There are very high chances that either you or someone you know has suffered or is suffering from any form of mental illness, whether it was major or minor. While we may live in a society that does not acknowledge the presence of these illnesses the way that they should, they are still very real and very common. We are social beings by nature. Hence, the presence of a support system can be way more beneficial than we might think.
Mental VS. Physical
Mental illnesses are very real and very physical. Just like any physical disease or disability is treated with such care and importance, mental illnesses must be treated with the same amount of care and importance. With a mental illness, there are things one must do in order to achieve better mental health and achieve the goal of healing. These things may include a change in diet, exercise and other physical remedies, therapy, medication, and more. In a sense, your physical health may impact your mental health just as your mental health may impact your physical health.
Loved Ones
Your loved ones are important people in your life. They can be your family, your friends, or even your colleagues. Just as you would aim to care for your loved ones should they have a physical disease or disability, you would hope to do the same for them should they be struggling mentally. It is very important to show a lot of support for your loved ones if they open up to you about a struggle. As people who mean a lot to each other, your support towards each other can go an extremely long way, even if you may not realize it directly.
What Can I Do?
A very important step you can take in order to help your loved ones is learn about their disorders and struggles. Educate yourself about them. Read about them. This will help you understand them and their pain so much better. In turn, this will make communicating with them much easier, and it will make your relationship with them much more meaningful.
Always make sure that you validate their feelings. Something that is not a big deal to you may be hurting them immensely. Remember that they have the right to feel the way that they do because everyone perceives things differently. Listen to them and understand their point of view. Do not make the problem about you.
Lastly, always remember to take care of yourself, too. Caring for those who have mental illnesses is not a very easy thing to do, and it can be emotionally draining for you as well. Make sure that you have the mental energy and capacity to fully support your loved ones the way that you would like to.