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may be extremely quiet or withdrawn.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 888-357-7924
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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