The Effects of Mental Illness on Relationships

Often times we as mental health consumers get caught up in our own problems and dilemmas surrounding our illness, that we forget about those who due to association with us are affected as well. I'm not in any way saying that the pain and anguish that we as consumers suffer should be looked at in an empathetic way, but the fact remains that our mood changes and other symptoms that trouble us also trouble those in our lives as well. If we look at it in the proper context than we would see that not only do we suffer from the disease in of its self, but we should take note that as a whole our lives that we lead affect other people as well. In taking note of that fact, we should be aware of how we effect others and keep in constant communication about the thoughts and feelings others have about how the disease is effecting them. We should do this so that communication lines are open that will one, inform us of when we might be symptomatic, and two, to allow the growth for healing when our disease takes effect on the people that we love regarding their emotions, patience, and other introspective thoughts.

In my own experience I had to deal with the notion of being able to get past the thought process that I was the one suffering and the disdain that I had for someone in my support network who claimed that they were as well. This would even lead me to the point of being angry at someone who insinuated that I was not the only person who hurt. This thinking is a poor way to manage our illness and will only cause more pain and less support from the ones that love us as they in turn in a sense wear down as they feel that their emotions are not included in your own thoughts as well. In essence this is a thoughtless way to think, but one easy to understand for other consumers whose main existence sometimes consist of keeping one's self in balance mentally. However, it is a harmful train of thought that needs at some point in a persons personal journey of recovery to be examined and steps put in place to let our supporters know that we care and understand how they feel as a person who champions us in our struggles as well.

NAMI although best known for the support of families and consumers who have been the victim of this disease has made great strides in bringing relief and understanding to its members. But there is still lacking a fundamental way to break the barriers of the actual problem that exists perpetuated by this disease, where neither the consumer our they loved one is in cue with the other person. Sure, there are groups for families of people effected and there are groups for the consumer themselves, but none exist in an effort to bring about a true all around healing form a disease that effects every facet of a person's life, and leaves much destruction in its path especially in the way of relationships.

In celebrating this Independence Day I began to reflect on things regarding our disease. We as consumers seek freedom from things like forced injections and forced electroshock treatments, as well as forced hospitalizations and other sketchy happenings in the mental health field which bring us a sense of imprisonment without due civil hearings which we are a part of. We seek the right to choose our own health provider even though many of our states individual systems are run in a one system serves all scheme. While all of these are important to our cause we also need to be aware of the freedom that other people have in the right not to have their rights infringed on by someone who is seeking their rights to be preserved. I know that this is a tight rope walking train of thought, but we need to accept that even though we may have an illness and be suffering symptoms, it is not an entitlement to us to force others to accept the actions that we present with when symptomatic. If we start with the basis and use it in the context of us as consumers and how we relate to those who support us, and adapt our issues of being symptomatic and how it effects them, and make sure that we are the ones that change adhering to the fact that we are the ones with the disease and recovery is a responsibility, then we would be able to see it on a larger scale as well. I hope you had a happy Fourth of July and that you brought to remembrance those who have laid down their lives so that we are afforded the rights which we have today. God bless.

J.D.Grace, QMHPP Consumer Advocate

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Worrying can impact interpersonal relationships, study finds

ScienceDaily (July 26, 2011) — Most people worry from time to time. A new research study, led by a Case Western Reserve University faculty member in psychology, also shows that worrying can be so intrusive and obsessive that it interferes in the person's life and endangers the health of social relationships.

These people suffer from what's called generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), says Case Western Reserve psychologist Amy Przeworski.

Individuals with GAD frequently put social relationships with family, friends, or coworkers at the top of their lists of worries, but the negative methods they use to cope -- from over nurturing to extreme detachment -- may be destructive.

Przeworski and colleagues at Penn State University observed that people in therapy for GAD manifested their worries in different ways based on how they interact with other people.

In two studies the researchers found four distinct interactive styles prominent among people with GAD -- intrusive, cold, nonassertive and exploitable.

Both studies supported the presence of these four interpersonal styles and their significant role in how people with GAD manifested their worrying.

"All individuals with these styles worried to the same extent and extreme, but manifested those worries in different ways," Przeworski said.

Take the examples of two people with similar worries about someone's health and safety.

One person may exhibit that worry through frequent intrusive expressions of concern for the other person. Think of the parent or spouse who calls every five minutes to get an update on what's happening.

Another person may exhibit the worry by criticizing the behaviors that the person believes to be careless or reckless.

"The worry may be similar, but the impact of the worry on their interpersonal relationships would be extremely different. This suggests that interpersonal problems and worry may be intertwined," Przeworski says.

She suggests that therapies to treat GAD should target both the worry and the related interpersonal problems.

Most treatments for GAD rely on cognitive behavioral therapy, a treatment that is usually successful for about 60 percent of people, a percentage considered successful in therapy. However, one way to improve therapy for worriers may be to integrate techniques that target the interpersonal relationship problems.

The research was part of larger study supported by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by Case Western Reserve University.

Journal Reference:

Amy Przeworski, Michelle G. Newman, Aaron L. Pincus, Michele B. Kasoff, Alissa S. Yamasaki, Louis G. Castonguay, Kristoffer S. Berlin. Interpersonal pathoplasticity in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder.. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 2011; 120 (2): 286 DOI: 10.1037/a0023334

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

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Trend in young adults' dating habits, committed relationships may not lead to marriage

ScienceDaily (July 25, 2011) — Changes in relationship formation and dissolution in the past 50 years have revealed new patterns in romantic relations among young adults. The U.S. Census indicates that young people are choosing to marry later and cohabitating more often than past generations. Now, a University of Missouri researcher has found that people in their 20s are redefining dating by engaging in "stayover relationships," spending three or more nights together each week while maintaining the option of going to their own homes.

"Instead of following a clear path from courtship to marriage, individuals are choosing to engage in romantic ties on their own terms -- without the guidance of social norms," said Tyler Jamison, a researcher in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS). "There is a gap between the teen years and adulthood during which we don't know much about the dating behaviors of young adults. Stayovers are the unique answer to what emerging adults are doing in their relationships."

Jamison found that "stayover relationships" are a growing trend among college-aged couples who are committed, but not interested in cohabiting. However, little is known about the effects of stayovers on future commitment decisions or marriage.

"A key motivation is to enjoy the comforts of an intimate relationship while maintaining a high degree of personal control over one's involvement and commitment," said Larry Ganong, professor in HDFS. "We see this interest in personal control nationally in more single adult households, and in the growing phenomenon of 'living apart together' (middle-aged and older monogamous couples who maintain their own households). It may also help explain why marriage is on the decline, particularly among young adults."

Jamison conducted interviews among college-educated adults who were in committed, exclusive relationships. She found that although living together before marriage has become less taboo, many young adults want to avoid the potential negative social consequences of cohabitation.

"As soon as couples live together, it becomes more difficult to break up," Jamison said. "At that point, they have probably signed a lease, bought a couch and acquired a dog, making it harder to disentangle their lives should they break up. Staying over doesn't present those entanglements."

Jamison found that couples who had a stayover routine were content in their relationships, but did not necessarily plan to get married or move in together.

"Many college-aged adults are students who will soon be facing a transition point in their lives," Jamison said. "Most students do not have a definite plan for where they will live or work after graduation, and stayovers are a way for couples to have comfort and convenience without the commitment of living together or having long-term plans."

The study, "We're not living together: Stayover relationships among college-educated emerging adults," is in the current issue of the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. Jamison recommends future research to determine the effect of stayovers on marriage and divorce rates. Her follow-up research is focused on stayover relationships in unmarried parents. She is a doctoral candidate in the MU College of Human Environmental Sciences.

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted (with editorial adaptations by ScienceDaily staff) from materials provided by University of Missouri-Columbia.

Journal Reference:

T. B. Jamison, L. Ganong. ''We're not living together:'' Stayover relationships among college-educated emerging adults. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 2010; 28 (4): 536 DOI: 10.1177/0265407510384897

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

View the original article here