When you discover that a loved one is going through a personal crisis of sorts, whether it be a battle with a mental health condition or a struggle with substance abuse, you might be left wondering just what you can do in order to help them. Sometimes it can be hard to know what to do for the best or how to approach the subject in the first place.
Perhaps you have always had a close relationship, and this news is something that only you are privy to. Maybe you have drifted apart over the years, but learning about what they are going through has made you want to step back into their life and offer a helping hand. Whatever the circumstances surrounding your relationship with your loved one might be, it is important that you approach the matter with sensitivity and understanding.
It very well may be the case that your loved one is struggling to come to terms with the fact that they are in a personal crisis at all and that your influence and input can be helpful in bringing them to a place where they are comfortable seeking assistance. If you feel like this might be the case, you are most likely eager to step in and help them through their personal crisis.
If you are in such a scenario, there are a few things that you should bear in mind. Here are some tips that might help you as you seek to help a loved one who is experiencing a personal crisis.
Have Resources Available
First and foremost, it is important for you to know that there is only so much that you can do in your role. Being there when your loved one needs to talk about their struggle and helping them understand the fact that there is help out there is an important role to fill. That being said, unless you are a qualified healthcare professional who specializes in the particular sort of struggle that you loved on is experiencing, you need to gather your resources and do some research.
Depending on the particular struggle that your loved one is going through, you might need to help encourage them to seek help from a qualified professional. For instance, if they are suffering from an undiagnosed mental health condition, it is crucial that they seek a doctor’s guidance as soon as possible. If you can help bring them to this conclusion, then you will have done them a great service.
If the struggle that your loved one is going through is more along the lines of an addiction or substance abuse issue, you should look to find local facilities that are equipped to help with such things, such as Harris House. Being able to approach your loved one with practical solutions as well as a shoulder to lean on while they are going through the healing process can help them a great deal more than you might realize.
Be Vigilant
There are, unfortunately, many cases where a person develops a mental health condition and doesn’t even realize that this is the case. This can happen when the development of such a condition happens gradually over time or if they are the sort of individual who seeks to mask or bury their emotions with other things.
When this occurs, it can be even more difficult to help a loved one get the assistance and treatment they need to cope with their mental health condition. Furthermore, any attempts to suggest that a mental health condition might be at the heart of their issues can be met with frustration or dismissiveness.
If this is the case with your loved one, it is important that you are vigilant and watch out for the key signs that a mental health condition is at the root of things. When you are able to approach your loved one with concrete facts about how mental health conditions manifest themselves and help them to see the correlation between their symptoms and those of a certain condition, you might be able to open their eyes to the situation at hand so that they can get the help they need.
Don’t Be Judgmental
Among all of the things that you might wish to do in order to help your loved one get through their personal crisis, there is one thing that you should avoid doing at all costs. When you are judgmental about their situation in any way, shape, or form, you risk losing any positive influence you might have had in the situation and the trust of your loved one as well.
It can be frustrating to try to help someone you care for see their struggles for what they truly are. You can find yourself at wit’s end and feeling as though you are making no progress at all. However, you can’t allow these emotions to cloud the manner in which you speak to your loved one about their struggles.
If you do find that you can’t continue the conversation about the matter without coming off harshly or judgmental, it is better for you to step away and collect your thoughts. If necessary, you can always consult with an expert about how you should approach your loved one when it comes to their personal struggles and crisis.
Know Your Own Limits
When it comes to helping a loved one with a personal crisis, it is just as important to be aware of your own limitations in the situation as well. You can only do so much in the capacity of friend and confidant, and knowing what your limits are will help you to better offer the help that you are capable of offering.
If you suspect that your loved one needs professional help, your aim should be to help them get that help as soon as possible. It can be a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional yourself so that you can better understand what your loved one is going through.
