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Become a Carer
James Bowdler
8 September, 2019
2 min read
Mental health problems can affect anyone of any age; however, as we age, mental health issues can often become exacerbated.
People often fail to recognise they are suffering from a mental health issue, so it could be a friend or family member that notices the change first. Suppose you see your loved one’s mental or emotional state deteriorating quickly or believe that they are in danger of harming themselves or others. In that case, you can request an emergency assessment by contacting their GP.
Spotting poor mental health can be really difficult; this is especially true if you don’t usually engage with it. Just looking for behavioural changes is not enough, as a change in habits does not mean that someone’s health is getting worse.
Good mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which an individual realises their own abilities, can cope with everyday stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to society. It is a positive sense of well-being and an underlying belief in our own dignity and worth.
Knowing the above may help you to spot when something is wrong.
Bad mental health is defined as when a person is finding it difficult to think clearly and rationally, or struggles to interact with others and cope with the everyday demands of life.
This begins to effect all aspects of their work relationships and quality of life.
Contact the GP of your family member or friend. It seems like an obvious answer; however, it is the best one. The GP will complete their assessment; if they think it is necessary, they will refer them to a mental health professional.
Below is a list of common mental health issues that all people can face, not only in old age but throughout their lives. As well as some of the associated symptoms and possible treatments.
This can be a build-up of pressure over time, and it can be emotional, physical or psychological.
Stress can be caused by many things: work problems, relationship issues, financial worries, health issues, housing issues, abuse or just about anything else.
The symptoms of stress are also varied from:
This may seem like a lot of information to take in and is fairly scary to deal with! However, stress can be managed and supported.
Once these questions have been answered, you can start applying methods to help ease their stress. Such as:
You can find more guidance and advice here:
Everyone will have experienced some anxiety before, but it can take over your life and be debilitating for some.
As with stress, anyone can suffer from anxiety, but some people will be more prone to it than others, especially if they have been exposed to prolonged periods of stress or have had negative experiences.
There are a few categories that anxiety falls into panic attack disorder, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, specific phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder and generalised anxiety disorder.
The impact that anxiety can have on a person can be huge; for example, there may be:
A person who suffers from anxiety usually is very frustrated about their condition, resentful, mentally exhausted and distressed trying to deal with the situations.
Once the problem is identified, a wealth of support and management is available, especially in recent years. The first port of call is the GP. Depending on the severity, they may refer the patient to a counsellor or cognitive behavioural therapist, or a psychologist in more extreme cases.
There are also things you can do at home to help manage and even eradicate anxiety:
You can find more guidance and advice here:
This can develop when someone experiences a highly stressful situation or traumatic event. Not everyone will respond the same way, and others may recover very quickly.
For many, though, PTSD can take a very long time to recover from, if at all. It is especially complex if someone has experienced multiple traumatic experiences such as sexual abuse or domestic violence.
Anyone can suffer from this, and it can also reoccur or resurface many years after the event if something triggers of the memory. The symptoms and signs can vary and are not always noticeable from the outside.
If you have a friend or family member who is suffering from PTSD, it’s best to do your research so you can understand more of what they are feeling. Be a patient listener if they start to talk about their feelings or the event.
The treatments used to support PTSD are cognitive behavioural therapy, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing and medication, which can include sleeping tablets and antidepressants.
There are lots of resources online; here are just a few:
Depression is a prevalent mood disorder where someone has a low mood and is unhappy for an extended period of time. This inevitably interferes with their everyday life.
There are several depressive disorders, such as clinical, psychotic, dysthymia, postnatal and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Depression can be caused by:
Living with depression can affect a person’s everyday life and involve friends and family.
A person suffering from depression can neglect themselves. This may manifest in a dirty or untidy environment/home. They may also try to avoid going out and meeting people.
This is why friends and family can often feel helpless as they want to help but are often rejected by the sufferer, refusing to admit that they need help.
The national institute for health care excellence (NICE) recommend a stepped approach before medication is prescribed:
More information can be found on these websites.
There are two different types of bipolar disorder:
Stress and stressful life events are believed to change the balance of chemicals in the brain. There may be genetic factors, such as a family history of illness. Or environmental factors like pressures within everyday life at home or work.
The most important part of treatment is recognising and understanding the illness. This is because self-monitoring, where the person feels and recognises the early warning signs of episodes, is central to delivering direct treatments.
Support from others is very important; groups online and in the local community meet to support one another, as they have had similar experiences and feelings.
Developing a good routine encourages the person to have set times for daily tasks like resting, eating, exercising and relaxing. Avoiding stress is so important, and recognise them so you can walk away and get some space.
Having a healthy diet/lifestyle is also very important, as you should try to avoid foods with high sugar levels, caffeine and limit alcohol consumption. Plenty of sunlight, calming activities like yoga and hobbies like painting can also be helpful coping techniques.
Medication and treatment include mood stabilising drugs, antidepressants, electroconvulsive therapies and talking therapies. The doctor may also prescribe other medicines, such as lithium and antipsychotics.
You can find out more information from the sources below:
This is a severe psychotic disorder which is often described as a person being split or losing reality with their surroundings or family.
It can be caused by genetic inheritance, drug abuse or stressful events in a person’s life. It is often diagnosed when a person develops bizarre or paranoid delusions. These episodes may re-occur regularly over the years.
This can disrupt a person’s everyday life and upset relationships, employment and general social activities. A person suffering should always get expert advice and support from the mental health team or doctor. The delusions/hallucinations vary but can include the following:
Reducing stress is a great place to start; this can be aided by joining a self-help group. Make sure they are getting enough sleep, maybe reduce caffeine before bed and turn off phones and televisions an hour before you go to bed.
Avoid alcohol or drugs, as substance abuse worsens the symptoms and makes the illness even more complicated. Getting regular exercise is good for the mind and body and distracts from the disease. Hobbies are suitable for the mind and body, distract from the illness and give a sense of achievement.
It is extremely important to take medication as directed. The stated dose should always be taken and never stopped unless under a doctor’s guidance and recommendation.
Also, consider complementary therapies; these can often help, like acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage therapy or reflexology. Much like a placebo, it the person taking them believes in them, they can work.
Find out more from the links below:
Eating disorders have the highest death rate, and 1 in 5 will die out of those suffering. Anyone can suffer from this, male or female, but mainly it is young women between the ages of 15 and 25.
An eating disorder is when someone has an unhealthy eating pattern, either overeating to the extreme or under-eating. The impact can be devastating on mental and physical health.
Psychological and emotional issues such as low self-esteem, lack of control, depression, anxiety, anger and difficulty in expressing emotions and feelings.
Social media and cultural factors pressure people to conform regarding body image, physical appearance, inner qualities and strengths.
Treat Eating Disorders with talking therapies, close monitoring, weight management strategies, medication and having the support of family and others who have recovered from similar illnesses.
Find out more information using the sources below:
James Bowdler
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