Supporting a Loved One in Crisis: How Mental Health Services Can Help
It can be very troubling, worrying, and emotionally disturbing to see a loved one suffering a crisis.
No matter if they’re injured, suffering misfortunes in life, or struggling with addiction, every fiber of your being screams out to assist them in every way you can, but sometimes the solutions aren’t quite as clear as you’d hoped.
But as you try to help someone else, managing yourself appropriately is important. After all, being effective does not always mean being gung-ho and intense about this topic, and forcing your relative to heal.
It’s about being sensitive, caring for yourself, applying the necessary help, and taking direction from the mental health services in line with appropriate needs.
This is easier said than done. After all, in a situation like this, you’d be forgiven for being less composed than you might be.
While you might not think back to a blog post you read about this topic while in such a situation, we hope you can find some value in the following advice:
Find All The Support You Can
Going this alone is not always easy, particularly because you can only be in one place at one time.
Moreover, it’s not like your personal life pauses when a crisis like this occurs. You still need to take your children to school, or take care of your laundry, etc.
However, you may find support if you need it. First, it’s important to contact authorities to make sure you have the appropriate support there, even if it’s through mental health services.
From there, talking to your employer and being candid about the situation might grant you a few days of leave to help you attend to this issue.
Enlisting relatives and close friends could also be worthwhile. In this light, you’ll be better able to secure a more competent outcome.
Be A Consistent Presence
We tend to think we need to make every single decision or limit the agency of those we’re trying to care for, and in some cases, we might need the health authorities to help us with that.
However, while you cannot fix everything at every moment or give all of your time to that side of the family, remaining a constant presence, only a phone call away, can make sure you’re here when you need it most.
This can help you also ensure enrollment into mental health treatment without getting in the way, but also making certain you’re there when requested, or able to take care of personal matters your relative might not be able to attend to.
Don’t Have All The Answers
When we’re responsible for someone or want to help them, it’s easy to try and act like an authority on everything they should be doing.
The only problem is that none of us are authorities, outside of mental health professionals who have spent years achieving qualifications and spending time in clinical environments.
For that reason, not having all the answers and instead taking the direction of mental health services can give you a sense of peace. You won’t be responsible for every little thing that might not go in your favor.
However, the areas you are an authority in, such as caring for any children in your family, packing their things to help them with their clinic visits, keeping up on treatment, helping with accountability, and restructuring your familial approach can all make a massive difference.
In short, it’s about knowing where your skills lie and letting others help you with other duties. This can help you avoid feeling quite so powerful.
Prevent The Worst
Sometimes, mental health care is about preventing the worst. During the more difficult episodes being there for a relative, checking up on them, providing them a space to feel safe, being open and honest, and even allowing them to express their fears confidentially can be a great idea.
This approach not only fosters trust and support but also facilitates effective communication with mental health services when necessary.
Also, In this way, you can build a good amount of trust with them, but you can also help prevent any rash action on their part when they may not be thinking rationally or objectively. Sometimes, that’s all you can do.
While you might not be able to snap your fingers and help your relative heal as you’d like, being there when it counts and doing the best you can do is enough. It’s also one of the most practical approaches to take.
Mental Health Services For Struggling With Addiction
Navigating a loved one’s mental health crisis is challenging and emotionally taxing. However, with the right support, consistent presence, and reliance on mental wellness resources, you can effectively assist them.
Remember, it’s okay not to have all the answers. Prioritize your well-being, remain empathetic, and seek professional guidance to provide the best support possible.