Category: Family & Friends
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Caring for Aging Parents
They took care of us when we were kids. Now the once vibrant and active dad and mum we knew are getting on with age. They call on us constantly. They even moan and whine. Dad has become grumpy and mum has become quite picky and difficult. That however does not deserve them right to…
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Forming Friendships with the Mentally Ill
Forming friendships with the mentally ill has its challenges. A lot of people do not know how to relate with the mentally ill. When I was mentally ill, my friends were not aware of my state of health. People find it easier forming friendships when they do not know much about someone’s mental health. A few…
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Relationships- Mental Health Awareness Week
Today marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Week from the 16th to 20th May 2016. Relationships is the theme for this year’s awareness week. I know from experience it is a very apt theme for mental health awareness. I think it is relationships that ultimately pulled me out of the mental health system. Relationships…
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Identifying Negative People
I have a friend. She is generally a jolly person and very caring. She has been my friend for gosh, let me calculate, for many many years. I used to jokingly call her ‘prophet of doom and gloom’ when she would give a negative outlook to something that I (or a mutual friend), was planning…
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When Mental Illness Strikes Your Friend
So what would you do if your friend is diagnosed with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar? Would that mark the end to a good friendship? Or would you hang around…for a while? Would you think the friendship becomes a little unbalanced or strained because all your efforts and energies seems to…
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Family Drama – When Mental Illness strikes a family
People react to different things in different ways. Mental illness is no different. Being told your daughter, sister, parent, cousin or uncle has a mental health issue can be a shock to any family. So how does a family react when mental illness strikes a family? As I have said a few times, mental illness…