When Mental Illness Hits Home Learning that a loved one has depression or an anxiety disorder can make you feel frightened, sad or even angry. It is important to know that it's okay to feel this way and that you and your loved one are not alone. Many people from all walks of life, even celebrities, have suffered from mental illness. The good news is that there is hope for your loved one--the majority of people with depresion or an anxiety disorder return to their normal lives when they get the right care. How Can You Help When one member of the family has a mental illness, the entire family is affected. That's why it's so important for both the affected person and the people who care about him or her to find ways to cope during this difficult time. Helping a loved one face any mental illness requires three special things: Understanding... When a loved one suffers from a mental illness, one of the most important things to do is to take the time to learn about the disorder. By understanding the problem, you can take an active role in your loved one's recovery. Patience... While it's natural to hope your loved one's illness will be cured once treatment is started, it's important to realize recovery doesn't happen overnight--it usually takes a few weeks before any improvement can be seen. Always remember that every day is another step toward your loved one's recovery. Support... People suffering from depression or an anxiety disorder often feel they have nowhere to turn--that's why your support is so important. Encourage your loved one to stick to the treatment plan, and take all medication the way the doctor has prescribed. Let your family member or friend know you care and stress you want to work together as a team to overcome his or her illness. DEPRESSION Everyone feels sad at some point--it's only natural. But what doctors call clinical depression is very different from just being "down in the dumps." The main difference is that the sad or empty mood doesn't go away after a couple of weeks, and everyday activities like sleeping, socializing or working can be affected. A person with depression may also have some or all of these additional symptoms: Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, guilt Significant change in weight or appetite Fatigue, loss of energy Agitation, restlessness, irritablity Difficulty concentrating and making decisions Thoughts of death or suicide It's important to recognize the signs of depression and get help from a doctor--with proper treatment, almost all depressed people can get better. What causes depression? There's no single known cause of depression, but we do know biological and social factors play a role. Medical research has shown that depression can be related to a chemical imbalance of serotonin, one of the substances called neurotransmitters that transport signals between nerve cells in the brain. It's believed that this is the same kind of chemical imbalance associated with panic disorder and OCD. Certain life difficulties such as the loss of a loved one, a divorce, stress at work or a series of disappointments can contribute to depression. And sometimes, depression may just run in the family. Remember, no matter what has caused your loved one's depression, there is help available. Who gets depression? Anyone can get depression. Between 10 and 14 million Americans are suffering from depression right now. Chances are that other families like yours are going through, or have gone through, similar difficulties. Your family is not alone. ANXIETY DISORDERS Feeling anxious is a normail part of every day life. Just thinking about taking a test, speaking in public or going on a job interview makes most people very nervous. But if a loved one has an anxiety disorder, these feelings disturb daily life. Someone with an anxiety disorder may get so nervous they avoid certain activities in an attempt to feel calmer. Or they may have sudden attacks of anxiety that are unbelievably frightening. This report will explain two kinds of anxiety disorder--panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. What is panic disorder? People with panic disorder experience sudden periods of intense fear called panic attacks. Some people experience panic attacks several times a week, or even several times a day-- often without warning. They can't always predict when the next attack will happen, so they often feel anxious between episodes, wondering when the next one will strike. Often, people with panic disorder, will avoid activities or places where an attack has occurred, limiting their lifestyle. If a friend or a family member has panic disorder, there is help available. In fact, appropriate medical care can help reduce or prevent panic attacks in the majority of people. What's a panic attack like? A typical attack might feel like this: Suddenly, you feel nervous and out of control. Your heart is pounding and you're sweating. Now parts of your body are tingling, your hands are numb. You know something terrible is about to happen! As the pain in your chest gets worse and worse, you think you could die. These terrible feelings could last from 5 to 20 minutes. Although panic attacks are different for everyone, they often include: Shortness of breath, smothering sensations Heart palpitations and chest pain (feelings similar to a heart attack) Choking sensations Fear of going "crazy" It's not surprising that many sufferers rush to an emergency room believing they are having a heart attack. Once the attack has reached its peak, the feelings of panic decrease, leaving the sufferer shaken and emotionally drained. Fortunately, there are successful ways to treat panic disorder. What causes panic disorder? Although no one knows the exact causes of panic disorder, it's believed that a stressful life event, such as the loss of a loved one, can trigger this illness. Recent medical research shows that panic attacks may be caused by an imbalance of chemical messengers, such as serotonin, in the brain. Interestingly, this same chemical imbalance has been associated with depression and OCD. Extreme problems in family or personal life can make panic disorder worse. Nevertheless, the important thing to remember is that there is help available, no matter what the reasons for your loved one's panic disorder. Who gets panic disorder? Between 3 and 6 million people in the United States suffer from panic disorder. Although anyone at any age can develop panic disorder, it begins most often in young adults. Some people who experience panic attacks may never develop full panic disorder-- an attack may happen once, but never again. However, if your friend or family member does have panic disorder, it's extremely important to seek help. With help, he or she can get better. What is obsessive-compulsive disorder? Obsessive-compulsive disorder, abbreviated as "OCD", is a common anxiety disorder affecting as many as 6 million people a year. People with OCD are frequently bothered by unwelcome thoughts or images (obsessions), or by a driving need to act out certain rituals (compulsions). For example, people with OCD may constantly worry about getting dirt or germs on their skin. To relieve the anxiety this obsession causes, they may develop the compulsion to wash their hands repeatedly. It doesn't feel good to do these rituals, but for some it stops their constant worrying for a while. Many people with OCD know their obsessions and compulsions don't make sense, but they can't stop them. because these rituals may be embarrassing to some people with OCD, your support becomes even more important. What causes OCD? Like depression and panic disorder, OCD may be caused by an imbalance of neurotransmitters, like serotonin. These substances are important because they are the brain's chemical messengers. There is also evidence that OCD might run in families. A combination of these two explanations might also be the cause of OCD. Right now researchers are working hard to find new therapies for people with OCD--and many effective treatments already exist. Who gets OCD? Anyone can get OCD at any time. OCD affects about 1 in 50 people, striking men and women in equal numbers. this condition usually shows up when people are in their teens or early adulthood. In fact, a third of adults with OCD experience their first symptoms as children. Because this illness first strikes many young people, support from family and friends is very important to recovery. HOW TO GET HELP If your family member or friend has depression, panic disorder or OCD, a good way to get help is to speak with your family doctor. A number of different therapies exist to treat your friend or family member's depression or anxiety disorder, including psychotherapy, drug therapy or a combination of both. What is psychotherapy? Psychotherapy is also called "talk therapy" or "counseling." This kind of treatment involves working on the symptoms and causes of the depression or anxiety disorder iwth a trained professional. It can help the person with depression or an anxiety disorder and his or her family and friends learn new behavior and coping strategies. Many people with depression, panic disorder or OCD, from public leaders to celebrities, have recovered with the help of their doctor. Your loved one can too. What is drug therapy? Drug therapy is medication prescribed by a doctor to relieve the symptoms of illnesses. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, called SSRIs, are one of the newer types of medication available. SSRIs may help to balance the chemicals in the brain that are sometimes linked with mental illness--much like people with diabetes take insulin to normalize the sugar levels in their blood. SSRIs are often prescribed because they have fewer side effects compared to the older kinds of medication such as tricyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines. Drug therapy often lasts 6 months, or sometimes longer. For some people, however, the symptoms of depression, panic disorder and OCD may begin to lessen by the third month of treatment. Even though your loved one may begin feeling better, it's important that he or she continues therapy so that the symptoms don't return. By controlling these illnesses now, there's less of a chance that they will disrupt your loved one's life again. What about recovery? Realize that recovery doesn't happen overnight. But with your help and support, your loved one can start working on getting better right now. Encourage the person to get help, and then follow the treatment program his or her doctor recommends. The great news is that depression, panic disorder and OCD all respond well to therapy. HOW CAN YOU HELP Now you can take the next steps toward helping your family member or friend start feeling better. Try to make sure your loved one follows the doctor's instructions. It's especially important that any medication is taken exactly as prescribed. Encourage your loved one to stick to taking his or her medicine--even if some improvement is felt. This will help prevent a return of symptoms. by following the doctor's orders you'll be helping your friend or family member make the most of therapy. Try to make a "contract" with your loved one. This is a written agreement signed by your loved one and his or her doctor or family. Contracts have helped many people with mental illness stay on the road to recovery. It's usually a promise to stick to the doctor's treatment plan, but it could really be about anything related to recovery. For example, you could promise to help your loved one remember to take medication. Try to encourage, but not force, your loved one to have a healthy lifestyle. Encourage your loved one to get a good night's sleep-- with regular time for going to and getting out of bed. Watch his or her eating habits; eating too much or too little can affect the nutrition and overall health of your loved one. It's usually a good idea for your loved on to avoid alcohol completely, especially if he or she is taking medication. If possible, encourage your friend or family member to try some light exercise and to slowly resume his or her old activities and routines. Try to persuade your loved one to avoid making any major life decisions until his or her condition has improved. Try to be aware of the threat of suicide. Unfortunately, people with mental illness are at a higher risk for suicide. If the person seems in danger, don't hesitate to call the doctor immediately. Let your friend or family member know that suicidal thoughts are usually a symptom of the illness and that effective treatments are available to help. Always remind your loved one that his or her life is very valuable to you. Try to keep your loved on's spirits up, knowing others have learned to deal with similar illnesses. Depression, panic disorder and OCD can make people feel hopeless--they may think there's no use in seeing a doctor or in taking medication. Let your loved one know you will work together toward recovery. TIPS FOR COPING If you have a friend or family member with a mental illness like depression, panic disorder or OCD, these tips may be helpful Remember, your doctor can be an important resource who may be able to adapt any coping strategies to fit your family's specific situation. If your loved one is undergoing therapy, see that the doctor's orders are followed. Encourage him or her to stick to the doctor's recommendations--any medication should be taken exactly as the doctor says. Keep the person separate from the illness. Love the person even if you hate the illness. The illness of a family member or friend is nothing to be ashamed of. Remind him or her (and yourself) that deciding to do something about depression, panic disorder or OCD is very courageous. No one is to blame. It's as hard for the individual to accept the illness as it is for his or her family members and friends. You alone cannot resolve depression, panic disorder or OCD for a family member or friend--it has to be your loved one's decision to work toward recovery. It's natural and acceptable to feel a mix of emotions such as guilt, fear, anger and sadness when a loved one suffers from an illness. Learn all you can about mental illness. You and your family are not alone. Sharing your thoughts and feelings with friends or a support group can be very helpful. Be patient; remember that recovery doesn't happen overnight. It's a journey that's full of ups and downs. Encourage your loved one to do his or her best every day. ----Adapted from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill INCREASE YOUR COMMUNICATION Talking is one of the best ways to express feelings and increase closeness and understanding--that's why it's so important to work on improving your communication skills. Although good communication strategies may not answer everyone's problems, they're a big step toward better relationships. Changing the way you comunicate takes time, effort and patience--but in the end, it's worth it. Strategies for good communication Find a place to talk that's mostly quiet and free from interruptions. For example, turn off the television and the radio so you can really listen to each other. Avoid laying blame. Try not to blame yourself for the other person's problems or mental illness. Likewise, try not to blame your loved one for having depression or an anxiety disorder. Remember, depression, panic disorder and OCD are real illnesses, just as diabetes and asthma are illnesses. Dealing with them is hard for everyone involved-- so it helps to be extra patient. Agree to step back if the discussion turns into an argument. Anyone involved in the discussion should agree to call a "time-out" if he or she feels very angry or starts to shout. Sometimes it's helpful to take a few deep breaths or take a short walk, then go back to the discussion. Avoid bringing up old issues or other problems. Stick to the topic you've decided to talk about. If your conversation strays to old arguments or to issues that have nothing to do with your discussion, bring it back to the here and now. You can agree to talk about the other things later if it's necessary. ON THE WAY TO RECOVERY Coping with depression, panic disorder or OCD can be a challenging and stressful time for everyone involved. As with many illnesses, there will be ups and downs--some days will be wonderful, others might be discouraging. No matter what, always try to help your loved one follow the doctor's instructions. Through all this remember to take care of yourself too. Helping a loved one with mental illness can be very tough on you. Take time for yourself. Maybe think about joining a support group--sometimes it's comforting to meet peope who know what you're going through. Remember, your loved one can get better. With your love and support, recovery has already begun. Please contact the following support organizations for more information about depression, panic disorder and OCD: National Alliance for the Mentally Ill 200 N Glebe Road, Suite 1015 Arlington, VA 22203-3754 (800) 950-NAMI National Mental Health Association 1021 Prince Street Alexandria, VA 22314-2917 (800) 969-NMHA National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association 730 North Franklin Street, Suite 501 Chicago, IL 60610 (800) 826-3632 National Foundation for Depressive Illness, Inc. PO Box 2257 New York, NY 10116 (800) 248-4344 Anxiety Disorders Association of America 6000 Executive Boulevard, Suite 513 Rockville, MD 20852-4004 (301) 231-8368 Obsessive Compulsive Foundation PO Box 70 Milford, CT 06460 (203) 878-5669 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Web Sites: National Depressive and Manic Depressive Web Site http://www.ndmda.org World Wide Web Mental Health Page http://www.mentalhealth.com American Psychiatric Association http://www.psych.org North Carolina Alliance for the Mentally Ill http://www.ncami.org Canadian Psychiatric Association http://cpa.medical. org I hope this information helps you some, I picked up this information at my doctors office. God bless! Kricket