The number of mental illnesses according to statistics is growing every year. As a result, the number of people who are forced to contact with such patients is increasing. How to communicate with mentally ill people?
Avoiding a situation of communication with a mental patient could be the best solution, if not for the circumstances that could make this communication forced. You can’t stop communicating with a relative or loved one if such a misfortune befalls them. A situation may arise when for some time you have to contact strangers with mental disabilities.
How can you protect yourself in this communication from negative emotional consequences?
Define clearly your strengths and resources, evaluate whether they are enough for you to communicate in this situation.
Mental illnesses manifest themselves differently in different people. There are patients with whom only a qualified specialist can communicate. You can not live and interact with those who are able to bring a real threat to human life. Such patients are placed in special conditions and contact with them is possible only for a limited time and with certain protective measures.
In all other cases, communication with mental patients does not pose a threat to life, but is also stressful and energy-intensive.
Define clearly how much time you can communicate with the patient without serious losses to your mental health, to what extent are able to direct his behavior. Depending on this, get outside help or look for other ways to solve everyday situations.
Consult a qualified person about a person’s mental illness.
All mental illnesses have their own specifics, which is important for you to know. You will receive additional information and extra ways to control the situation if the specialist talks about the prognosis of the disease, its course and other features. You will also be warned about surprises that you need to be prepared for and about your behavioral strategies that will help to remove many tense moments. Sometimes these strategies may seem strange to us from the everyday point of view, but they can be the most effective in dealing with people with mental disabilities.