Being Their Safe Place: How to Support a Partner With Mental Illness

There are several methods if you want to know how to support a partner with mental illness and help someone you care about, whether they are a friend, relative, or coworker. People support us when we are going through difficult circumstances. At other times, we have been concerned for the mental health of others. 

How to Support a Partner With Mental Illness

It can be challenging to know how to support a partner with mental illness. After all, you are just someone who genuinely cares about them; you are not a therapist. However, you may still have a significant impact in a number of ways even if you lack formal expertise. You might be surprised to learn how effective it can be to simply show up and support your spouse.

Here are some pointers to assist you in navigating the difficulties of mental health while providing support without taking on the job of a therapist.

How can I help someone who is suffering from mental illness?

Taking care of someone who has a mental illness can be difficult and have a variety of effects on you. When someone you love is diagnosed with a mental illness, it's natural to experience a range of emotions. You could experience:

• Fear
• Perplexity
• Remorse
• Shame
• Uncertainty
• Helplessness
• Annoyance
• Anger

Additionally, it is typical to experience loss and sadness for:

• The past connection you may have had
• The future you both envisioned for one another
• You may take care of yourself and help them in other ways.

Taking care of a person with a mental disorder might entail:

• Applying them with companionship and assistance when required
• Supplying ongoing assistance by being physically present
• Completing all of the daily tasks
• Arranging their work and leisure calendars and appointments

Your connection with someone who has a mental illness may alter as a result of providing care.

It might take a while to recover from mental illness. Individuals with mental illness may suffer oscillations (ups and downs) in their:

• Symptoms
• Capacity to carry out daily tasks

Depending on their condition, it's common for your role and emotions to shift.

Even the most basic activities might seem insurmountable when one is mentally unwell. You could take on duties and obligations that a person with a mental illness previously performed when providing care for them.

Indications of a Mental Illness in Your Spouse

It might be difficult to spot mental illness in your spouse because there isn't a single test that can identify it. Although the symptoms of every mental health condition are different, some common indicators that must look to be able for to know how to support a partner with mental illness are as follows:

• Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder in Your Partner
• Severe mood fluctuations, ranging from manic to depressive
• During manic episodes, impulsivity and dangerous acts
• Times when you have a lot of energy and don't need to sleep
• Speaking quickly and thinking quickly during manic episodes
• Periods of depression accompanied by melancholy and pessimism
• Anger and irritability
• Relationship maintenance and work performance issues

Indications That Your Spouse Is Depressed

• Persistent depressive, hopeless, or empty sensations
• Loss of enjoyment or interest in once-enjoyed activities
• Weight or appetite changes
• Oversleeping or having trouble falling asleep
• Exhaustion or a lack of energy
• Having trouble focusing or making judgments
• Suicidal or death-related thoughts

How to Support a Partner With Mental Illness and What are the Indications of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) in Your Partner?

• Severe anxiety of being abandoned
• Relationships that are unstable and frequently alternate between idealization and depreciation
• Impulsive actions (such as substance misuse and spending binges)
• Suicidal thoughts or actions
• Quick shifts in one's self-image and identity
• Persistent emotions of emptiness
• Anger that is excessive, unreasonable, or difficult to manage

Indications That Your Spouse Is a Narcissist

• Overindulgence in praise and attention
• Expectations of preferential treatment and a sense of entitlement
• Insufficient compassion for others
• Exploitative or manipulative actions
• Arrogant or conceited attitudes
• Obsession with ideas of limitless beauty, power, or success

Additional Indications of a Mentally Ill Partner

• Social disengagement and estrangement from loved ones
• Frequent bodily symptoms (such as headaches and stomachaches) that cannot be explained
• Significant behavioral or emotional changes
• Abuse of substances or increasing use of drugs or alcohol
• Having trouble carrying out regular tasks and obligations
• Excessive concern or paranoia
• Strange or illogical ideas and opinions

It's crucial to keep a tight eye on your spouse and seek medical advice if any actions appear out of the ordinary.

Some Advice for Coexisting with a Mentally Ill Person

There are several steps you can take to know how to support a partner with mental illness and assist in creating a healthy relationship dynamic, whether you currently experience the stress of living with someone who has a mental health illness or you want to be proactive and deal with the issues before they have a chance to take their toll. 

Here are several to think about.

• Find Out About Their Mental Health Conditions

Misinformation on the origins of many mental health illnesses and the best ways to treat them is widespread. You may learn how to support them as you live with them and have a better understanding of their mental illness by studying the facts or realities about it.

To find out more about their mental health condition:

1. Consult reliable organizations like the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to learn more about their diagnosis.
2. For further information, look into other respectable mental health organizations.
3. Find out about the signs of their mental illness so you are prepared.
4. Learn more about their therapies, including the effects of any prescription medicine and how to assist them during psychotherapy.

• Be Helpful

There are methods to help someone who has been diagnosed with mental illness, whether they are your spouse, kid, friend, or roommate. As they learn to live with their disease, this starts with showing them love, sympathy, and empathy. 

Recognize that the news can be heartbreaking, humiliating, and sometimes even terrifying if the diagnosis was made recently. Some people may find that it validates their symptoms, but because mental health issues are stigmatized and unknown, they may worry that you may see them differently.

When dealing with someone who has a mental condition, communication is crucial.

Tell them that you want to be able to rely on them to adhere to their treatment plan and that it stresses you out if they are unable to do so.

You want to respect their privacy while still being encouraging. Even while you might be interested in their treatment sessions and success, they could choose to keep some information private and only reveal specifics. While letting them know you're available if they need you, give them room to accomplish this.

While providing the necessary support, let the individual with mental illness take charge of their treatment plan and refrain from encouraging any harmful habits they may engage in