7 Ways To Improve Your Relationship With A Loved One Experiencing Poor Mental Health

Relationships are hard to maintain. The daily hustle of life also leaves a negative impact on them. Not to mention, the evil necessity of a smartphone chip in damage to good relationships. These are invasive by nature and demand attention. Plenty of research proves this dark side of cellphone addiction as well.

If mental health is inserted into this picture, matters become tougher. On the whole, the numbers of mental illness are riding the crest. In a given year, nearly 1 in 5 adults in the US experience a psychiatric health concern.

Even if a person escapes unscathed, there are always high odds that your brain will take a hit as you or your loved one steps into the age bracket of elderly folks. Like smartphones and busy routines, psychiatric concerns also take a toll on relationships; Even if it is a normal mental decline that accompanies ageing.

Reports say that between 15-20% of the people aged 65 or above face the symptoms of cognitive decline. This decline also goes by the name of mild cognitive impairment and is characterized by reduced brain power that may cause the victim to forget simple things, become confused and agitated, and so on.

Despite the twist of age or mental performance, it is critical to maintaining strong relationships. Here is how you can work to promote healthy terms with a loved one who is going through a cognitive decline:

1. Learn about the illness

Your foremost responsibility toward your loved one entails digging deeper into the state of your loved one’s mental health. Certain cognitive conditions are telltale signs of serious psychiatric ailments.

For instance, 8 out of 10 people who have amnestic MCI go on to develop Alzheimer’s disease. This happens within seven years of the initial mental decline. Even though brain test reviews are an excellent means to learn about psychiatric impairment, seeking professional help is important.

This is specifically true if you notice abnormal signs of cognitive decline in your partner or another family member. Once you know about the illness for sure, you’ll learn better about the symptoms and consequently know what to expect from the person and his lessening mental abilities.

2. Communicate

Communication is the cornerstone of any relationship. You should not let mental decline get into the way of your relationship with your loved one. This is significant regardless of how hard the brain decline hits.

Jeffrey Sumber, MA, LCPC, Chicago psychotherapist and relationship coach concurs with this. He points out, “The mental illness has a way of wanting to direct the movement of the relationship, rather than the individual partners.”

The best way to combat this is to talk about it with your loved one. Discuss the signs that you have been noticing and wait for the affected person to open up to you. At times, individuals find it hard to confess about what is happening to them. But, once they do, ask them to know what they expect from you.

3. Listen

In several instances, people who are struggling with cognitive decline want to vent out. Dealing with a declined brain power can be energy draining. It also leaves people frustrated and confused. After all, they have to deal with a slowing brain.

In cases such as these, others may end up yelling or feel generally agitated. The best that you can do is to be there and listen. Counter-arguing to explain your point or trying to sympathize can hurt the affected person, irritating him even more.

Therefore, the best you can do to strengthen your relationship is to stay strong and listen. Sometimes, being there with someone during their hard times is all about listening to their struggles without criticizing or judging them.

4. Chalk out a care plan

Once you and your loved one know that the brain performance is plummeting, start planning out a strategy. Write an action plan of how to deal with the condition with your beloved one at your side. Or, have the person facing mental decline write it out himself.

Recognize points or things that can trigger the patient’s problem. Likewise, quiz him about the sort of reaction that he finds helpful. Some people don’t mind taking help. Others, however, can be hesitant. So, learn what the person wants from you.

The fact of the matter is that struggle with one’s mental health ruffles the features of not only the victim but his caretakers too. It instils feelings of powerlessness in both the parties. Therefore, having a to-do plan can help solve this concern.

5. Don’t believe in the stigma

When working to nurture your relationship with a loved one who is going through a mental decline, it is vital to keep the stigma out of the equation. You need to remember that the person is different from his illness. In other words, he should not be defined by his illness.

Recall the person for who he is. Since a patient finds it challenging to deal with cognitive impairment, his behaviour can alter. By buying into the stigma, you will only end up adding to the patient’s challenges.

Hence, it is best to maintain your relationship with your loved one on the basis of who he is. Furthermore, when you adopt such a positive approach, the affected individual will feel more comfortable with you.

6. Practice self-care

If you seek to develop a cheerful relationship, practice self-care. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of others. Self-care has a different definition for everyone. Regardless of what your idea of personal-care is, take regular breaks.

Talk to your support team about your experiences and establish healthy boundaries. Just taking out the time to relax and read a bit can be healthy for you. Once you are mentally healthy yourself, you can exercise patience and restraint toward your loved one with MCI.

What’s more, it is important to realize that by taking out the time for yourself, you are not doing anything wrong. Some people feel guilty or regret caring for themselves. However, self-care is essential for any relationship to thrive and blossom.

7. Give support and seek professional help

Being diagnosed with a mental illness can leave a person frightened. On top of that, the stigma associated with psychiatric ailments can make a person feel that you may no longer love him. You can work to remove such fears by extending your full support to them.

This means that you should verbally assure the affected person as well as help him out in all other ways. If matters go out of hand or your loved one develops a severe cognitive ailment such as dementia, then it is ideal to seek professional support.

You can also seek the support of other friends and family. However, before you involve them in the situation, it is best to consult with your loved one.

Living with a person with mental decline can be hard. The entire burden of the relationship can fall on your shoulders. Try to be patient, extend full support, and listen to the person and his concerns. In all this, don’t forget about taking care of yourself and establish healthy boundaries.

If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it with your friends and family. After all, sharing is caring!

Main image credit: pixabay.com