the support and encouragement they can get. Remember they can lead a normal life again but they do need the help of those who love them and care about them deeply.
Are you up for the challenge?
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Comments: 13
In my parents days and mine, you were considered to be "crazy". It was hard to tell my family about my anxiety/depression.
Encourage Loved ones to seek help is an excellent tip.
As is to never give up.
Tomorrow is always another day, its important to point that out sometimes, to anyone with even any slight mental health issue.
I liked Vivian's take as well.
I do not suffer from this directly, but I think its very common these days.
Doesn't everyone have a family or friend who suffers from a mental health problem?
I think we all could use some encouragement, and more so for many people.
I find that with all things outside of the "norm," it is good to be open with others...if you are strong enough to education them. The more they hear these things, the more they realize that they are not so abnormal! Thank you for your positive words.