Mental Illness in the Family
Recognizing the Warning Signs & How to Cope
Most people believe that mental disorders are
rare and “happen to someone else." In fact, mental
disorders are common and widespread. An estimated 54
million Americans suffer from some form of mental disorder in a
given year.
Most families are not prepared to cope with learning their
loved one has a mental illness. It can be physically and
emotionally trying, and can make us feel vulnerable to the
opinions and judgments of others.
If you think you or someone you know may have a mental or
emotional problem, it is important to remember there is hope
and help.
What is mental illness?
A mental illness is a disease that causes mild to severe
disturbances in thought and/or behavior, resulting in an
inability to cope with life’s ordinary demands and
routines.
There are more than 200 classified forms of mental illness.
Some of the more common disorders are depression,
bipolar disorder,
dementia, schizophrenia
and anxiety disorders. Symptoms may include changes in
mood, personality, personal habits and/or social withdrawl.
Mental health problems may be related to excessive stress due
to a particular situation or series of events. As with cancer,
diabetes and heart disease, mental illnesses are often
physical as well as emotional and psychological. Mental
illnesses may be caused by a reaction to environmental
stresses, genetic factors, biochemical imbalances, or a
combination of these. With proper care and treatment many
individuals learn to cope or recover from a mental illness or
emotional disorder.
How to cope day-to-day
Accept your feelings
Despite the different symptoms and types
of mental illnesses, many families who have a loved one with
mental illness, share similar experiences. You may find
yourself denying the warning signs, worrying what other people
will think because of the stigma, or wondering what caused
your loved one to become ill. Accept that these feelings are
normal and common among families going through similar
situations. Find out all you can about your loved one’s
illness by reading and talking with mental health
professionals. Share what you have learned with others.
Handling unusual behavior
The outward signs of a mental illness are often
behavioral. Individuals may be extremely quiet or
withdrawn. Conversely, he or she may burst into tears or
have outbursts of anger. Even after treatment has
started, individuals with a mental illness can exhibit
anti-social behaviors.
When in public, these behaviors can be disruptive and
difficult to accept.
The next time you and your family member visit your doctor or
mental health professional, discuss these behaviors and
develop a strategy for coping.
Establishing a support network
Whenever possible, seek support from
friends and family members. If you feel you cannot discuss
your situation with friends or other family members, find a
self-help or support group. These groups provide an
opportunity for you to talk to other people who are
experiencing the same type of problems. They can listen
and offer valuable advice.
Seeking counseling
Therapy can be beneficial for both the
individual with mental illness and other family members.
A mental health professional can suggest ways to cope and
better understand your loved one’s illness.
When looking for a therapist, be patient
and talk to a few professionals so you can choose the person
that is right for you and your family. It may take time
until you are comfortable, but in the long run you will be
glad you sought help.
Taking time out
It is common for the person with the
mental illness to become the focus of family life. When
this happens, other members of the family may feel ignored or
resentful. Some may find it difficult to pursue their own
interests.
If you are the caregiver, you need some time for
yourself. Schedule time away to prevent becoming
frustrated or angry. If you schedule time for yourself
it will help you to keep things in perspective and you may
have more patience and compassion for coping or helping your
loved one. Only when you are physically and emotionally
healthy can you help others.
“Many families who have a loved one with mental illness
share similar experiences”
It is important to remember that there is hope for recovery,
and that with treatment many people with mental illness return
to a productive and fulfilling life.
Warning Signs and Symptoms
To learn more about symptoms that are
specific to a particular mental illness, refer to the NMHA
brochure on that illness. The following are signs that
your loved one may want to speak to a medical or mental health
professional.
In adults:
- confused thinking
- prolonged depression (sadness or irritability)
- feelings of extreme highs and lows
- excessive fears, worries and anxieties
- social withdrawal
- dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
- strong feelings of anger
- delusions
or hallucinations
- growing inability to cope with daily problems and
activities
- suicidal thoughts
- denial of obvious problems
- numerous unexplained physical ailments
- substance abuse
In older children and pre-adolescents:
- substance abuse
- inability to cope with problems and daily activities
- change in sleeping and/or eating habits
- excessive complaints of physical ailments
- defiance of authority, truancy, theft, and/or vandalism
- intense fear of weight gain
- prolonged negative mood, often accompanied by poor
appetite or thoughts of death
- frequent outbursts of anger
In younger children:
- changes in school performance
- poor grades despite strong efforts
- excessive worry or anxiety (i.e. refusing to go to bed or
school)
- hyperactivity
- persistent nightmares
- persistent disobedience or aggression
- frequent temper tantrums
Other Resources:
Mental Illness in the Family: Part 1 Recognizing the
Warning Signs & How to Cope is one in a series of
pamphlets on helping family members with mental illness. Other
NMHA titles include:
NMHA offers additional pamphlets on a
variety of mental health topics. For more information or to
order multiple copies of pamphlets, please call 1-800-969-NMHA
This pamphlet is copyrighted. Permission to reprint must be
obtained from the NMHA
Copyright 1997 Revised 2/00
For More Information:
Contact your local Mental Health Association, community
mental health center, or:
National Mental Health Association
2001 N. Beauregard Street, 12th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone 703/684-7722
Fax 703/684-5968
Mental
Health
Resource Center 800/969-NMHA
TTY Line 800/433-5959
Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS)
Knowledge Exchange Network
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 13-103
Rockville, MD 20857
Phone 800-789-2647
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone 800-374-2721 or 202-336-5500
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI)
200 N Glebe Road, Ste. 1015
Arlington, VA 22203-3457
Phone 800-950-6264 or 703-524-7600
American Psychiatric Association
1400 K Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Phone 202-682-6000
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Information Resources and Inquiries Branch
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7C-02
Rockville, MD 20857
Phone 301-443-4513
NMHA's Campaign for America's Mental Health works to raise
awareness that mental illnesses are common, real and
treatable illnesses and ensure that those most at-risk
receive proper, timely and effective treatment.Click here for more information.
The Campaign is made possible through unrestricted
educational grants from the following corporations:
Founding Sponsor - Eli Lilly and Company
Campaign Sponsors - Abbott Laboratories, Bristol-Myers
Squibb Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, Eli Lilly and
Company, Forest Laboratories, Inc., Organon Inc., Pfizer Inc,
and Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceuticals.
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