The Sure Word for Today's quotation for the week:
God Is My Stronghold.
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Mental Illness. How Can I Help? — Part 5.
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.
1 Peter 3:8 (KJV).
The provision of care, empathy, love, trust, encouragement, active listening, reflection, and reassurance constitute emotional support. Everyone's ability to cope with life's stressors on their own depends on a strong social network of family, friends, neighbours or co-workers. The network doesn’t need to be significant for them to benefit. They are lucky to have you as a carer. You make a massive difference in how they can cope, manage, and handle their struggles. The quality of their connections matters. Their ability to open up also is essential.
You must learn how to give emotional support to someone with mental illness. Offer to listen to the person you are supporting. Listening to someone doesn’t mean you have to say much back to them or come up with solutions to their issues. Sometimes they may find it helpful to just talk to you about their problems and to know that you are there to listen.
Do not be afraid to ask them questions about how they are feeling and listen to their answers. If they are not feeling great, ask if you can do anything to help. Make sure you do not take on too much or that they are not overwhelmed.
If the person you care for does not want to get help, it can be very frustrating. Nobody can force someone else to get medical treatment unless they are in the hospital under the Mental Health Act. This is sometimes called being ‘sectioned.’
If someone you care for does not want to get the help, you could try to:
- talk to them about how they feel,
- ask them why they do not want to get help,
- explain that you are worried because they seem upset, down, stressed or anxious, and you want to try to help them,
- explain what kind of help they could get, and
- offer to help them talk to their doctor or offer to talk to their doctor before their appointment.
The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away. Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others. You make a life by what you give.
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All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the HOLY BIBLE unless otherwise indicated.
‘The Sure Word for Today’ is a publication of ‘The Sure Foundation Transcend Ministries,’ registered in the United Kingdom.
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