Friends, Family & Carers Forum

[Shaz51]

Hello  @JamesBluntus

have a look here , some are very good tips

[Former-Member]

I have posted this link in "what's new" tab but here are 60 hints from schizophrenia. com


http://www.schizophrenia.com/family/60tip.html

[Shaz51]

Hello @Former-Member, @Determined, @Rose96, @Anony18, @Appleblossom How can we look after ourselves?

When caring for someone else, it’s important to remember to look after yourself and other family members too.

• Allow for regular ‘time out’. Make sure to make time to regularly do things you enjoy and to socialise. Ask about respite care to give everyone a break.
• Talk about how you feel. Don’t ‘bottle up’ feelings if you are sometimes frustrated or need support. Let the treating health professionals and others know how you feel, and ask for support if you need it.
• Be sensible about what you reasonably can – and cannot – do. Try to prioritise and organise what you need to do, by making a weekly list for example. Ensure that this is realistic and fair, and that it includes time for yourself and others as well as the person you are caring for.
• Don’t try to do too much. Pace yourself and look out for signs that you are becoming stressed. Have a plan for what to do if this happens.

[Shaz51]

What skills do we need?

Having a mental illness isn’t easy. Caring for someone affected often isn’t easy either, and sometimes first instincts are not helpful. The SANE Guide for Families contains lots of information and tips that others have found useful.

• Talk things over with the person affected and other family members. Talk about how you feel and encourage others to do the same. Try to ensure everyone has the same understanding and position.
• Find out about any training for family carers of people with a mental illness you can attend, and consider joining a support group to meet others in your position.
• Encourage the person with a mental illness to be involved as much as possible in looking after themselves, and to get out socially and do things in their local community as much as is practical.
• Consider the person as a whole – remember that they have the same range of personal, emotional and sexual needs as anyone else. Is their physical health being looked after by a GP? Are alcohol or drugs a problem which needs attention?
• If there are suicidal thoughts, self-harm or aggression towards others, take these seriously and discuss with a health professional. Prepare a plan together for what to do if someone becomes unwell again. Always have crisis numbers handy.
• Plan ahead for when you are unable to provide care. Talk about this with the person and health professionals, and consider what legal and financial steps may be needed to ensure care continues.

[Shaz51]

Hello Everyone

Developing a sense of balance

Supporting someone who has a mental illness is helped by balancing a realistic understanding of how the illness has affected the person with a hopeful determination to help them achieve as great a level of recovery and independence as possible.

Talk to the treating health professionals or staff at a support organisation for advice on how to do this.

A balanced attitude means:

• a balance of expectation – sometimes we expect too much of someone, sometimes we expect too little. Try to adjust your expectations to the person’s capabilities at the time
• a balance of help – sometimes we try to do too much for someone, sometimes we do too little. Try to be involved at a level that is in the best interest of the person you care for and that is fair to yourself and others
• a balance of emotion – sometimes we are overemotional, sometimes we withdraw emotionally. Try to show concern in a caring and matter-of-fact way, avoiding being over-emotional or unemotional
• a balance of time – sometimes we may give someone too much time, sometimes we may have too little time for them. Try to share time between the person who has a mental illness and other family and friends. Make sure you have time to yourself too
• a balance of activity – sometimes we may give the person too much to do, sometimes we may leave them too little to do. Try to encourage a level of stimulating, healthy activity that is realistic, and at times that suit everyone.

[Shaz51]

Hello @Former-Member

if you have some hints or tips you like to share with other carers, we would love to hear them

[Former-Member]

For sure. I reckon the two biggest things that help me, especially now as things have gotten more intense are:

Training with a PT with weights - as much as general fitness and movement was always vital, having someone guide me in getting physically strong has been amazing help for my mental strength to be able to respond to each new crisis that crops up. My PT also focuses on stress management and nutrition which has been really important too.
- and -
Reaching out to actively ask for good vibes when I'm running low - even if the person/people I'm asking don't know what's up, having people I trust act as that buffer of positivity is always such a gift. I wish I had known to do that years ago.

BL

[Shaz51]

they are great pieces of advice @Former-Member

@Former-Member, @Determined, @Rose96, @Anony18 are great friends

[Former-Member]

Thanks! And hi everyone 🙂

[Former-Member]

15 min talk on when mental illness enters a family

https://youtu.be/NRO0-JXuFMY