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Everyone has struggles that they don’t talk about and that they try to manage on their own. While some may choose to work through things on their own, it is important to let friends and family members know that they are not alone when they need help.
One of the hardest things to do is find the best way to talk about difficult subjects with our loved ones. This can be especially difficult if one or both of you have a mental health condition, or suspect that one of you may have one. A mental health screening is an important part of medical care, especially later in life.
While the importance of keeping up on one’s health increases as we approach senior years, remember that getting the proper health screenings throughout your life is equally important. As with other health conditions, when mental health conditions are caught early, they are more easily and effectively treated. Click here for more information on mental health treatment options.
When A Loved One Needs Treatment
If you believe that a loved one could benefit from seeing a therapist or other mental health professional, it is important to approach them in a neutral or positive way. Either way, the conversation will likely be a delicate one so it is important to know what you are going to say beforehand.
Don’t accuse them of anything, and try not to bring up things that you may view as problematic behavior. By doing these things or by approaching them with hostility or negativity, they will not listen to what you have to say and will be defensive.
Respect their feelings and their privacy by speaking to them privately rather than in front of other friends or family members. Express your concerns, and ask them how they have been feeling or if they have been experiencing anything out of the ordinary lately. Let them talk if they are willing to, and let them know that you are there for them and are willing to help if they need it.
You should never force someone to seek treatment if they aren’t ready to, unless they are a danger to themselves or others. Instead, provide them with options and let them know that help is available when they are ready for it. Reinforce that you are there to help and that you are there for them.
Ultimately, the most that you can do is offer your support and help provide them with treatment options and information. At the end of the day, they have to make the decision to seek care for themselves and you shouldn’t try to force them if they are not ready to take that step.
When You Believe That You Need Treatment
Realizing that you may have a mental health condition that needs treatment can be tough. While your friends and family may have noticed a difference in you, that is not always the case. Whether you decide to tell anyone that you are seeking treatment is ultimately up to you, but it may be beneficial to let someone know.
Having a strong and reliable support system in place while you are going through therapy can significantly help in your recovery. Additionally, it can be reassuring to some to know that they have people that they can lean on when things get difficult.
For some, treatment and therapy can be fairly simple. If you catch your mental health condition early, then it may be as simple as finding the right medication or taking some time off of work to reset and relax.
For others, treatment may be more time-intensive and emotionally draining. Extensive therapy may be required in addition to medication, or other treatment options may be discussed.
Depending on the severity of your mental health condition, you may want to have an established support group in place that can help support you when you have bad days. In this case, it can help to let your loved ones know early on so that they can be there for you when you need it.
What Else Can I Do?
One of the best things that you can do when it comes to mental health conditions is to educate yourself on them. There are a lot of misconceptions and misinformation that many people believe about different mental illnesses.
Because of this, there tends to be a cultural taboo around discussing mental health conditions openly, which in turn perpetuates the cycle. If you or someone you love has received a diagnosis or suspects that they may need treatment, learn about the condition.
It is important to note that if you are not a doctor or therapist, you should not be giving medical advice to anyone, nor should you follow anything that you found without first consulting a doctor. That said, it can be beneficial to understand what causes the condition, what may trigger it, and what you can do to help alleviate it.
By being willing to educate yourself and talk about mental health care, you are not only showing your support for those who have mental health conditions, but you are helping to open the dialog for treatment options.
By normalizing mental health care, therapy, and self-care more in our society, we can make mental health care more accessible and affordable for those who need it. Although the discussion may be a difficult one, don’t avoid talking to your loved ones about mental health.
