How to talk to your loved one about getting mental health help

Have you ever been worried about your loved one’s mental health?

If you had an idea, you are not alone. Treatment‘ or ‘I hope it goes to therapy’, for example, before you realize your own change, you may be struggling to manage their emotions. alcohol They either drank every weekend or stopped engaging in activities they enjoyed. These changes in behavior may initially appear insignificant, but may then increase in intensity, frequency, and duration over time.

Treatment is a way that helps your loved one get the support they need to identify the root of those negative changes. They can also learn about evidence-based treatments that may be available to help them. The hard thing is that no matter how useful you feel to them, they need to engage in treatment for themselves. You can be a supporter in the process, but they are necessary to do the job perfectly.

There’s no perfect word

Be patient and kind to yourself when you try to navigate having such a conversation with someone you love. You will not find the perfect word. Because there is no perfect word indeed. What matters is your intention.

Your intention is to help your loved ones because you want them to be happy and healthy. Become Mindful Try to avoid using the word “you” as much as possible. It is important to match yourself with your loved ones by using the languages ​​”I” and “We” instead. For example, “I want to help you understand the next step.”

Deliberately about tone and volume

Be careful not to let your voice speak up if they speak up. Maintains a gentle, non-judgmental tone. Even if your loved one is not open to having a conversation at the time, you want to express non-verbal verbal verbally saying you are still there. You want to express that you care about them and check in with them again on the same topic in the near future.

They may not be excited to hear it from you yet, but expressing it in a kind and thoughtful tone sends them a message that they don’t need to feel threatened or punished.

Be considerate of time and place

It is important to have such conversations in a safe and private space. There, each person can speak openly. Don’t wait until the end of a day when you’re exhausted, or when you’re in a hurry early in the morning. If you find it useful, ask when it’s a good time to have a check-in conversation. You want to give them and this conversation is your perfection Note And don’t rush or distract yourself.

They may be invested in something that does not change

Think beforehand about ways to ease your emotions during the conversation. Your loved one may be resistant to what you are talking about treatment, defensive or angry. They may not view their actions as problematic. Or they may consider it the best coping strategy they have and be afraid that you are trying to take it from them. For example, you may wish to go to treatment for the use of substances or alcohol. Next Short Animated Video (Nugget) Provides an example of the cycle of Addictive And it may reveal how scary it is that substanceless world (what they perceive as a coping strategy).

Plus, while your loved ones may be able to see your perspective, they may not be ready to make a difference yet. This may not be because they are intentionally trying to hurt you. They may rely on their actions as a way to deal with their thoughts and feelings. Again, if what you hear from your conversation is that you want to take away their main coping strategies, they may be scared and blackmailed. They do not help the treatment enough or fear Potential discomfort is asked about the past trauma.

You probably need to talk repeatedly

You may need to have multiple conversations with your loved ones about going for treatment. They may find it difficult to accept that they can benefit from such support. It is important to discuss topics so that you leave the door open for future conversations.

• Do not use treatment as a threat or a punishment.
• Be careful not to use it shamecondemnation, or Guilt tactics. This makes them likely to shut down and they don’t want to talk about it again.
• Normalize talking about the idea of ​​going to treatment and going to treatment.
• Be specific in a way that you will be happy to assist them in attending therapist/session.
• After you communicate them, you will be responsible for following up on the conversation in the near future.

crisis

In most states, it is important to know that if you feel that your loved one is a risk to yourself or others, you may be able to request that they receive treatment in the hospital under unwilling commitment. This is a serious process that needs to be assessed in crisis centers and hospital settings.

Some warning signs of a crisis include: Your loved ones are at risk to themselves as they appear to be in no contact with reality in such a way that they could hurt or kill themselves, hurt or kill others, or harm themselves or others. If you are in doubt, reach out to support through 988, 911 or head to your local emergency room.

please take care of yourself

To have such a conversation with concern for your loved one It’s stressful. Their struggle is likely to have an impact on you too. Be aware that you decide to worry to make sure you have time to rest and reorganize.

You may also benefit from receiving therapeutic support. Reach out to find your own therapist. I hope this will benefit you and have the bonus effect of normalizing going for treatment for your loved one. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that your own treatment goals need to be focused on your own treatment. Treatment goals are often useless when focusing on trying to change the behavior of others. The only person you can control is yourself.

For more information on this topic, check out this YouTube video with Dr. Gedeon and I Can’t talk to someone you love about getting mental health help.

To find a therapist Visit Psychology Today Therapy Directory.