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Having an individual with a psychiatric disorder in your life might be a difficult issue. If you have never interacted with such people, you might not know how to behave yourself – what to do and what to say. However, if you walk in the shoes of the individual with a psychiatric disorder, you will see how important it is to feel someone’s support and friendship. We have prepared an article that encourages people to never give up on someone with a mental illness – are you interested? Then keep on reading!
Offer Your Support
Saying something like “Get a hobby,” or “Stop focusing on the bad stuff” does not really help an individual who has depression, schizophrenia, autism, bipolar disorder, or ADHD. These people did not choose to get sick themselves – it was the illness that attacked them. It will be highly valued if you simply offer your support: “Let me know if you need anything,” or “I am there for you if you need a friend to talk to.” Show that you care, and even if the individual is never going to ask for your help, s/he will always remember that you did offer it.
Do Not Forget That These People Are Smart
Mental illness does not mean the person is not smart that is why you have to respect him/her. The person feels your attitude even if you are trying hard to hide it. That is why do not expect the person with the psychiatric disorder to open his/her heart to you if you have a low opinion of him/her. Just try to realize that the human being you are facing is as smart as you, and you should not doubt his/her intelligence. Respect is a key issue in the relationships between people that is why you need to perceive an individual as an equal.
Engage the Person with Mental Illness in the Conversation
If you are not a professional, you might not know how to deal with mental illness, however, you can always make a research on this issue or refer to affordable research paper editing services who can provide that research for you. However, you should know that you always need to stay relaxed and be yourself. Not to create unnecessary tension, try to engage the individual in the conversation in the most natural way. Ask ordinary questions and demonstrate that you are the most easy-going person ever. Make sure another individual understands that you are really interested in his/her opinion. If you do not quite understand what the person means, clarify – do not pretend that you comprehended. Say something like “If I understood you correctly…,” or “Do you mean…?” You will thus show you are really interested in his/her opinion, and you do care.
Do Not Mention the Disease of the Person
Never mention how sorry you are of the person who has a mental disease – you would make him/her feel uncomfortable. The conversation will go well at the point when both of you are relaxed, and both of you forgot that there is someone mentally ill among you. Imagine if you had some healthcare problem, and someone has been mentioning it all the time and reminding you about how not normal you are – would you feel happy? Of course, not. Do not be sorry for the mentally unstable person – perceive him/her as your equal. Only this would make the mentally ill individual feel comfortable with you. You can slightly hint at the fact that s/he should take care of health, but never mention the particular disease of hers/him.
Sandra Larson has been working as a writer for approximately a year, and this time was enough for her to become one of the best writers on the website. She easily combines her hobbies with her job because she keeps a blog and adores taking pictures when she travels. Her motto is “The writer is by nature a dreamer – a conscious dreamer.” And she definitely is.
1 Comment
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This post is one of the many reasons I’m still here. Thank you for the vulnerability and courage to share. I struggled the same when I was a teen, and I’m so grateful for the growth in my own life and how I get to structure my own life in a different way than the things that led to my addiction. You are inspiring! I love your writing!