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| Check out the IRIS website |
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It can be really distressing to realise that someone close to you is suffering from psychosis. You may
feel shocked, confused, guilty. There's no right or wrong way to feel. Recognising the problem may have been difficult, as it is easy to mistake early psychosis for the normal ups & downs of young people. You probably have lots of questions & may not know what to do next. You may want to help but are not sure how. |
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Find out more about psychosis, share your worries & fears with someone else you trust. Get as much
help as you can, use your local mental health team, CPN, social worker, psychiatrist. ABOVE ALL DON'T LOSE HOPE & KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THEIR KEYWORKER, & others who are trying to help. |
How Should I Behave? |
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If you are with a person when they are psychotic & behaving strangely, you may feel frightened or frustrated.
It's important to remember that they are still your son/daughter/brother etc. It's just very difficult
for a person who's ill to be how they usually are. There are no set rules on how to behave & talk to
them, but these things can be helpful: - Be yourself - Gain information & understand that the person may be behaving & talking differently due to symptoms of the illness - Understand that psychotic symptoms are stressful for everyone & that you may have a range of feelings - shock, anger, fear, sadness, frustration - Talking with other people WILL help you deal with these feelings. - Believe a person will recover, even if it takes time. Be patient - When a person is very ill, they may seem child-like. Sometimes they need to be in a safe, comforting environment, & sometimes they need others to help with decisions. - Try not to take it personally if a person says hurtful things to you when ill. - They may hold fixed beliefs & ideas. Don't get involved in long disagreements, but listen to them to try & understand what seems real for them - to show sympathy & support. - LOOK AFTER YOURSELF. Don't get run down, take time out if you can on a regular basis. |
How Can I Help Them Recover? |
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Family & friends play a very important part in the recovery process. Aswell as more practical things
you can provide stability, reassurance, understanding & love. However, it is very important to remember your own needs too, as helping someone you care about who is ill can be nearly as hard as it is for the person themself. It's quite common to go through some of these stages: 1. Anxiety, worry & fear - as you become aware something is going wrong for the person. 2. Seeking help - also a time of adjusting to the person's illness & the need for help. 3. Questions & worries - what's happening? what is psychosis? why did it happen? will it happen again? what can be done? 4. Relief - as they start to recover . Perhaps more hope aswell as you start to understand more about the illness. 5. Worry again - as they start to return to the community & previous roles & relationships. You may find yourself watching them very carefully & feeling protective & anxious. It can be pretty difficult here balancing the person's need for independance & your care for them. 6. Gradual adjustment & greater openness as things settle down. Don't forget, "it's good to talk", don't force it, but whether it's with family, friends a professional or with the person, talking openly can be a big help in the long run. |
| Finally - you probably deserve one of these, just for dealing with it all. |
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