| Throughout my childhood my brother Tom
| |
| | appropriate "helping" and what is
|
| took up much of the family energy due to
| |
| | classified as someone elses's misplaced
|
| his mental illness. It wasn't his fault
| |
| | needs and "enabling". It is very easy to
|
| or ours, it just happens that way in
| |
| | fall into the trap of thinking the person
|
| families. As I think back on how my
| |
| | cannot do things for him/herself, when
|
| parents dealt with the challenges, there
| |
| | often this is not the case.
|
| are things I think they could have done
| |
| | 5. Pay attention to your own wellness.
|
| better. Hindsight is 20/20, I know, and
| |
| | It's not at all unusual to become burnt
|
| they did the best they could. But it's a
| |
| | out, and to start isolating yourself
|
| very tough situation and every one of us
| |
| | personally and as a family. Take extra
|
| who has lived with it can offer
| |
| | good care of yourself. Spend time with
|
| suggestions to other families in crisis,
| |
| | friends, go to a museum and get inspired
|
| which may spare them some pain. Here are
| |
| | by great art, plant a flower, do things
|
| mine.
| |
| | you enjoy. Even if it feels like a
|
| Here are 5 ways to improve the family
| |
| | struggle at first, do it -- because in
|
| situation when a member has mental
| |
| | the long run your health and sanity needs
|
| dis-ease.
| |
| | to be replenished so you can give to the
|
| 1. Educate everyone about the illness.
| |
| | rest of the family.
|
| Knowledge is power so get books, talk to
| |
| | One word of caution here about the idea
|
| doctors, seek out support groups (see our
| |
| | of "wellness" or taking care of your
|
| resource section for ideas) and gather
| |
| | "self". You may feel that taking good
|
| all the facts you can. You will each have
| |
| | care of your "self" when the family
|
| different reactions to the situation, but
| |
| | member suffers from mental illness is
|
| at least you'll share concrete
| |
| | just, well, plain ol' "selfish". But the
|
| information.
| |
| | fact is that being able to stay well
|
| 2. Establish a support team of
| |
| | enhances you're abiliity to deal with
|
| professionals. It's not just the family
| |
| | your new family situation. In addition,
|
| member with mental illness that needs
| |
| | caring for your "self" means your will
|
| professional support. Anyone in the
| |
| | have more patience and energy when they
|
| family and the family as a whole may need
| |
| | need you .
|
| assistance with emotions, coping,
| |
| | In the end, families face many challenges
|
| communications, and cooperation.
| |
| | if mental illness is in the mix. Be
|
| 3. Talk with family members about the
| |
| | proactive, realize this is manageable,
|
| issues. Have family meetings to discuss
| |
| | and keep others involved in the process.
|
| feelings and problems each person is
| |
| | Living your life as a family may have
|
| having. Share possible strategies for
| |
| | changed due to the mental illness but
|
| addressing problems. Allow each person to
| |
| | that doesn't mean you are not still a
|
| express their concerns openly and
| |
| | "family". Be creative and find other ways
|
| honestly. Even though the family unit has
| |
| | to do family things that make sense under
|
| changed due to the illness, be creative
| |
| | the changing dynamics. Nothing is perfect
|
| and continue to stay connected as a
| |
| | but your response to the challenge and
|
| family even if it "feels different".
| |
| | your ability to model proactive behaviors
|
| 4. Develop boundaries around the
| |
| | for other family members will assist them
|
| person's illness. Decide what is
| |
| | in moving forward.
|
