Healthy Healing: How to Help Family Struggling With Mental Illness

 

It can be difficult to watch family members struggle with mental illness. Some things that seem helpful at first, can actually be harmful in the end. You need to understand the right way to help and provide meaningful support. You should know how to help family members struggling with mental illness and what your role should be when helping them to heal.

 

Learn About the Illness

You will provide the best support when you know about the mental illness. Take the time to read, talk to doctors, and learn about the illness affecting your family member. This will give you the ability to identify patterns of behavior caused by the illness, and moments when it might be appropriate to talk. You will also be better able to understand what your loved one is going through each day.

 

Ask What You Can Do To Help

Don’t spend time guessing what you can do to help. Just ask your family member during a calm and quiet time. You might be surprised about the answer. Understanding the needs of the person will make your support more effective. It can also give insight into the struggle going on between your family member and the illness. Try to help as asked unless the requests are destructive.


Support Healthy Behaviors

You want to support any healthy behaviors by your loved one. If your loved one does something healthy and positive, then do everything you can to encourage that behavior. This will reinforce the idea that certain behaviors are accepted while others are not. It can help to make things more clear while your family member is interacting with others, or struggling to get through a bad day.

 

Remain Available to Talk

Always remain available to talk about the mental illness. If your family member calls, shows up, or contacts you in some other way, then stop and listen. Your loved one might be prepared to talk about important issues, or to reveal sensitive personal issues. Always being ready to listen is one of the best ways to help and protect family struggling with mental illness. Keep yourself open, and don’t shut them down when they want to express something to you.


Establish Boundaries and Limits

You need to protect yourself in order to keep providing support. Establish clear boundaries and limits about different behaviors. This will depend on the exact situation and illness. You want to have a safe place for yourself and you want to remain emotionally secure. These boundaries can protect your emotionally, financially, and physically in certain cases.

 

Encourage Treatment at a Professional Facility

You can help a family member by encouraging treatment at Focus Treatment Centers. Treatment centers can provide professional attention sometimes in an inpatient setting. Provide information and gentle encouragement without issuing ultimatums. A family member with anorexia or bulimia will often make the decision to visit an eating disorder facility in Memphis or more locally when the time is right.

 

You need to be sensitive when dealing with mental illness. Always remember to never blame anyone for the illness or certain behaviors. Providing support for your family member requires patience, understanding, and knowledge. A treatment center should be the ultimate goal since they can provide the help and supervision your loved one needs.

 

Categories: behavior, emotions, Family, health, Help, mental

5 Ways to Help Our Loved Ones through Retirement and Old Age

 

Many adults actively look forward to retirement because it means ample free time and the ability to leave the workforce behind. However, retirement and old age can be a challenging time for adults. These years may be rather lonely, filled with bored days and an empty home. Older adults may also face physical and financial challenges that can cause them stress, pain and grief. It can be difficult to watch your loved ones during this time of their lives, but there are some things you can do to help them cope.

 

Make Regular Visits

Many older adults spend long hours alone at home each day. This can be an isolating and depressing experience, and this type of lifestyle can be difficult to endure mentally and emotionally. If you live nearby, make an effort to make regular visits. If you live farther away, offer to fly your loved one to your home for a lengthy visit, or plan a longer visit periodically to break up the monotony of their daily life.

 

Offer Suggestions and Ideas for Fun

Because you cannot be with your loved one around the clock, you may consider making suggestions for fun ways to spend their free time. Encourage them to become active with social activities at a local senior center, and assist them with transportation if possible. You can also bring them books, crafts and other items that they can have fun with when you are not visiting.

 

Provide Financial Support When Necessary

Financial stress is unfortunately rather common for older adults. You may consider speaking openly with your loved ones about their financial status. Offer budgeting ideas, or assist them with finding a more affordable housing solution if necessary. In some cases, providing them with regular financial assistance may be helpful.

 

Monitor Their Health

You may also get in the habit of inquiring about their health regularly. Ask how well-checks and doctor visits went. Actively observe their mental state, and take note of any changes that may be a concern. If necessary, set up doctor appointments so that your loved one receives the healthcare needed at this time of life.

 

Assist them with a Wheelchair or Other Mobility Features
Mobility can become an issue later in life. According to Medical For You, there are a number of mobility devices that may be used to promote their independence for as long as possible. This may include a wheelchair, a walker or a scooter. You can help with the selection and purchase of the device, and you can ensure that the home is suitable for accommodating the mobility device.

 

Retirement may be highly anticipated during working years, but retirement and old age are not always easy or enjoyable. You can help your loved ones with this time in their lives by adopting some of these ideas.

 

Categories: Help, loved one, old age, retirement

How To Help Patients Feel More Comfortable Talking About Serious Health Concerns

 

When you are in a caregiver position, it is important to facilitate clear communication with your patients. Whether you are discussing long-term care options, hospice care, or treatment plans, everyone must be open and honest. However, health issues are notoriously hard to deal with, and many patients find themselves struggling. How can you smooth things over and ensure good communication?

 

Be Honest

When you are in the care giving position, you are seen as someone with authority. It is important that you are upfront and honest. Be clear about what you know and don’t know, and let them know when they can expect answer. While there are good ways to communicate bad news, it’s important not to sugarcoat serious health problems or make it seem like it isn’t a big deal when it reality it is.

 

Do Not Overwhelm

Remember that people do not always need the most scientific names or the most technical descriptions. Sometimes, the best explanation is the simplest one. Be ready to explain what is going on in the most plain terms possible. This helps you stay on track with treatments.

 

Repeat As Necessary

Sometimes, patients dealing with serious health issues have lots of questions, and some of those questions are going to be the same ones over and over and over again. Be patient with them. They are scared, and sometimes they really do not understand. If they did not understand after you explained one way, try explaining again in a different way.

 

Explain Why It Is Important to Be Clear

So many people spend their lives dodging around the obvious and refusing to think about darker matters. When it comes to serious health concerns, they no longer have a choice. Be firm, but be very plain about what is going on and what the risks are. It is believed that informed patients will always do the best, no matter what their issues are.

 

Tell Them It Is Okay Not to Know

Sometimes, patients don’t know what is going in their own heads. They do not know why they are upset or afraid, they may be concerned that they do not know what is happening or what their treatment entails, and this in turn will make them very upset. It is okay for them not to know.

 

Remind Them That This Is Normal

While you should never state that someone has it worse, remind them that what they are going through is normal. Other people have gone through what they are going through. Suggest support groups that can help. Feeling as if they are not alone can be very helpful.

 

When you are providing care for people who are having serious issues, help them talk about what they are going through, and how they can move forward. Join a network with other health professionals to better benefit patients. Informational credit to Nueterra.

 

Categories: comfortable, Help, Patients, serious health concerns

How to Help Your Loved Ones After a Traumatic Accident

 

By Lizzie Weakley

 

Accidents are an unfortunate part of life and commonly happen to most people at one time or another. For those who have a friend or family who is involved in an accident, it can be difficult to offer the right amount of emotional support while maintaining a sensitivity to the individual. To help the loved one recover and heal from the event, there are a few steps to take to offer a helping hand and be there in a time of need.

 

 

Help with Daily Responsibilities

Allow your loved one to heal by taking care of the household duties while they recover. You can offer to cook dinner, clean the litter box, and even pay their bills. Taking care of their responsibilities will allow them to have peace of mind and recover at a faster rate.

You can also consider asking friends and family members to join in by bringing a dish for dinner each night, which can reduce the workload.

 

Offer Assistance with Hiring a Lawyer

To protect your loved one with the legalities of the traumatic accident, it’s important to research lawyers like Tony Zuber & Paul Brioux that can assist the individual. Whether your family member or friend is at fault or was the victim, it’s important to research their rights and help them move forward with the next steps that need to take place.

 

Discuss the Details of the Event

Offer an ear to your loved one by being willing to listen if they need to emotionally process the accident. Although it may take time, they will likely need someone to talk to about their feelings and emotions at unexpected times of the day. You can also research local therapists or counselors who can provide professional advice in a comfortable setting.

 

Drive Them to Appointments

Following a traumatic event, it’s likely that your loved one will find it difficult to drive or may not be able to perform the task at all. Know their schedule and be willing to drive them to their doctor or physical therapy appointments. They may also need to run to the store or pick up a prescription, making it important to transport them to different locations in the weeks following the accident.

 

By offering your physical and emotional support to a loved one following a traumatic event, it can allow them to recover and feel stronger. You’ll not only grow closer to the individual during the process, but can make a difference in their life when they need assistance the most.

 

Categories: after, Help, how to, loved ones, traumatic accident

Having Trouble In Your Personal Life? Seek Help

Life can be difficult sometimes. Change is a big part of life that can bring in good as well as upsetting moments. For some, having personal life problems can be very stressful, as emotionally it can drain you, but they find it hard to discuss the problem with anyone. Any big changes like a job shift or turning into a parent can cause disturbance in your life and seeking support at such important times will only make your life easy. Keeping your personal issues to yourself may not help you with anything. However, sharing the concern with someone close or a professional helper can certainly benefit.

 

Here are a couple of things that can be helpful:

 

It is okay to ask for help

Generally, people prefer keeping their personal problems to themselves and shy away from discussing it with anyone. You need to understand that things will change for the better only if you initiate a solution process. And the first step would be to open up. Take a moment and have a look at yourself. Question yourself if you are leading a normal healthy life or are your personal problems affecting your overall well being. Have you lost your food appetite? Are you sleeping well?

 

If the answers come across as negative, maybe it’s time you do something about it. You don’t want your work life to be ruined because of a problem at home. Speak to someone you trust well. You can also seek advice from a professional expert like a psychologist or a psychiatrist.

 

Who can help you? Find out

While dealing with personal life problems, it is easier to speak to someone you share a personal rapport with. A best friend or your spouse is someone you should turn to. Friends and family members can be the best guiding angels as they know you in and out and will always want your happiness above all.

 

Professional help from a psychotherapist or a psychologist can also be beneficial if you are comfortable with this. Be it a small disturbing issue or a massive life changing problem, a professional counsellor will help you pave your path through it. Seeking regular counselling will bring in the positive change soon.

 

Another way that you can deal with this is opting for Employee Assistance Programs that are available at many office organizations. These programs are designed in order to help the workers that are going through difficult times such as depression, financial problems, relationship issues and various other things. Check with your employer and go for the counselling.

 

Be regular and honest with the helper

Now that you have decided to seek help to overcome your personal life problems, it is sensible to be all honest about the situation you are dwelling in. Stay in touch with the person who is helping you out. If it is a friend or a family member, meet them often and let them know the updates on your progress.

 

If you are visiting a counsellor, be regular with your appointments. Do not avoid a single session or leave therapy in the middle. Understand the advice and follow everything that your psychologist has asked you to do. If you are asked to exercise every day, follow your fitness routine and do not skip it. In case of any prescribed medication, take your medicines on time. Being careless about such small things might slow down the process.

 

Dealing or resolving a personal life problem with the help of a counsellor or someone close will get you to the solution sooner. This will reduce your stress and make your life easier.

Categories: councellor, Help, issue, life, life problems, nbsp, personal, Personal Life, personal problems, problem, problems

How to Avoid Letting Insecurity Ruin Your Sex Life

One of the biggest barriers to sexual health and wellbeing is insecurity. Insecurity can greatly affect your wellness by making you worry both about your body and your performance during sex, and this worry has a negative impact on your ability to achieve true intimacy with your partner.

 

Some people are naturally more confident than others, and sex is no exception. Some people are naturally more inhibited than others, so you can’t necessarily aim to fling caution to the wind and become some kind of sex goddess, but you can feel better about yourself and your sexual performance just by adjusting your mind set a little.

 

First of all, forget about comparing yourself to others. When you compare yourself to others you will always be able to find something lacking in yourself. This is especially the case when you compare yourself to celebrities, who are often chosen for their looks and are then airbrushed into perfection at every turn. Your friends are not always a good point of comparison too, as many women can exaggerate their sexual confidence, and so you may think that they are getting up to all kinds of sexual escapades when in reality their sex life is as ordinary as yours. Focus instead on yourself, thinking strongly about your most positive features and your own enjoyment of the situation.

 

You also need to learn to love your body, and everything about it. The more comfortable you are in your own skin, the easier it will be to feel confident with your partner. Rest assured that whatever it is that you feel self-conscious about (be it a wobble here or a scar there), it is absolutely not what your partner is focusing on. Men actually feel turned off by the women they are with complaining about their body, but feel turned on by those same women (wobbles and all!) being confident enough to show off their body in a sexy and confident way.

Categories: body, confident, feel, feel turned, Help, insecurity, nbsp, Sex, sex life, sexual

Would You be Too Embarrassed to Get Help for an STD?

Did you know that around a quarter of all Britons suffer from a sexual health condition? This can range from a sexually transmitted disease to erectile dysfunction. Nearly two thirds of those affected have admitted that they used the internet to diagnose their condition for themselves, and a further 18 percent of those simply used over the counter medications to treat themselves rather than seeking any kind of proper medical advice or prescription medication. Doctors say that they could be damaging their wellness, because by not getting medical help they could be letting a more serious condition go undiagnosed, and this delay can make things far more serious.

One in ten people in Britain suffer from an STD at some point in their lives, but do not seek medical help because they feel too embarrassed, despite their wellbeing being at risk. They feel ashamed or embarrassed about seeking medical help and they may also feel worried about what the outcome may be if they do have a problem, both in physical and social terms.

Even when the conditions are painful, the research still showed that people were unlikely to seek help, even though they knew that this could have serious repercussions. Those who had not been officially diagnosed often had a view about what they believed their ‘secret sex problem’ to be. Around 35 percent thought that they had an STD, 27 percent felt that they were suffering from erectile dysfunction and 22 percent were experiencing undiagnosed pain during sex.

In this group, just over half of those surveyed said that they were too embarrassed to seek medical help, whilst around 29 percent said that they were too worried about what the outcome might be if they went to see a doctor. Some had discussed the problem with a partner or friends, in lieu of medical advice.

Categories: embarrassed, Help, STD

What Is ‘Mental Health First Aid’ and How Can It Help?

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) states that in the United States today, an average of one in every four adults and 10 percent of all adolescents report struggling with some type of mental health issue on an annual basis. With statistics like these, it is clear that mental health issues are every bit as common for Americans today as their physical health counterparts. Australia has already identified and addressed a similar issue in their population. Several years ago, Australia adopted a nationwide program called mental health first aid (MHFA). The MHFA program has been so effective for Australians that a similar program is now available in the United States as well.

 

The Origins of Mental Health First Aid

Mental health first aid originally came to the States in 2008. Through a partnership between the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, the Missouri Department of Mental Health and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, MHFA was invited to migrate from Down Under to North America. Today, personnel in 47 states have been trained through the original 12-hour certification course with great success. Because of this success and due to increased demand, plans are now underway to tailor the certification course for specific populations or organizations such as adolescents, adults, law enforcement professionals, high school and university campuses, libraries and government agencies.

 

MHFA and Health Professionals

Interestingly, mental health first aid itself is still such a fresh and emerging field that even mental health professionals are continuing to learn what it means and how to implement the training effectively for different populations. For students pursuing a masters degree in human services, public health or a related degree plan, this presents an opportunity to literally get in on the ground floor of a new field. Whether you become a certification program administrator, take the course and add it to your professional toolkit or work to adapt the training to specific populations you work with, you can find many opportunities to lead or assist with efforts to make common mental health issues part of mainstream health knowledge.

 

How Mental Health First Aid Works

When a person is suffering a heart attack or a blocked airway, that individual and those nearby are quite likely to recognize the signs and take appropriate action to seek help. However, it is less likely that either the person suffering or their loved ones will recognize the warning signs of an impending mental health issue. This means that the process of seeking help is often delayed, which can be quite dangerous or even deadly. For this reason, the newly inaugurated United States MHFA program focuses on helping trainees to meet these three goals.

 

• Learning to identify and respond to mental health issues. Common mental health issues can include depression, anxiety/panic attacks, bipolar episodes, suicidal ideation, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) and eating disorders.


• Developing an emergency response system for mental health issues. Helping an affected individual access care can include medical, psychiatric, counseling and community support.


• Understanding the most common treatments for mental health issues. A similar analogy can be made between witnessing someone gasping for breath and performing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

 

Applications for Catastrophic Events

In the wake of recent catastrophic events, the need for mental health first-aid training is growing more urgent. From the Oklahoma tornado to the Colorado wildfires, the Connecticut school shooting to the Massachusetts marathon bombing, having trained MHFA facilitators available to connect with affected individuals can help to identify mental health issues more quickly to ease suffering.

Who Should Take the MHFA Training

The 12-hour certification course is currently recommended for the following individuals and groups.

• Medical and mental health professionals


• Educators and administrators


• Employers and business managers


• Government officials


• Corrections officers and law enforcement officials


• Parents and guardians


• Clinic, hospital, nursing home and hospice staff


• University and high school student leaders and advisors


• Emergency response and humanitarian relief staff and volunteers


• Religious leaders and staff

 

With the advent of mental health first-aid training in the United States, many more individuals affected by mental health issues are finding new hope for early detection and treatment.

 

About the Author: Steven Hopt works as a rural health educator. After graduating with a human services master’s degree, he returned home to put his education and newfound skills to use.

Categories: First Aid, Help, Ment health

How to Improve Your Fitness in a Few Very Easy Steps

Spring has arrived, and that means that there is no longer any excuse for not getting out of the house and enjoying the weather whilst improving your fitness at the same time. The benefits of exercise are well proven, and if you are seriously committed to improving your wellness and taking care of your wellbeing, you really need to get started on an exercise programme soon – and soon means today!

Fitness doesn’t come for free – it requires lots of hard work and dedication, but we fully recognise that it is difficult to get started on a new exercise regime, particularly after such a long and cold winter as the one that we have just experienced. By following our simple steps, you will soon find that your fitness is increasing, your mood is improving, and your wellness is significantly altered.

1. Getting outdoors is the best thing that you can do. Even if it’s just walking rather than taking the bus, going for a gentle stroll or pottering around the garden, you will be unconsciously taking exercise, letting your blood flow increase and improving your health. Being active all day is even better for you than taking one short burst of structured exercise during the day.


2. Joining a sports club can be a really wise step. Spending time with other people who are exercising at the same time, and sometimes relying on you to turn up and plan, can be really motivating. You’re also likely to make new friends and the competitive spirit of clubs can also help to push you towards being the best that you can be.


3. Start slowly, rather than going at it full pelt and ending up injuring yourself. Fitness has to be built up gradually and the saying is quite literally true, that you should not try to run before you can walk!

How to Improve Your Fitness in a Few Very Easy Steps

Categories: exercise, fitness, Help, improving, Routine, time, Wellness

How Can Hatha Yoga Help Balance Your Body, Mind and Spirit?

Since the 15^th century, people have been using hatha yoga to improve their lives. It works by helping you to find a balance in the three main components of wellness; mind, body and spirit. The word yoga literally means the union or working together of mental, physical and spiritual health, whilst hatha is another word for balance, and so at its core, the simple and beneficial asanas of hatha yoga have your overall wellbeing in mind.

With a combination of stretching exercises, pranayama and meditation, hatha yoga helps you to relax and rejuvenate your senses, relieving you from all the stresses, worries, and tensions in life. It teaches you the most basic of yoga asanas, or exercises, and so you will be comfortable moving on to other forms of yoga. Anyone can benefit and learn from hatha yoga, as it makes you fit, active and healthy and provides mental stability.

There are several mental and physical benefits of hatha yoga, whether they are therapeutic or preventative. It calms you, heals your body, improves your blood circulation and provides oxygen to various internal organs. The breathing exercises, for example, provide your body with the inner strength to fight different types of physical pain, such as pain in your shoulder, back, head or neck.

One of the greatest benefits of this yoga is that it provides your body with agility and flexibility, especially if you practice this yoga on a daily basis. However, not only will you observe an improvement in your muscle joint mobility, but your posture will also improve with the help of this yoga. This is because the yoga exercises help to strengthen your spine, and increase your stamina.

Aside from this, a striking benefit of hatha yoga is that it prevents and fights against a myriad of wellness problems. It has the potential to improve your symptoms of arthritis, fatigue, chronic, asthma, arteriosclerosis, AIDS, diabetes and obesity. This type of yoga is great for weight loss in particular, as it helps to promote fat loss throughout the body. Not only does it boost your metabolic rate, but it also enhances the function of your digestive system, which is another important factor in weight loss.

Taking up hatha yoga is especially crucial in the winter months, as it guards your immune system to colds and flu. Finally, if you’re pregnant, hatha yoga can help you to avoid several problems such as backache, depression and excess weight, and it has even been said to help women handle the pains of childbirth in an easier and more effective way.

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How Can Hatha Yoga Help Balance Your Body, Mind and Spirit?

Categories: Balance, Help, yoga

Struggling To Keep Going With Weight Loss? We Can Help

Weight loss is a constant commitment. It’s not something you’re going to be able to pick up and put down as you please. Most people are great at weight loss for the first few weeks and then give up when the going gets a little tougher. The trick with it is to find a way to lose weight which you don’t hate. We all do the things we enjoy because we enjoy them and if you can manage to do that with weight loss you’ll have won half the battle. So, when you’ve been on your diet or exercising regularly for a few weeks and you find yourself start to slow down take the following advice. We’ve put it together to help you out through those rough patches and towards a skinnier and healthier you!

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  Scales

  
  

I’m sure you weigh yourself pretty often but are you aware that it might actually be a mistake to do so? Weight loss specialists recommend weighing yourself once a week at the same time and on the same day. This way you take extraneous factors out of the picture and you’re actually getting a good read on how much your weight has changed since you last weighed yourself.

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  Tape

  
  

If the scales aren’t showing a loss but you’re still trying to lose weight then try to take your measurements instead. If this shows that you’re losing weight and the scale doesn’t then chances are you’re losing fat and gaining muscle. This is great news, more muscle mass will increase your metabolism which in turn will make weight loss much easier for you.

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  Fitness Diary

  
  

None of us have perfect memories and it’s really difficult to feel pride in weight loss if you can’t remember how much weight you lost or how good you were last week. Keep track of your losses, your gains, how much you exercise and what you’ve been eating in a diary. This will help give you an overview of your whole weight loss experience and allow you to celebrate the successes and plan around the failures!

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Struggling To Keep Going With Weight Loss? We Can Help

Categories: Help, Tips, Weight Loss