Supporting A Loved One With Psychosis
It can be really hard and challenging to see a loved one go through psychosis. It can leave one feeling a lot of emotions. Sometimes we may feel inadequate to help our loved ones who are going through psychosis. This can make one feel as if they are not being enough for their loved one. It can be an emotionally stressful time for everyone involved.
A loved one going through psychosis can be helped and supported in various ways along with having professional support, if they choose.
Listen: This can be the most important support that a loved one may need. Psychosis is a very isolating experience and it is often very hard for the loved one to talk about it. This can be because they are afraid of being judged, dismissed or laughed at. It is important to let the loved one know that they are being listened to in a judgement free way.
Using Empathy: It can be hard to respond to a loved one’s hallucination. If the loved one is having delusions, it is important to remember that they are symptoms and usually not just thoughts that the loved ones can be talked out of. Those hallucinations or delusions are very real to them. To them whatever they are feeling is very real. A supportive approach can be empathizing with the loved ones feeling and letting them know that their feelings are being acknowledged.
Encourage: You can provide reassurances to your loved one from time to time to help boost their morale. It can also encourage them to start or continue with their treatment and/or seeing a professional, if they would like to.
Not blaming: During psychosis, a loved can experience very frightening emotions. They may act in ways that are hard to understand. They may also have difficulty in communicating properly or expressing their emotions. This is no one’s fault.
Being Calm and Gentle: One can listen calmly to a loved one when they share about their feelings. If the loved one is sitting, one can sit with them to listen, if they are standing, one can stand up to listen to them. Sometimes being on eye level can make them feel comforted. Some loved ones might also have difficulty understanding complex sentences (eg. metaphors, sarcasm etc.) during or after psychosis.
Remember to Take Care of Yourself too! it important that you also take care of yourself while supporting a loved one through psychosis. Be kind to yourself and give yourself the space and support!
The following questions are optional to participate in.
Do you have a loved one who experiences psychosis?
What are some of the ways you cope with it?
It is important to be kind to yourself! Are there any ways that you ensure that you feel supported too?
@hillsideblues Thank you for this thread!
My partner used to have daily hallucinations, mostly visual. He told me about it early in our relationship, and I had never known anyone going through the same thing, so I was afraid the day after. But teaching myself about psychosis really helped, and we started comfortably talking about his visions. That made us a lot closer too.
I coped with it by learning, listening and taking time to rest. It's important that the loved one knows when you need alone time so they don't feel abandoned.
@FinleyTews I am glad that your partner confided in you and it brought you both alot closer. It can be scary, but I think learning and educating about it does help. I learn about how to cope everyday. Being able to talk and listen comfortably about it would have meant alot! I think that is a very good point on letting the loved one know when you need alone time and not letting them feel abandoned. I am glad that you were there were for your loved one and also took time to rest
@hillsideblues
Someone in my life needs to read this page.
@ShadowTag Having support can mean so much and you deserve the support. I hope they are supportive towards you *hugs if you would like some*
