The world of mental health already has enough stigma, and wanting to help a friend get past the stigma and reveal a rich, fulfilling life is a noble ideal. Everyone deserves a happy, fulfilling life and those dealing with a mental health issue are no exception to this ideal. There's plenty of be a great friend that go beyond just being a good person - when we help others, we enjoy a happier and more fulfilled feeling ourselves. It goes both ways - in order to be happier, we have to increase the happiness and joy of other people. This article will cover the three tips to being a great friend to someone with a mental illness. If you're just now making friends with someone who suffers from a mental disorder, you will find a great set of tips you can use right away to build a good friendship from the ground up.
The first tip is to be as open and sincere as possible. Many people with mental health issues are used to people being underhanded and trying to hurt them or take advantage of them. In order to combat this fear, many people with a mental health problem tend to stay inside themselves and refrain from building solid friendships. You can help them get past this obstacle by showing them that there really are nice people out there that want to help and build them up. Show this by being kind and respectful - if they don't want to talk about their mental health issue, you should never force the issue. The key here is to treat people with mental health issues with the same respect that you would show anyone else.
The second tip is to be encouraging and suggest constructive activities. This affects people in different ways. For example, people with depression who have trouble finding a reason to get out of bed every morning may enjoy a hobby they can share with you, like going bowling or learning how to build model airplanes. Both of those hobbies are activities that can benefit both parties and create a bond through a shared activity that can be enjoyed for months, even years to come. Take the time through conversation to learn what they enjoy doing, or used to enjoy doing and then create the activities in slow steps. You don't want to rush this process because it will take time to not only build trust, but also to get back into the habit of enjoying social activity with someone else.
The final tip is to be understanding. Someone fighting with mental health illnesses may have their fair share of good days and bad days, but it is often how you will react to them on the bad days that will determine how strong of a friendship you'll create. If you catch them on a bad day where they're struggling, don't turn away from them. Instead, be ready to offer a sympathetic ear and advice if asked. Being a good listener and showing that you're willing to stick by them through thick and thin is the real key to a lasting friendship that will strengthen both people touched by it.
Overall, there's no reason why you shouldn't be as great of a friend as you can to anyone, including people suffering from a mental health illness. With these tips in mind you should have no problem at all being the best friend possible!
Looking for more tips on being the best friend you can be to someone with a mental health issue? We have you covered on our mental health social network, where friends of mental health sufferers as well as people dealing directly with mental health problems exchange tips openly and freely in a highly supportive environment. Why not check it out today? Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joyce_Briggs |
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