HOW DOES ONE Help Someone With Mental MEDICAL ISSUES

One of my friends sadly is suffering from schizophrenia. get more info developed during his late teens, and unfortunately he was in a household with parents who struggled making use of their alcoholism and so weren't as supportive because they could have been. We all wonder whether it could have made an improvement to how lousy he got if there had been more of a support system for him in the first stages, whether from family, friends, or mental health professionals spotting the signs early on.

At one point before he previously been diagnosed, while he was still working as a security guard (not just a great job for someone on the verge of a diagnosis of schizophrenia - a lot of time alone isn't great for people who are beginning to doubt their very own mind regarding working out what's reality and what isn't), he previously plenty of access to finance for an automobile, and loans. After his diagnosis, and subsequent loss of driving licence, he found himself in financial difficulty as he lost his job also - therefore took out a significant loan (�10,000 roughly). He started needing to leave the house as a result of stress to be with other people and not being sure of reality, and continued long walks, or trips to London and stayed out forever. One of these brilliant nights he buried the �10,000, in cash. Even today he doesn't know where he buried it.

Thankfully he met and fell deeply in love with a girl who really takes care of him, chases up mental health teams for support, tells him when he's reacting to something which is only happening in his mind's eye, and ensures he takes the right drugs at the right times, and helps him manage transitions from one drug to some other (which sometimes requires hospitalization as a result of unwanted effects of new drugs). Although he still has good days and bad days, he's being taken care of and protected from the symptoms getting any worse.

It does no help for him to now reflect back on what could have been, nonetheless it can be a significant and important lesson for other people who are facing the realization that they or someone they know could be suffering from undiagnosed mental health issues.

So what is it possible to do in the event that you, or someone you value, is fighting their mental health?

Consider Early Signs

Should they become withdrawn, or show increased drug and alcohol use, disinterest in activities, disinterest in caring for themselves, changes in appetite, or moodiness, remember that these could possibly be early signs. Even if they don't really want help, and you'll worry they'll hate you for this, it's better to try and get professional help as soon as possible, as early diagnosis and management could mean it's a one off experience rather than something troubles them forever!

Talk About It!

There's a campaign to get ending mental health discrimination, and their big focus is on just getting on and talking about it. So you need not be a doctor or mental health expert to talk to someone about their mental health. Think of website as if your friend is continually heading back to an abusive relationship - would we let them keep on going through the same cycles and just watch from the side-lines? Or would we try to talk to them about what they're doing, in the event they haven't seen the bigger picture of what's happening in their mind?

It's the same with mental medical issues - in the event that you really value someone, try to speak to them about their situation. Not in a judgemental way, and do not do it if you are feeling frustrated, angry, or emotional concerning the situation. Make a note to ask them in a relaxed way if they're aware of a few of their peculiar behaviours, and in addition ask them should they need any help in working through a few of their issues, or wish to be supported in seeking medical advice. They may need a large amount of reassurance that help will undoubtedly be given, rather than that they will be locked up!

I know for my pal that even though he is aware of his illness and that some of what he thinks and worries about is not true, he still often thinks that the medicine he has to take will kill him (that someone is trying to poison him). Being able to discuss this and being offered reassurance and encouragement to take medicine which, when he could be well he knows he wants to take, makes the world of difference between him to be able to maintain his current degree of manageable symptoms, or going off the meds, starting an unravelling of the existing state into an unmanageable issue, and worst case, dependence on hospitalisation (which he desperately doesn't want).

For a person who is on the periphery of the problem, not involved with daily care or relationships, it's still good to really ask how your friend is! My friend is often nervous ahead out with us for fear that folks will notice 'how weird he behaves.' After I've asked him how he is feeling, or how he felt last week when we all went out, he could say he's struggling with hiding his thoughts, or that he felt sick and that individuals were looking at him, where point I can genuinely reassure him that I really thought he'd done well and I hadn't pointed out that he was struggling. Or during an evening if I notice he's looking a little uncomfortable, it's great to just say 'hey, how are you currently feeling?' and let him know it's absolutely fine if he feels he needs to leave, or to tell him that he's successful etc. Why would we avoid talking about this when he is able to really reap the benefits of that extra support?

What's more, my girlfriend who is dating my friend who suffers, has said that caring for someone who has serious mental health issues can be very time consuming, and having several people who can offer support can be quite a huge help - from attending appointments with him, to sitting at home with him so he isn't alone when she must go out etc.

Her top tips are also:

- Be patient and consistent, someone struggling with something within their own head may not be able to respond to you as quickly as you like, or at all! It might be too much using what they're already trying to control

- Don't be scared of their diagnosis - many people won't become dangerous just because of an analysis, they're more prone to hurt themselves or commit suicide than hurt others - but their general personality isn't likely to change (i.e. from someone non-aggressive directly into a danger to public)

- Believe them that it's real to them - telling people they must be in a position to see things from your view won't help. Imagine you've been speaking with someone for a decade, and now you're told they're not real. You would be more likely to think your world holds true and their world unreal!

- Don't worry about being frustrated, mad, or upset about your partner/friend's situation, as well as your own as a caregiver! Neither of you would have chosen this. But try to talk to external people for support, or helplines, instead of to the sufferer, as they may withdraw from confiding in you. Do seek get more info - you don't want to end up resenting the sufferer!

- Don't neglect people's physical needs - mental health medications can often have negative side effects on physical health, as can outward indications of mental health, such as not remembering to eat, or affecting digestion/nervous system/memory loss. Try to encourage physical check-ups as well as mental health check-ups, as you do not want to arrived at a point where physical health can be negatively affecting the individuals life.

Don't Talk About It!

However, having said how great it is to talk about mental health issues, additionally it is important to learn when to drop the subject! Whilst those suffering come in great need of specific support dealing with their symptoms or fears and issues, once these have been discussed or a plan of action has been submit, you don't have to always talk about their mental medical issues.

Sometimes all people need who've spent a long time dealing with their difficulties is usually to be taken out of the problem for a change of scenery, a rest from coping with it by themselves, and cheering up and taking their mind off the problem. Nothing does as much for people struggling with mental health issues as genuinely having the ability to forget that they even have them, even for 20 minutes or perhaps a few hours.

To feel 'normal again' (whatever that basically looks like), and section of the crowd, also to stop thinking about those ideas which are plaguing them, whether it be hearing voices, or obsessively worrying about having turned the oven off, or feeling despair because of depression - really having your mind taken off of these worries can perform wonders.

Many psychotherapists or other mental medical researchers recommend treatments such as for example Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or Mindfulness Training or Courses - as these disciplines both focus on giving your mind the tools to think in a different way to its 'default setting'. So whilst distracting your friend/family member by good times is a fantastic help, this can only assist in the short instance (that is much better than nothing!). However, trying to cause them to become seek professional help that may gradually cause them to become renew their thought patterns, providing them with alternatives to target their minds on, and various behaviours to practise to try to stop the harmful thought patterns, can be something great that can be done for them.