Challenges of mental illness
Carers of someone with a mental illness face challenges that lie outside the coping skills of most families. This is especially so when dealing with the reactions of society, and navigating the mental health system.
Not easy to diagnose
One of the greatest challenges of caring for someone with a mental illness is living with the symptoms of the illness. Unlike physical illness, mental illness cannot be diagnosed with blood tests, x-rays or other medical tools. Instead, mental health professionals use psychometric tests to diagnose mental illness.
Future uncertainty
There is a great deal about mental illness that remains unknown; this can be quite frustrating for everyone involved. It is difficult to predict how an individual’s illness will progress. Even during periods of wellness you may feel like you are ‘waiting for the other shoe to drop’.
Treatment isn't a cure
There are currently no treatments that ‘cure’ mental illness. Symptoms of an illness can be alleviated using treatment options involving prescribed medications, psychological, and alternate therapies.
Person may be in denial
A person with a mental illness may have a difficult time acknowledging that there is a problem and may refuse to comply with treatment.
Drugs & alcohol risks
Drugs and alcohol can present a challenge to people with a mental illness. These substances can be used to ‘self-medicate’; to ease difficult emotions, loneliness, and to provide temporary relief of symptoms. Drug and alcohol dependency can sometimes develop and complicate the diagnosis and treatment of the mental illness.
Social stigma
Social stigma is a problem - mental illness is not openly discussed and there are many misconceptions about it. Many people feel they have to hide their illness to avoid being treated as ‘different’, yet hiding it can cause carers and care recipients to feel isolated, victimised and stressed.
