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