Depression is one of those health conditions that usurps every part of a suffering individual’s life. Employment, interpersonal relationships  responsibilities, motivation, future goals, level of patience, etc. are all affected by depressions sting. As I described in a previous article, depression clouds the sufferers lens so that everything appears nebulous.

We’ve been talking a lot about delusions and hallucinations lately,so lets end our discussion with the differences and ways to cope.

According to the National Alliance To End Homelessness (2013), at least 250,000 families are homeless. The National Center On Family Homelessness reports that 1 in 45 kids, or 1.6 million, are homeless in America. Homelessness is a serious epidemic and the issue is not just about the individual living with homelessness, but society in general.

“I am thankful to all those who said no to me. It’s because of them I did it myself”__Albert Einstein

Did you know that rain brings growth to more things than plants and flowers? I have seen just how “rainy” seasons in my life motivated me to grow. Without those “dark valley’s,” I’m not sure I could relate or understand what it takes to hold on in moments of distress. What is one  secret to my courage? It is to allow my insecurities and worries about tomorrow to bolster my courage and character.

Maintaining a relationship with a loved one who may be experiencing delusions is like walking on shaky ground. Every step you take could land you in an argument or adversarial position. Whether you intend to argue your points or attempt to bring reality to the attention of your loved one, you will always be on the opposing side. Delusions are strong beliefs held to be true despite evidence to the contrary. 

A crisis is usually defined as a severe situation in which events are expected to be dangerous or unstable. No one likes a crisis or situation in which life is completely out of our control. No one ever gets 100% prepared for an emergency. But the best time to prepare is now, not later.

The introduction of Thorazine, an antipsychotic medication, in the mid 1950s led to multiple changes in mental health including positive (increased levels of independence, reduced psychiatric stay, and control of symptoms) and negative (terrible side effects, over-medicating, prescription drug abuse, and de-institutionalization) outcomes. Leeriness of psychotropic drugs has continued into 2013 and many supporters of medication usage are being met with resistance.

Stress is often high in families while  job seeking for individuals returning from the military or suffering from severe mental illnesses. Google this topic and it becomes apparent just how overlooked this population is when seeking employment. For the most part, it’s a challenge to find employment without losing patience and many must rely on supplemental income.

Homelessness can affect any of us. No one is exempt from this reality. Life is simply unpredictable. For many struggling with homelessness, it can be rather easy to hide. With a PO Box or the address of a close family member, no one will ever know that an individual is living on the streets day and night. Even more disheartening is that the majority are children or adults with severe or untreated mental illnesses in the US.

It’s always important to have a thorough discussion with your healthcare provider prior to receiving treatment. This gives you the opportunity to ask questions about treatment, length of treatment, and most importantly, what your rights are. Many healthcare providers will review your rights with you, your loved one, or friend prior to treatment. In some cases, you may need to ask the person discussing your rights to detail everything. Of course, you don’t want to make anyone’s job more difficult, but you do what to safeguard yourself or loved one.