The stigma and shame surrounding mental illness takes a toll on family members, making it difficult to find support when someone you love has mental illness.
It’s important for family members to break the silence about mental illness because as caregivers we can feel isolated and alone. Time, resources, and energy are often focused on our loved one’s mental health needs, leaving us wondering how to maintain a loving relationship.
Here are five ways we can love someone with mental illness (and still love ourselves):
1. Educate yourself about your loved one’s diagnosis. Search NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) for the most up-to-date information about mental illness. For resources on teens and mental health, click KidsHealth.
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Rev. Dr. Sarah Griffith Lund 
Reblogged this on RelaxDamit!.
I feel like “coming out” on Facebook and saying I have the mind of a schizophrenic, because I feel like there are lots of schizophrenics who are “in the closet” know they are capable of all the things the public identifies them with, but don’t want that.
I have a hard time getting to know people because I feel dishonest if I’m not sharing what my voices are thinking also, because their opinions are varied and “all over the place” you have to be pretty smart to “see the relationships” but ugh, choices
freak!
Coming out with the news about your diagnosis is challenging and difficult process, but can be liberating and life-giving. I pray you have a strong network of support locally that can be your advocates.