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tips for dating somebody with w a mental illness
a thread
a thread
1. if you want ur relationship to work; educate yourself on ur partners mental illness- there is a big difference in anxiety & psychotic disorders- different symptoms & triggers.. the more you know the better understanding you will have to help your partner in a time of need.
2. do NOT use your partners mental illness to hurt them and or use hurtful labels such as “unstable” “crazy” “mean” “cry baby” those terms are hurtful; and a person suffering with a mental illness can’t control how they feel & react in certain scenarios.
3. Researching things can only go so far and come to terms with basic knowledge; which is a good start but a persons mental health is as individual as they are- its okay to ask questions & learn more about what ur partner personally feels
4. I understand dating somebody who is mentally ill can be challenging at times but learning how to help your partner cope and manage symptoms will go a long way, stability and a daily routine can help minimize anxiety attacks or feelings of depression
5. BE SUPPORTIVE.
there will be ups and downs; somedays will be cloud 9 high amazing and others will be beyond tough and may test your patience; try bringing positivity and support during those challenging days.
there will be ups and downs; somedays will be cloud 9 high amazing and others will be beyond tough and may test your patience; try bringing positivity and support during those challenging days.
6. don’t try to “fix them”
it is not your job or responsibility to “fix” a person who is going through things; they need support and loved.. not to feel like they need “fixing” if you feel as though ur partner needs “fixed” maybe this relationship isn’t for you.
it is not your job or responsibility to “fix” a person who is going through things; they need support and loved.. not to feel like they need “fixing” if you feel as though ur partner needs “fixed” maybe this relationship isn’t for you.
7. mental illness is a very personal problem & it can be difficult to talk to somebody u love about it, ur partner may struggle to open up to u- be patient & understanding. If they cant talk about it outloud, encourage them other ways to communicate it.. texts, email,letters, etc
8. dating someone w a mental illness can place main focus on ur partners symptoms & needs, u must not lose yourself along the way. be sure to practice self-care & establish ur wants & needs w ur partner. getting the support & love you BOTH need will make a stronger relationship.
9. ur partner needs to feel like u trust them, just as u would want to feel trusted by ur partner. don’t make ur partner feel like they need to be on a leash or like they need to rely on u in every aspect of their life in order to be okay.
10. and the most important thing to remember is that every mental illness just like a physical illness.. requires patience, understanding, resilience and flexibility.
also- you can suggest and push for a person to seek help and get the help they need, but please do it in a respectful manner; telling a person they need to seek therapy and get back on meds sounds hurtful, there are better and more compassionate ways to bring up seeking help
And a person can suffer from more than one mental illness at the same time.. and a women who has never had mental problems before can have it brought on by pregnancy, postpartum AND birth control.. lots of different things can trigger a mental illness.
and just because a person may have a good day, month, week maybe even a good year.. doesn’t mean they don’t suffer from a mental illness and therapy and or meds don’t always work for EVERY person; coping mechanisms can be so different and unique for each individual.
