Generally, something that can be physically heard and seen can be more easily evaluated and assessed. However, something that can only be felt or known is much more difficult to understand or accept right away. That’s the reason why people are more likely to ignore mental illness than physical illness. But the Irish-born author and scholar C. S. Lewis, says, “Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and also harder to bear.” So, we shouldn’t take mental illness lightly.
There is a lot of awareness about mental health in western culture, but in India, people have different mindsets about it. In India, there is a colossal diversity of cultures. But there are a lot of stigmas associated with mental illness in both culture and religion. Sadly, according to one study, about 70% of those polled believe that mental illness carries a stigma, whereas one in five Indians suffer from mental illness. Moreover, people in India are less likely to seek out the services of a counsellor, psychotherapist, or psychiatrist. They reluctantly agree to see a counsellor or psychologist but are afraid to see one in real. When they are asked to see a psychiatrist, they often retaliate saying, "Am I a mental patient?"
Given the current state of mental illness, we should all be vigilant about spotting it in those who are near us or in our environment. How can you tell if your sister or brother is dealing with mental health issues? When you are aware that a member of your family is having a meltdown, what should you do? Education about mental health is just as crucial as public awareness.
It's really not that simple to tell whether someone is experiencing psychological illness or not. This is unless the individual in question expresses how they are feeling or unless their symptoms are very clearly evident to those around them. However, because persuading the concerned person is inherently challenging, managing someone who is experiencing psychological issues is made all the more difficult. In contrast, when we are aware of our mental health and are aware of the various symptoms of mental illness, life becomes easier for everyone.
THERE ARE A FEW SYMPTOMS ENLISTED HEREUNDER FOR ALL TO UNDERSTAND AND BE AWARE OF THE FACTS:
When the primary nature of mental illness starts to take control of the person, they tend to distrust the facts, information, and people they come across. Thus, family members should help them to clear their doubts regarding the things they are prejudiced against tactfully and gently, not forcefully.
Another sign in them that the family members need to be aware of is crying spells for unknown or unrelated reasons. They can’t compel him or her to stop crying and calm down normally. It is necessary to give them enough time to cool down on their own. It is imperative to be patient with them when dealing with reactions such as these.
The degree to which we adapt and acclimate varies from person to person, but as humans, we adapt quickly. Mentally ill people have difficulty accepting and adapting to situations in a normal way. Either they take years to adjust to it or they never get adjusted to it at all. That is why they are always unhappy and depressed about their circumstances. During this time, all they need is ample warmth and support from their family members. They don’t accept any suggestions or advice at that particular time, so it is always advisable for others around them to refrain from giving advice.
People who are unable to accept certain life situations or conditions usually lack resilience or tolerance. They are extremely sensitive and touchy to things, events, or trigger points, and suffer a meltdown as a result. When they encounter situations like these, they tend to become hyperactive and anxious due to their negative perspectives.
They express uncontrollable anger when they are mad at something or someone. It is not at all advisable for other family members to aggravate them by arguing or justifying their points of view. They must allow these people to express themselves so that they can get over their emotions. "Okay" and “I understand” are the words from family members that may help them calm down. Sometimes they try to throw things, bang their phones, or do whatever they have in their hands out of that rage. Staying at a safe distance and checking on the safety of the person concerned is essential for those around them. Because they struggle to cool down or regain normalcy, it is the duty of others to let that period pass. When they are intolerant, the people around them have to be resilient in order to calm them down.
It is not uncommon for them to justify and defend even the smallest of things multiple times and more than necessary. They keep talking endlessly or repeating one thing until the other person gets agitated.
People who have low confidence in themselves are fidgety and unmindful. They can’t keep eye contact with others as they keep looking here and there. Some people have such behavioural patterns but don’t have other symptoms. In addition to these behaviours, those suffering from mental illness are more vulnerable as a result.
People with mild or severe mental issues have low self-esteem about themselves so they avoid crowds and don’t like to socialise or mix with people at events and functions etc.
Rather than listening immediately or ever, they are arrogant and stubborn. They talk to themselves and are elusive about certain things. They are usually obsessive about a few things that seem unusual to others. They are poor at time management and organizing things.
They live in an unusual and unreasonable sense of fear and live in insecurity about things or the future or people. They have certain phobias that trouble them all the time, and they trouble the people around them because of that.
Most of the time, they feel guilty, even when they commit something by mistake. Whenever they do, they overdo it or explain it in extreme and unnecessary detail.
In general, all of the symptoms mentioned above are present in every human in a negligible amount, whereas they are very prominent and excessive in people with mental illnesses.
HOW TO DEAL WITH A MENTALLY ILL PERSON:
- Listen more: Even if you don’t feel like listening there is no exception to this. Be calm and forget whatever you are planning to do at that particular time. Sit down and focus on what he or she says. That’s the best help you can provide by listening to a mentally ill person instead of giving wise advice. In other words, giving advice is not active listening. It is trying to escape patient listening.
- Take note of the trigger points: Be careful not to hit the trigger points that cause a meltdown in a mentally ill person. Unless you consider what triggers the person's suffering, you won’t be able to understand how to control it or restrain yourself from triggering them. To refresh your memory about what they dislike, review your checklist.
- Accept and allow everything they say or do: The hardest part for those around a mentally ill person is to accept and permit everything they say or do, even if it causes a loss. They struggle to clearly and simply understand the world around them. The best way to prevent a meltdown in them or a situation that may hurt them is to accept and allow the way they want it. Things that seem normal to everyone else may be big things for them.
- Never take them lightly: Never think that they became normal and things are getting better, at any point. They may suffer a meltdown without you being aware of it. So, taking their normal-like-behaviour for granted should be avoided completely.
- Don’t treat them as patient: Treating them as mental patients will take their hope away and sink them deep into the ocean of negativity more. Positivity, hope and empathy can pull them up. Treat them as others but be mindful of their way of reacting to things. 'Don't treat them like patients' – doesn't apply to all. Many of them need institutional treatment and care.
- Refrain from arguments: Arguments only serve to further the mental illness of the person involved. Family members should exercise extreme caution when talking about anything. Any argument usually ends up hurting a person who is overly sensitive or emotional, but this can be resolved later. However, a disagreement with a mentally ill person can result in another meltdown. Therefore, it is strongly advised to steer clear of any kind of conflict with people who are experiencing mental health issues.
- Ignore their actions on the spot, but take a note of them for future reference: Mentally ill people occasionally engage in unusual behaviour or talk to themselves. Even though the people around them might make fun of them or laugh, it is best to ignore them. It is preferable to develop the habit of ignoring all those behaviours and letting them believe that their behaviour is acceptable. It significantly benefits their mental health. Please keep track of those behaviours and actions, though, in case you need to mention them later on, perhaps when speaking with a counsellor or therapist.
- Encourage and pray with them: Medical science and the rest of the world may deny the existence of God, but we all have a God-sized hole (emptiness) inside of us that only God can fill. As a family member, you can help a lot by encouraging, comforting, and praying with the one who is suffering. Relying on someone greater and higher than everyone and everything gives them hope. Remember, do not exert any pressure on them.
There’s nothing very particular about what, how or when you need to act considering a mentally ill person; you simply have to be aware and alert of the ways they feel, talk, react, and behave.
Finally, and most importantly, when things are out of your control, you must seek professional assistance. Making a mentally ill person see a psychotherapist or counsellor is as challenging as helping them recover from their mental illness. For those who suffer from such medical conditions, a lot of warmth, empathy, and care are required. But those who have these conditions can lead happy, healthy lives, especially if they get the necessary treatment. It is more important than ever to view mental illness as a wake-up call rather than as a stigma.