Dealing with Mental Health Disorders

Dealing with mental health disorders is difficult for those suffering from the disorder as well as family or friends close to the person with the disorder. It is important to know how to productively deal with a mental health disorder in order to maintain supportive relationships as well as stay on the path to recovery. Here are some tips on how to deal with mental health disorders and get closer to the goal of good mental health.

Be Patient and Listen

When you are trying to support someone who has a mental health disorder, such as depression, schizophrenia or anxiety disorders, your first instinct may be to offer words of wisdom coming from your own experience in order to try to get them to feel better. You might be tempted to suggest to someone with depression that they should just go out and get some fresh air to feel better, instead of staying in bed all day. This might seem like good advice to you, but you can’t forget to give your loved one a chance to express their thoughts and feelings freely without judgment. Even if it is hard for you to hear what your loved one is going through, anyone suffering from a mental health disorder needs to have a chance to release their feelings before any growth can be achieved.

At the same time, if you are suffering from a mental health disorder, you should be patient with your loved ones when they try to offer well-meaning advice. They may not know what it is like to suffer from your mental health disorder, and they are just trying to come up with a solution to help you feel better. Calmly remind them that you appreciate their sympathy, but that what would be most helpful of all is if they are there when you want to talk about your feelings, and just let you talk without interjecting their own opinion.

Communicate Openly with Doctors

Maintain a good relationship with the doctor who is providing treatment. Patients should honestly and accurately share their symptoms and experiences every step of the way, so the doctor can accurately diagnose and treat the condition. Loved ones of patients should be understanding and respectful of the doctor throughout the treatment process, even when change isn’t coming right away. The doctor is doing the best they can to treat the mental health disorder. Some mental health disorders can last for years, while others may last a lifetime.

Keep a Positive Attitude

While dealing with a mental health disorder, the best thing you can do is to keep a positive attitude. Enjoy the simple pleasures of life, be grateful for any improvements in mental health, and treasure the relationships you have with your loved ones. The more positive you are about the mental health disorder, the more likely you are to experience improvements in mood and improvements in general health.