How do you get someone to see they need help?

[queenteree]

I have a quick question: A co-worker and I were talking about a former co-worker, who we believe exhibited signs of a serious mental illness. This person, since leaving us, has not been able to hold down a job, swears people are talking about her, have conspiracies about her and are following her (none of which are true). How do people with mental illness decide they should seek the help they need?

[Astro]

I don't have an answer but I'm anxious to hear what others have to say. In a thread I started recently it's been suggested that I might be bi-polar and should seek the help of doctors and medication. To me it seems extreme, but maybe it's exactly what I need.

I have to say though that I don't think we can "get" anyone to seek help. They have to want it, just like any kind of recovery.

[Iwanttobe1]

Ditto to Astro. People must be willing to seek help. I know when I asked for it, there was so much available to me. I had no idea the support I would receive.

If people are dangerous to themselves or others, they can be forced to seek help. Otherwise they have to volunteer.

Prayers for your friend,

Carol

[hope3]

Originally Posted by queenteree

I have a quick question: A co-worker and I were talking about a former co-worker, who we believe exhibited signs of a serious mental illness. This person, since leaving us, has not been able to hold down a job, swears people are talking about her, have conspiracies about her and are following her (none of which are true). How do people with mental illness decide they should seek the help they need?

The problem is that the people in these situations, (people following them. talking about them, conspiracy) really believe it is happening, at least my mom did. I can't say weather or not this person has bi-Polar disorder like my mother, but thats exactly what was going on with my mother before she was finally diagnosed, after being taken in an abulance for walking in below 0 temps in a nightgown...

but before that she was pretty normal, slowly slipping and becoming worse..

If you know any of her family, you could try to tell them or her. she might not realize whats going on with her, just a thought..

Hope3

[shutterbug]

quickly...i just want to say that looking to all possibilities to help ourselves figure out what we may be struggling with is not an extreme measure. If I see a late stage alcoholic who has never been educated in the least about what alcoholism is I might take a few moments just to tell him what my eyes see and that he may want to take a hard look at his issues.....

Of course, I know what late stage alcoholism looks like, as do many around here, but me knowing that and being able to get someone else to see or accept that is another story.

I see mental illnesses in much the same way. Some times symptoms seem as obvious as alcoholism does to many of us.....but people will not accept what they don't want to until they decide they might can accept it.

To me....the extreme measure comes from people suffering for years, decades and lifetimes with bipolar disorder and other illnesses...just b/c they were too afraid to accept that they may have it. That's what's sad to me. We have it whether we are too afraid to accept it or not, but only through acceptance and letting go of social hang-ups...can we start to learn how to be the best and happiest we can be.

Hugs,
Jenna