Relationships
Relationships can be a source happiness and satisfaction, but also of stress and emotional turmoil, regardless of whether you have a mental illness.
Dealing with stigma and the symptoms of mental health problems, especially so-called negative symptoms like depression can make people feel lonely and isolated, so taking steps to overcome difficulties and to build good relationships; romantic or through friendships, can be a very positive step for many people with mental illness.
Many people finding meeting other people a scary or intimidating prospect, and working towards a strong relationship with another person does take time and compromise which can at times be hard.
But there are a number of ways in which mental illness can make it more difficult to start and maintain a relationship.
By being aware of the factors which could have the potential to cause difficulties in your relationships, you can take action to minimise these risks where possible, such as through helping your partner to be informed about your condition, and recognising yourself and discussing with those close to you, how your illness can affect you in your mood and / or behaviour.
Getting your confidence back The negative symptoms of schizophrenia and depression can make you feel isolated and lonely. If you have been ill, it may take some time to rebuild your confidence and your social life. You may not feel like the 'life and soul of the party', but it will help to keep in touch with family and friends.
Loneliness
If you feel lonely and want to meet people, you could get involved in different groups and societies where you can meet people with similar interests. You may be worried that people won't want to know you because you have had a severe mental illness. Unfortunately, there is still a lot of stigma attached to mental illness, mainly because people often don't understand. But not everyone will discriminate and you may find that many people are sympathetic. You could try contacting old friends, you will more than likely get a positive reaction but if you don't, try not to worry — not everyone understands about mental health and you are not to blame.
Anger and aggression
If you have a severe mental illness you may be very upset, frustrated and angry at the way your life has changed and about what it may mean for your future. It is natural to feel like this and it may take some time to come to terms with, and accept, a diagnosis.
You may even feel like you want to take your anger out on the people closest to you or that you have already done so. It's important to get help and talk to someone, perhaps a close friend, family member or health professional, about how you feel. Just talking about things can help and with support you will hopefully be able to find ways to manage how you are feeling.
Being able to open up to those close to you can also help them to understand what you are going through, and may help to answer some of their own questions or fears, and help them to support you better.
Dealing with relationship break-ups
Everyone has relationships that just don't work out. You may have fallen out with a friend or broken up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, leaving you with a range of emotions that are difficult to cope with and affecting other areas of your life, such as studying and work.
You may not have wanted the relationship to end and find it difficult to accept that it's over. Your pride may be wounded and your self-esteem low. You may feel angry or confused, particularly if you're not sure what went wrong. Even if you ended the relationship, you may feel unsure about your decision and miss the other person. It takes time to get over the end of a relationship but talking about how you feel can help.
Talking to a close friend, relative or going to see a counsellor may help you sort out how you feel.
It is also important to understand that for people with a mental illness, emotional distress and upset can trigger a relapse, or some people might find that their mental health problems has happened after experiencing a traumatic and upsetting event such as a relationship breakdown. If you feel that you are struggling to cope with the feelings and emotions you are experiencing as a result of relationship problems, try to speak to someone about it.
There are many helplines available where people are their to listen, not to judge or even to give you advice, but just to listen when you need someone to talk to. If you feel that your health is suffering, such as through experiencing symptoms, or feeling unable to cope, you should try to see your GP who will be able to refer you on to a specialist, or offer you help through
Talking treatments or
Medication
