Tips To Avoid Burnout For Parents, Family Members, or Loved Ones with a Mental Illness by Robyn Tamanaha, LMFT
In this video, I discuss tips to avoid burnout if you are a loved one of a person living with a mental illness.
You don’t have to do this alone. If you are interested in receiving therapy with me, let’s schedule a free 15-minute phone consult.
My office is located in Irvine, which is near Newport Beach, Orange, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Tustin, Seal Beach, and beyond. I work with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and Asian American & Pacific Islanders.
Disclaimer: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. The topics being discussed are meant as a self-help tool for you own use. It is not psychotherapy or counseling. This information is to be used based on your own judgment. If you need to speak with a professional, you should find one local to you and contact them directly.
**IF THIS IS AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY NUMBER OR GO TO YOUR NEAREST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. **
Video Transcript:
Tips to avoid burnout for family members or loved ones with a mental illness.
• Don’t lose yourself or your interests. It’s expected that the time you used to dedicate toward your interests, hobbies, and friends may decrease, but it’s important to still plan and dedicate some time to these.
• It’s helpful to meet others who are in the same boat. Meeting others who are also a family member or loved one of an individual with a mental illness can provide you with support that is different from your friends. One way to meet others through are support groups, such as the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) and NAMI. DBSA offers in-person and online support groups for those living with a Depression or Bipolar Disorder, as well as for their family members. NAMI offers support groups for individuals impacted by all mental illnesses. A second way to meet others is through workshops and speaking’s provided by mental health professionals and community leaders at churches, community centers, hospitals, etc. This is a great way to learn information while meeting others in the audience who are also experiencing the same stressors, challenges, and achievements as you.
• Make time for yourself. As humans, we do need times of solitude. The amount of time will vary from person to person. Think about how much time you need. Is it 5-10 minutes at the end of each day? Is it a half a day? Is it a full day every few weeks or once a month? This is important because this time will allow you to get back to yourself. There may be others who can help you with this so that you can have some time for yourself, such as babysitters, respite care, summer camps, etc.
• Go outside. Walking has many benefits, such as helping to process our thoughts and experiences, promoting brain growth, creating brain activity that can promote a sense of calm, and increasing happy hormones. For some, just sitting outside is very centering and calming. A person who is not interested or not able to go for a walk, may be able to sit outside on the porch or in the yard.
• Life hacks. Life hacks are things that will help you increase your productivity in a short period of time by organizing things a certain way or using things around the house that will make the task more efficient. The most popular life hacks are for cooking or cleaning because these are tasks that individuals either spend a lot of time completing or complete the most often every week.
• Seek reputable information. Anyone can create a Youtube video or write an article, so seek educational material from a valid and reliable source. There are mental health organizations, such as DBSA and NAMI, that have online resources. There are also mental health professionals, such as therapists, who provide education in the therapy sessions and throughout the community. Sometimes know the correct information can be reassuring.
• Don’t neglect your own needs and necessities. It can be easy to put off your own doctors appointments and dental checkups; however, the best way to care for someone else is to also take care of your needs. It’s just as important for your overall health and well-being to be taken care of.
Disclaimer: This information is being provided to you for educational and informational purposes only. The topics being discussed are meant as a self-help tool for you own use. It is not psychotherapy or counseling. This information is to be used based on your own judgment. If you need to speak with a professional, you should find one local to you and contact them directly.
**IF THIS IS AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY NUMBER OR GO TO YOUR NEAREST EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. **