Mental Health Carer Support

[PsychosisCarer]

Hello

i am going through quite a distressing time. My partner has been diagnosed with psychosis and admitted into hospital. Looking for support and others that are or have experienced being in my situation 

[Ru-bee]

Hello @PsychosisCarer 

I just wanted to stop by and welcome you to the forums.

I know that there are other members who have been where you are, and I hope that some will come across your post shortly. In the meantime I just wanted to say hello and good on you for reaching out, it's not an easy thing to do but I hope that this will be a safe and supportive place for you throughout this time

[PsychosisCarer]

Thank you so so much. Your message is very warming. I am having such a challenging time and am hoping I can get support here 

[rav3n]

hey @PsychosisCarer! lovely to have you here 💙

one of our amazing peer workers has just created a thread about hearing voices and psychosis, if you're interested in reading about other people's experiences and what's worked for them, feel free to look into it: Hearing voices and psychosis 🗯️ - SANE Forums 

[Sugarshack]

It is scary when someone you know and love becomes 'different' but it's REALLY important to stay connected to roadmaps of normalcy, that person is not themselves and themself might be gone for a while. The person inside a familiar body IS talking nonsense and gibberish. Sometimes they like it, if you buy into the psychosis and pretend their reality is real, with them. I have found it to be an effective way of 'socialising' with a person in psychosis. Depending on the course of their situation it can take 3 months - 1 year to stabilise and, they are embarrassed too so in my experience it was most important to treat the person as 'normal', learn their new language of true distress vs attention seeking and try to keep their sense of humour and personality alive. It is dehumanising treatment and being seen as a problem which makes most peoples lives fall apart. Yes they are "a problem" but their situation is worse than yours, they need help to remember whats real in reality and also to remember themself, and its ok to be themself. Moving forward you start to learn when it comes over them and then you can escalate assistance or just let them be as long as they arent harming themselves or others. 

I know a gentleman with significant voices and visions who has lived a harmless solitary life, all his life, and is a gifted painter. To talk to him you would never know he lives in a different world until you realise 100% of his world is in his head, with information coming in via books and out via paintings, writings and making objects. This is obviously different to someone in a relationship but, survival is the baseline of life and for a person in psychosis first they need to survive and after that they will worry about relationships, I hesitate to give direct advice BUT I would think, like a stroke you might not be able to get to the person you are in a relationship with, immediately, and will have to deal with first 'betterness for that person, stabilisation of that condition' and 'whats left of the old relationship'....

All the best, remember like Swimming lessons: in order to be able to save the other person, you have to have flotation for yourself.

[PsychosisCarer]

Thank you so much. 
It’s been a heavy 4 days. My partner is in the ward and I’ve been beside myself as it was my actions that got my partner in there. I simply couldn’t see my partner put their life at such great risk. 
The heaviness has been my guilt and betrayal, although deep down I knew it had to happen for her to get the exact care she needed.

a few little wins (very very little) every day since she’s been admitted and groups like this will get me seeing the positives and the journey ahead. 

[Appleblossom]

@PsychosisCarer 

It is very distressing when a loved one is going through psychological disturbances and distress. Gently bently… with yourself and your partner. It is difficult when we feel the most responsible action is to involve services, then much is in their hands. All you can do is be you, in the context of caring. The services have their own rules and protocols, and can be a steep learning curve. I believe it is important to inform ourselves, and everyone has a different background.  I appreciate that you appreciated the recent psychosis thread. 

Bottom line…. Care about your boundaries, keep open and loving, and listening. Try and keep your authenticity, while relating to your partner. It can be challenging and there is no right way to manage it. I have a long experience with close family and study. My story is all over the forum. I am aware there are times when people are seriously unwell and need help or time and resources to get through. A lot depends on the individual. I am a little sceptical about an overly biomedical approach, though recognise our current system leans toward clinical approaches. 

I hope things get better. If you want to tag me, I will respond.

[PsychosisCarer]

Thank you so much. Still I guess in the guilt stage that is heartbreaking.

[AuntGlow]

Hello @PsychosisCarer, I am here if you need to chat too. I can see how big things are feeling for you right now and want you to know that you're not alone. 💛

Please remember to tag @Appleblossom so they can see your comment and respond! You can do this by pressing the @ key and typing in their name. ✨

[PsychosisCarer]

Thank you. I would appreciate someone to talk to regarding this journey @Appleblossom