You know someone with a mental disorder. Even if you don’t know it yet. Whether family, co-workers or acquaintances, we’ll call them “your friend.” Since you are reading this, I know you are a caring and compassionate person who would like to understand and support your friend.
Mental illness makes many things very difficult, especially relationships with others. I bet you have felt that with your friend. Maybe they have been labeled with major depression, and find it hard to respond to your invitations or enjoy activities with you. Maybe they have issues with anxiety and their worry is so intense that you find it difficult to relax with them. Maybe they carry the label of bipolar disorder, and their manic energy and obsessive enthusiasm occasionally leaves you in the dust and overwhelmed. Maybe they sometimes seem to lose touch with the ordinary world, and meaningful communication appears impossible. But whatever the problem, you can feel their suffering, and you do not want to give up or walk away.
So how can you help someone with a mental illness? Read More →