In recent years, there has been a concerning rise in the prevalence of mental health issues worldwide. This increase can be attributed to various factors, including societal changes, economic pressures, and the impact of technological advancements. The fast-paced nature of modern life, coupled with increasing work demands and social expectations, has created a breeding ground for stress, anxiety, and depression. For more on this topic check out our blog “3 Ways to Achieve Work Life Balance”.
Moreover, the major influence of social media and the constant exposure to unrealistic standards of beauty, success, and happiness have contributed to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem among individuals of all ages. It is vital for our society to recognize the significance of mental health and prioritize efforts to destigmatize seeking help, enhance access to mental health services, and promote mental and physical well-being.
Anchor Therapy is a counseling center in Hoboken, NJ with mental health therapists specialized in helping children, teens, adults, couples, and families with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, trauma, life transitions, and more. Anchor Therapy is accepting new clients and is now providing in-person sessions and teletherapy sessions to residents of New Jersey, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Utah.
How does a family member’s mental health diagnosis impact the family unit as a whole?
Mental health issues are becoming increasingly prevalent, impacting individuals of all ages and from all different ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds. When a family member receives a mental health diagnosis, it can have a profound impact on the entire family unit. It impacts not only the individual who has been diagnosed but also their family, friends and loved ones.
The impact of a family member's mental health diagnosis can vary depending on…
The specific diagnosis
Whether it was expected or not
The individual's role within the family system
The overall support available
However, receiving a mental health diagnosis can have several common effects on both the diagnosed individual and their family members.
The journey of navigating mental health challenges requires understanding, compassion, and a supportive environment. In this blog we will explore the experiences, emotions, and coping strategies of families dealing with mental health diagnosis. As a supportive figure in your loved one’s life, you will learn how to offer insights, strategies, and resources to assist them in coping, feeling supported, and even empowered during this challenging time.
The Initial Shock and Emotional Rollercoaster
When a loved one receives a mental health diagnosis, it often comes as a shock. Families may experience a range of emotions.
Family members can experience a singular emotion or a range of emotions that include but are not limited to:
Disbelief
Confusion
Guilt
Fear
Shame
Anger
The initial reaction can be overwhelming, but it is crucial for family members to process their emotions and seek support from one another and professionals. Trying to cope with an often difficult situation with unresolved emotions, confusion and perhaps fear and anxiety only serve to complicate what can be an already tenuous situation. Understanding the diagnosis, its implications, and available treatment options can help alleviate some anxiety and uncertainty.
How can I understand my loved one’s mental health diagnosis?
The first step in understanding your family member’s diagnosis is to educate yourself. Education is a powerful tool in dismantling the stigma surrounding mental health.
By educating yourself about specific diagnoses, symptoms, and treatment options, families can gain clarity and tools to support their loved ones more effectively and cater to their specific needs.
To gather accurate information consult:
Reputable medical/mental health sources
Books
Mental health professionals
Professional websites
Support group
Another important tool in this process is communication. Honest and open communication with your family members can help you understand how they feel about the situation and what they are going through. Encourage them to share their thoughts, feelings, and concerns regarding their diagnosis.
Active listening and empathy are critical during this initial stage to develop a deeper understanding of their symptoms and experiences, and can be crucial in helping them long term.
What lifestyle changes occur as an effect of my family member’s mental health diagnosis?
The mental health diagnosis of a family member can alter the lives of the family in many ways. These changes can be unexpected and really shift the way that the family members have to go about their daily responsibilities. It is important to understand and consider these before they are experienced so they can be dealt with in an effective manner.
Change in Normalcy:
Certain diagnosis may require significant lifestyle changes for the individual and their family. This can include modifications to daily routines, dietary accommodations, or a tedious medication regimen. This can alter how the family functions and can result in added stress and possibly conflict. For more about this issue take a look at our blog “Everything You Need to Know About Stress Management Therapy”. During this time there may be a lot of change in an adult's roles, responsibilities and expectations. It is essential that the family is open and can communicate effectively so that no one individual gets overwhelmed or feels that their personal needs are being neglected as a result of the transitions.
Role Adjustments:
A family member's diagnosis can result in the members of the family’s roles being altered. Responsibilities and caregiving duties may shift, with certain people having to take on additional tasks or roles to support the family member who has been diagnosed or the family as a whole.
Financial Implications:
There may be certain financial stressors that come with a diagnosis. Depending on the mental health concern, certain treatment plans or facilities can place a financial burden on a family. Careful planning and considerations need to be made so that hardship and potential crisis can be mitigated or avoided.
More Support Needs:
During this time the family may experience increased support needs. This is a normal occurrence and is not something to be ashamed of or to resent. The majority of individuals are not prepared to handle mental health issues as it is not something that people speak about freely and unfortunately there's still much stigma surrounding it. The goal in coping with needing support is to accept and embrace these feelings and be proactive in seeking support. Ignoring your own needs while trying to support someone else in need will just make the situation worse and much harder to manage. It is important to know when assistance is needed in order for the most positive and beneficial outcome for all involved to be realized.
How can I showcase my empathy and build a supportive environment for my loved one?
After a mental health diagnosis, your loved one may experience a hard time figuring out what steps to take next. They might not understand how the diagnosis affects them or what this means for their future. As someone who cares for their wellbeing, there are steps that can be taken to help them maneuver this confusing time in their life.
Creating a Supportive Environment:
Families play a crucial role in supporting their loved ones with mental health conditions. Building a supportive environment involves open communication, empathy and active listening. By creating a safe space for open dialogue, family members can better understand the challenges their loved one is facing. It is essential to avoid stigmatizing language and provide unconditional love and acceptance. Uniting as a family during difficult times builds resilience and is a protective factor that enables the best chances for positive coping to occur. Family members often have insight or a shared perspective of the unique situation and perhaps share some of the feelings that are arising, so it is important to use them as an outlet for healing and restoration.
Advocacy and Removing Stigma:
Mental health conditions are often accompanied by social stigmas. Challenge these misconceptions by educating yourself and others. Promote understanding and acceptance within your family and wider community. Advocacy is also vital in promoting awareness and resources within the community, fighting for accessible mental health services, and challenging societal misconceptions. This can be an important tool for family members in coping with their own emotions as it empowers them and gives them an active role and purpose in helping their loved ones heal.
Encouraging Emotional Expression:
Allow your family members to express their emotions freely. Create spaces where struggles, fears, anxieties and stressors can be shared without judgment. Validate their feelings and let them know that you are there to support them unconditionally. Make sure to celebrate the small victories also, all emotions are valid and family members should feel free to express them all.
Creating a Routine:
Establishing a structured routine can provide a sense of stability and security for your family member and the entire family unit. Help them develop a schedule that includes regular sleep patterns, meals, therapy sessions, and recreational activities.Encourage activities that promote physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. As well as continuing the things you have always enjoyed as a family, life does not cease to exist after a diagnosis and if something used to bring joy to the family it most likely still will. Promoting positive routines can contribute to your family members overall mental health and aid in managing their symptoms.
Managing Challenges and Seeking The Help of A Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Stress:
A diagnosis can lead to increased strain and stress on the family. Family members may experience heightened feelings of anxiety and worry about the future and the wellbeing of their family member who has been diagnosed. These stressors have the potential to impact relationships within the family as well as outside of the family. When tensions arise, address it as promptly as possible so that the stress does not intensify and rely on coping mechanisms and support systems to ease the stress. As a family member, it is natural to experience a range of emotions. Establish your own support system through friends, support groups, mental health professionals, clergy, or anyone you can be open and honest with. Learning to process your emotions and developing healthy coping mechanisms is essential to your well being and the well being of your loved ones.
Healthy Outlets:
It is easy to resort to negative ways of easing our emotions or pain during times of stress. People often find themselves abusing drugs or alcohol to mask the feelings they no longer want to feel, which is not the solution. It is important to find healthy coping outlets that work for you whether it be exercise, meditation, listening to music, or whatever puts you in a more positive space! For ideas about healthy coping mechanisms check out our blog “How Meditation can Lead to Stress Reduction”.
Self-Care for the Whole Family Unit:
Caring for a loved one with a mental health diagnosis can be very emotionally and physically demanding. It is very important for families to prioritize self-care to maintain their wellbeing. Recognize your own limitations and set boundaries to prevent being negatively impacted by your external situation, and having your own mental health crisis. Engaging in activities that promote relaxation, seeking support networks, and setting boundaries can help prevent burnout and maintain a healthy family dynamic. Taking care of yourself enables you to better support your family members and maintain a positive role in the family unit. For more tips on how to promote and practice self care check out our blog “8 Forms of Self-Care and How to Practice Them”.
Utilize Available Resources:
Familiarize yourself with local and online mental health resources such as helplines, community support groups, and educational programs. These resources can provide valuable information, guidance, and assistance through your journey.
Seek Professional Help:
When dealing with mental health diagnoses, seeking professional help is often a necessary action that needs to be taken. Sometimes the issues are bigger than what the family can deal with and need to be brought to the attention of a professional. Mental health professionals can provide guidance, therapy, and medication management, if necessary. Family therapy can also be beneficial in fostering understanding, improving communication and developing coping strategies as a collective unit. Therapeutic interventions empower families to navigate the complexities of mental health together.
How can Anchor Therapy help my family and I during this healing journey?
Anchor Therapy has the staff and resources to help anyone who is struggling with emotions associated with the diagnosis of a family member. Our counselors can provide you and your family with the tools to get through the tough times you may be facing and learn how to best support the mental health related needs of your family member.
Our licensed psychotherapists are equipped to work with families of all backgrounds, and any family is encouraged to explore this option if it seems appropriate and like it could be a beneficial option for any issues they face. This could be a great resource to reconnect the family and ensure that, moving forward, the emotional needs of each family member are being addressed in a proper fashion.
Families dealing with mental health diagnoses face unique challenges but with compassion, support, and education, they can navigate this journey as a unit. By fostering an environment of understanding, seeking professional help, and prioritizing self-care, families can effectively support their loved ones while also nurturing their own wellbeing.
Remember, no family is alone in this journey. Support groups and online communities are available for sharing experiences, gaining insights and finding solace and support. It is important that families seek out any resources available to them in order to ease any potential hardships this situation may cause.
While a diagnosis can be challenging, it can also foster personal growth and resilience within the family. Families often come together to support one another, develop new coping mechanisms, and find strength in the face of adversity and become stronger and closer. Dealing with mental health diagnoses requires patience, resilience, and a collective effort. Together, families can overcome the obstacles they encounter and thrive, ensuring that their loved ones receive the care, acceptance, and support they deserve. Let's work together to break the stigma and build a world where mental health is treated with the same importance as physical health!
Grace Anderson
is an Intern at Anchor Therapy. She is an undergraduate student at the University of Delaware studying Human Services with a minor in Psychology. She is looking to pursue a graduate degree in Social Work upon graduating undergrad.
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