How to Support Someone with Mental Illness
Having a loved one with a mental illness can be really challenging, especially for many of my clients who pride themselves on being “problem-solvers” and “helpers.” Witnessing someone that we love struggle with anxiety, depression, substance dependence, psychosis, or trauma symptoms can cause us to feel helpless, hopeless, and a whole slew of other feelings.
Our loved one’s mental illness may not always make sense to us. And we might not always know what to do to support people in a way that is kind, but also not enabling. The most important thing to remember about supporting a loved one with a mental illness is that we can’t support anyone if we aren’t strong ourselves! Engaging in our own self care ensures that we aren’t giving from an empty cup.
Once we feel taken care of, we can offer support to others. This may look like encouraging your loved one to participate in treatment (or offering to attend the first session with them if they feel nervous). It can look like lovingly holding our friend or partner accountable to taking their medications or getting enough sleep. But in my mind the most helpful thing that you can do is just listen. You may not understand or have experienced the same things, but when your loved one is sharing with you their pain, fear, or insecurities, it’s important that you just hear them. You don’t have to have any answers
Being a caretaker or helper to a loved one with mental illness can put a lot of strain on people and their relationships- not just with the ill person but with everyone else as well. If you feel like you’re having a hard time balancing, you are not alone! There are a lot of great resources available for people who have loved ones with addictions or severe mental illness.
NAMI (National Association on Mental Illness) Family Support Groups: NAMI Family Support Group | NAMI
Al-Anon (For friends and family of people affected by alcohol dependence): Al-Anon Meeting Search - Al-Anon Family Groups
Nar-Anon (For friends and family of people affected by substance dependence): Find a Meeting — Nar-Anon Family Groups
