When a person struggles with depression, anxiety, PTSD, Bipolar disorder or another mental illness, everyone around that person is affected too. These steps can make a tough time a little bit easier.
At some point in our lives, most of us have or will come across a loved one who is suffering from a mental illness. It is easy to feel helpless and powerless in this situation if you do not know the right way to react. I dealt with the same emotions when a close friend opened up to me about their depression. It was tough knowing that someone I cared about was suffering and I could do nothing to help. Since then I have realized that although we might not be able to cure our loved ones, we can improve their lives a little.
- Professional help.
A crucial thing to do is to make sure they get professional help. Start by getting them an appointment at the nearest hospital or mental health clinic such as The Lighthouse clinic in Dubai. If that is not possible, online resources like imalive.org or suicidestop.com are also helpful. Keep in mind that this is not a quick fix and even after professional help getting better is a long process with ups and down. Just being there for them during this time and letting them know that they’re not alone can provide comfort.
- Listen.
Listening does make a difference. Try not to be judgmental, just listen with a clear head and try to understand what they are going through. A lot of mentally ill people feel unheard and misunderstood. It is fine not to be the greatest at comforting others or not to know what to say – they don’t expect us to fix them, all they want is for us to listen. If you can relate to the issue at hand, sharing your experience can show them that you have been listening and deepen their trust in you.
- Be patient.
It can be frustrating watching your friend go to therapy regularly and still have constant anxiety attacks or depressive episodes, amongst other symptoms. It might feel like the same thing every day but be patient with them. Healing takes time, and as frustrated as you might be, they are more. Introduce them to resources such as support groups if you know of any instead of losing hope.
- Treat them like you did before.
Through all of this it is necessary to remember that although they are dealing with a mental illness, they are still the same person. Do with them the things you used to before. Tell them what’s going on in your life. Encourage them to do things they used to enjoy while keeping in mind not to push them.
- Take care of yourself.
Quite possibly the most important thing on the list is to take care of yourself. If being around them is taking a toll on your mental health, stay home for a day. You shouldn’t feel guilty for putting yourself first, after all, you cannot help anyone feel better if you do not feel good yourself.
Even if you cannot do anything to help them, just being there for them is enough to make a suffering person feel less alone, so don’t put yourself down for not being able to do more. Remember that following these tips will not cure your friend entirely but will make their journey to better health a little smoother.
