01/02/2021
Tonight I was apart of a clubhouse room that was so powerful. We heard from a young man who is struggling with a family member with Bipolar. I choked up hearing his experience being of sound mind and having to witness his family member’s descent into psychosis. It reminds me that the family member’s experience isn’t talked about nearly enough in the conversation about mental health. There is so much pain, helplessness, and fear that comes up for family members, watching their loved ones be reckless with their lives. As a person with mental illness, I can tell you first hand that I do not feel particularly traumatized by my psychotic episodes, because it was more like an out of body experience. It barely even seems like it was me. But my mother, on the other hand, who had to see her daughter attempt su***de twice, along with a host of other life endangering acts, I know has serious residual fears and trauma associated with that. This post is to remind those of you with family members with severe mental illness, that recovery is real and possible. Set boundaries for yourself when needed. And please, please take care of yourself first and foremost. Seek out support groups in your area like with NAMI and DBSA, or your own therapist. You need to be strong, not just for your family member, but for yourself. My mom and I are working on a book about both of our journeys through my bipolar episodes. Our goal is for family members to feel seen, validated, and supported in their own journey with their loved one.
