When it comes to mental illness, the primary focus tends to be on the individual who is impacted by it.
The main topic of conversation is based on the person's symptoms and what they can do to try to better manage and overcome them.
While it's important to focus on the affected individual, it's also important to check in on that individual's loved ones. Mental illness can have an impact on the person struggling with it, but it can also impact that person's family members.
Let's learn more about the impact of mental illness on families.
Emotional Impact
The person struggling with a mental illness goes through a series of emotions due to the symptoms they're experiencing. Family members can also experience a variety of different emotions. Some of the most common may include anxiety, anger, fear, guilt, and sadness. While these are normal and common emotions, family members need to acknowledge how they're feeling, even if it may be hard to admit, to prevent these feelings from worsening.
Financial Impact
Finances can be a huge concern when a mental illness diagnosis occurs. Costs may start to add up for appointments, medications, or therapy sessions. This can cause family members to experience financial stress when trying to arrange funding to pay for these unplanned medical expenses.
Change of One's Daily Routine
The diagnosis of a mental illness can cause a lot of disruption to one's daily life and routine. After a diagnosis is made, it can feel like a person's entire world is flipped upside down. This can happen for both the person who was diagnosed as well as their loved ones. Trying to return to a state of normalcy can be challenging and easier said than done. They may constantly be in defense mode or ready to jump to the next problem.
Relationship Impact
The relationship that was once shared between a family member and the person affected by the mental illness may start to change. No matter how close these individuals were before the diagnosis, the news may influence changes within their relationship. It can be difficult for a person who doesn't struggle with mental illness to try to relate to or understand how a person with a mental illness feels. Loved ones also may experience embarrassment, shame, or feel bad about their loved one's diagnosis. Family members may not know what to do, say, or how to act around their loved one with a mental illness. They may start to withdraw or isolate from them, even if that isn't their intention.
Social Impact
Living with a person who has a mental illness may start to impact a family member's social life as well. They may be hesitant to invite friends, partners, or coworkers to their home due to concerns about how the affected member will act or behave. They also may have a hard time opening up to others, even the people they trust, about what's going on in their and their family member's lives.
Next Steps
It's not uncommon for members of a family to be impacted by another family member's diagnosis of a mental illness. Support from loved ones is crucial when it comes to managing and overcoming a mental illness. While it may seem difficult right now, it doesn't have to remain that way. Reach out today for family or couples therapy so that you can show up in the best way for your loved ones. We're here when you're ready to get started.