What to Do When You Love Someone with A Mental Illness

So someone you care about has confided in you that they are suffering from a mental illness. After hearing this news you might have a lot of questions and be wondering what you can do to help. It can be frustrating to not know what our loved ones need from us. Today I’m going to give you some ideas about what you can do when someone you love is suffering from a mental illness. 

Prioritize yourself. First things first, you cannot help anyone if you do not fill your own cup. I have two posts on self care that you can check out right now to figure out why it’s important and get some ideas on how to practice self care. When someone you love suffers from mental illness it can have a big effect on you. It can be mentally and emotionally exhausting for you and you need to make sure that you are taking care of yourself first. 

Ask questions and do research. The only way to truly know what your loved one needs is to ask. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about their mental illness and how they are feeling. If they do not want to talk about it they will let you know. Also, do your own research on their mental illness. Learn about what their mental illness does to them, the symptoms, the signs of setbacks, etc. 

Encourage them. Be a cheerleader in your loved one’s life. Encourage them to keep doing the things you know that they love to do. Let them know they can reach out to you or someone else, like their therapist, if they need help. 

Reach out to them. Some people suffering from mental illness can find it hard to reach out when they need support. Send them a quick text just to see how their week is going or if they want to meet up. This opens the door for them to communicate how they are doing. Don’t take it personally if they do not text you back or want to meet up though, they could just need some time alone. 

Most importantly, love them. When things get tough, remind yourself of all the things you love about that person and why you care about them. They have chosen to share another part of their life with you, but they are still the same person you have always loved. 

These are just a few ideas about what to do when someone you care about suffers from a mental illness. Loving someone with mental illness can be a difficult relationship to navigate, but you can do it. Just remember to fill your cup and love them as much as you can.