Studies show that about 20% of Americans are living with a mental sickness. If you have a loved one who is struggling, it can be difficult to understand how to help. If you want to support, here are some tips.
Listen
The most significant thing you can do if you have a friend or family member with a mental sickness is to listen. Communicating is a two-way street, but we regularly focus on the conversation. Talking can be of great benefit to the person who has it mental disability, but it’s important for the individual to have someone there to listen to them. If you do encourage your beloved one to talk to you, be sure you listen to what they’ve to say and provide them the time and space to open up.
Don’t apply pressure
Applying pressure on people who have symptoms of a psychological disorder can be counterproductive. It is extremely important for your loved ones to trust you and feel snug talking to you and trusting you. This has to be done at their pace. If you push too hard and put too much pressure on them, they may be reluctant to talk to you and they may return to their shell and want to hide or avoid talking to anyone. Move at a pace that suits them and tread carefully.
try to understand
It’s very difficult to understand mental sickness if you have never experienced the symptoms before and you do not know what the person is going through. Try to understand it by doing research and by encouraging your friends or relatives to share their experiences with you. We tend to have perceptions or ideas about what it is like to have a mental health disorder, which may not be accurate. Take time to read articles on respectable websites, talk to people who have been in similar situations and do not be afraid to ask questions and seek professional advice. You might think you know about addiction, for example, but if someone asked you, what is addiction, your answer may be very different from that of somebody with an addiction. You might assume that you know what it is like to experience anxiety, but there’s a crucial difference between feeling anxious from time to time and having an anxiety disorder.
Help your loved ones to seek advice
Reach not easy. As a close friend or relative, you can help a loved one by encouraging them to take that first step. This might involve scheduling an appointment with a doctor, calling a helpline or joining forums or online groups to talk to people who have been in an analogous situation. You may find that a friend is more likely to make the first call or go to an appointment or therapy session if you’re there to support or reassure them.
It’s so hard to watch someone you care about struggle with mental sickness. One of the toughest parts is knowing what to do to help. If you have a loved one who needs support or advice, follow these tips.
