Stages of Dealing: Changing Emotions
The sudden burst of anger shook the entire household. Where did that come from? What triggered it?
It’s not your ill loved one ranting and raving; it is you.
Stages of Dealing: Seeking Explanations
Why? The human response when bad things happen – death, loss of job, disease, mental illness. Our inquiring minds go into hyper-drive seeking an explanation for the unexplainable.
Stages of Dealing: Anxiety
Many family members get stuck in the Denial Stage, never moving on to really dealing with the mental illness of their loved one. Leaving Denial means believing this terrible thing has really happened. While in the Denial Stage, it is easier to think all the bad symptoms will magically go away, or there’s some other
Stages of Dealing: Transition
The day my son called and told me about his attempted suicide, followed by telling me that he had been diagnosed with a mental illness, I tried to maintain a “sunny attitude.” Part of the charade was so he wouldn’t get angry and hang up. And, part was due to not knowing what else to do. It was three days before I cried.
Stages of Dealing: Acceptance
Like any traumatic change, acceptance is at the end. Whether the change is due to loss of income, illness, or a job change, a point comes when the new way of life is accepted.