Download Just Ask! My Brother/Sister Has a Mental Illness

Just
Ask!
My brother/sister
has a mental illness
A guide for
young people
ages 11-16
“BUT...
what does
that
mean
!? ”
you are not alone!
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Written & designed by:
Jacqueline Potvin-Boucher, Project Manager
Project Leader:
Dr. Stan Kutcher, MD, FRCPC.
Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health
Edited by:
Marla Cranston
Youth Participants:
LauraJill
KaylaKaren
TanyaKelsey
BethKatie
Reviewers:
Keli Anderson
Monique Yazbek
Magda Szmuillas
The development of this material funded in part by:
© This material is under copyright.
This material can not be altered, modified or sold.
Teens and parents are welcome to use this material for
their own purposes. Health providers are welcome to use
this material in their provision of health care. Educators
are welcome to use this material for teaching or similar
purposes. Permission for use in whole or part for any other
purpose must be obtained in writing from:
Dr. Stan Kutcher.
([email protected])
For more information visit:
www.teenmentalhealth.org
my
brother/sister
has a
mental illness.
But
I don’t know
what that means.
Table of contents
Does your brother or sister have a mental illness?
1
My brother/sister has a mental illness, but what does that mean?
2
Is there more than one type of mental illness?
3
• Mood Disorders
4
• Anxiety Disorders
5
• Eating Disorders
6
• Self-injury
7
• Psychosis
7
• ADHD
8
• Substance-related Disorders
9
Suicide10
Myths busted 11
Who gets mental illnesses?
12
Will I get it too?
12
Am I to blame?
14
I feel like I lost my brother/sister.
14
Will my brother/sister get better?
14
Factors that help people recover from mental illness
15
Take care of yourself
17
I feel guilty for being healthy when my brother/sister is ill.
18
I feel bad for not wanting to hang around my brother/sister.
18
It’s also important to spend time with your brother/sister.
18
Things to remember
19
I don’t think my brother/sister likes me.
20
Open up to your brother/sister.
20
Have fun together.
21
I’m embarrassed by my brother/sister; people judge us.
22
Tips to help deal with other people
22
Your family
24
I feel like I have to take care of my brother/sister
24
My parents seem to forget about me.
24
I worry about the future.
25
My parents expect so much more from me than my brother/sister.
25
Visiting a counsellor
27
Tips to cope
28
What I learned from my brother/sister
30
Internet resources
31
What is Evidence Based Medicine?
32
?
Does your
brother or sister
have a mental illness
Although discovering that your brother or sister has a mental
illness may be really upsetting at first and you may worry that
nothing will ever be the same again, you need to know that over
time, things will get better as your family learns to adjust. Plus,
did you know that there are different types of mental disorders?
In most cases, a person with a mental disorder can lead a good
life with treatment and other help.
This guide will help you understand more about your brother or
sister’s illness and help you find the skills you will need in order
to cope, as well as advice on how to have fun with your brother
or sister.
1
what is
a mental
illness?
The doctor said my brother/sister has a
mental illness, but what does that means?
Mental illnesses are medical disorders of the brain that affect a person’s
thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others, and daily functioning.
Oh ya and also, the problems caused by the mental illness must be beyond
what is considered a normal part of growing up or the person’s culture.
Is there more than one type of mental
illness?
There are several types of mental illnesses! And …. it is possible that someone
may have more than one type of mental illness. So someone with an eating
disorder may also have depression. But they are ALL treatable!
It’s really important to educate yourself about mental illnesses, in order to
understand them and learn how to better cope with having a brother/
sister who has a mental illness.
2
“My brother was diagnosed
with psychosis last year – it’s
been really tough and confusing
because sometimes he seems to
be in his own world. I miss how
we used to laugh and hang out
together so much.”
~ Tyler, age 13
C
.
.
.
e
r
t
r
t
C
e
i
h
t
t
a
h
“I have a friend named Kirt and his brother,
who is only 18, has a mental illness and
so does his dad. They both drink a lot of
alcohol all the time and his mom said they
are both clinically depressed. I’m not sure if
they’re getting treatment but it just goes
to show anyone at any age can get a mental
illness.” ~ Steve, age 15
“Kate, my younger sister, got so skinny and
refused to eat. I couldn’t understand why
and it was very frustrating. But the doctor
explained everything and said that she has
an eating disorder. She’s been in treatment
now for a couple months and has already
started to get better! ~ Sarah, age 15
3
Types of mental llnesses
There are many different types of mental illnesses; here’s a list of some
of the more common mental illnesses that happen to teenagers.
Mood Disorders
Everyone has bad days or feels low once in awhile, but when
someone has a mood disorder, their moods are more extreme
and last much longer than for most people. Plus, that’s not just
extreme sadness – mood disorders can also include extreme
highs called mania. This is when someone has beyond too much
energy and super-fast thinking. Although that may sound great,
when a person is in a manic state they can actually get into some
serious trouble with reckless, impulsive behaviour.
 Major depression – Major depression is much more than
the blues. A person affected will be depressed from several
weeks to months at a time and this sadness gets in the way of
everyday life, such as school, family and friends.
 Bipolar disorder – This is when someone may have serious
depression for a period of time and then their mood completely
changes to the opposite with extreme highs. These mood
swings vary from mild to severe, and usually change for no
apparent reason. These severe mood swings get in the way of
everyday life.
For more info
check these out:
www.mooddisorders.on.ca
www.teenmentalhealth.org
4
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are not just the regular butterflies in your tummy
once in awhile. Anxiety disorder is when worries, nervousness and
anxiety take over a person’s life. Anxiety disorders are common
and there are several types, which include:
 Panic disorder – People with panic disorder get intense
feelings of dread or terror for no apparent reason. Although we
may not understand why they’re in a panic, to them it’s a terrifying
experience. Their heart will race and they may get dizzy, have
sweaty palms, shortness of breath and chest pains.
 Agoraphobia – This is when someone avoids situations in
which they feel trapped or places where they are out of their
comfort zone. The fear can be so intense that it leads some
people to become completely housebound.
 Social phobia – People with social phobia are afraid of being judged
or embarrassed by others. So they avoid many everyday social
situations like ordering food in a restaurant, asking for directions if
they’re lost, or even going to parties or speaking in class.
 Specific phobia - This is a fear and avoiding of a specific situation
or object. For example, fear of heights or spiders.
 Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – OCD is
characterized by recurring, unwanted anxiety-producing
thoughts or feelings (obsessions) and repetitive, unwanted
behaviours (compulsions). For example, fear of germs or
constant handwashing. The great amount of time given to
these obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions interferes
with relationships and daily functioning.
Generalized anxiety disorder – This is excessive worrying
about normal daily activities, beyond what is normal, often
leading to restlessness, a hard time concentrating, sleeping,
irritability, muscle tension, headache and fatigue.
For more info
check these out:
www.anxietybc.ca
www.teenmentalhealth.org
5
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders happen when a person’s eating habits and weight
concerns become a physical, mental and social problem. Eating
disorders are in fact serious conditions that are much more than
just about trying to lose weight.
There are also various types of eating disorders, which include:
 Anorexia nervosa – People affected by Anorexia nervosa are
very underweight due to starving themselves. They may also
exercise excessively to burn off calories and they usually think
they are too fat when they are actually very thin.
 Bulimia nervosa – Most people with Bulimia nervosa actually
look to be a healthy weight or may be slightly overweight. The
person with Bulimia nervosa will often engage in binge eating
(where they’ll just eat everything they can get all at once, until
they’re really full. Usually, when they binge it’s on high fatty
foods that they prefer) followed by self-induced vomiting as
well as abusing laxatives and diet pills.
 EDNOS (Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified)
Eating disorder that does not meet the full criteria of anorexia
or bulimia. An example would be binge eating, which is
characterized by episodes of compulsive overeating to feel
better during stressful times, often followed by extreme
dieting.
For more info
check these out:
6
www.cmha.ca
www.keltymentalhealth.ca
Self-Injury
Self injury is not really a mental illness but it can be a big sign
that something is wrong. Self-injury is when someone causes harm
to themselves on purpose without wanting to die. It often occurs
together with a mental illness.
The reasons someone may try acts of self injury vary, but may
include:
•feeling a sense of emotional release
•gaining control over their body
•relieving anger
•self-hatred or guilt
•escaping feelings of emptiness or numbness, etc.
The forms of self injury may include:
• cutting their skin
• burning their own skin
• breaking their bones or causing bruising
• self-biting
• overdosing on drugs (including over the counter or
prescription drugs)
Psychosis
Psychosis is a brain disorder that affects a person’s thinking
and perception. Basically, the person loses touch with reality for
periods of time. They may experience hallucinations, delusions and
act unusual. Most people with psychosis can be helped a lot with
medications and other treatments.
For more info
check these out:
www.earlypsychosis.medicine.dal.ca
www.psychosissucks.ca
7
ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
If your brother or sister has ADHD, they have difficulty paying
attention, are impulsive and have a hard time sitting still. His/her
symptoms can change from day to day and even from one hour to
the next.
Some
•
•
•
•
•
other symptoms include:
forgetfulness
easily distracted
careless mistakes
talks a lot
has a hard time waiting
He/she may experience a lot of emotions and through periods of
frustration as well as having trouble getting along with others.
 Emotional responses:
• anger and violent outbursts
• low self-esteem
• depression
• anxiety
 Social functioning effects:
• he/she may be bullied
• he/she may be an attention seeker (class clown)
• disruptive behaviour
For more info
check these out:
www.caddra.ca
www.caddac.ca
www.adhd.ca
8
Substance-related Disorders
There are two types of substance-related disorders: substance
dependence and substance abuse.
What is substance dependence?
 Physical substance dependence is when a person’s body
gets so used to the substance that he/she can no longer
function without it in their system. Plus, his/her body needs
more and more of the substance to feel the effects, so they
build up tolerance. If he/she does stop taking the substance,
his/her body will go through withdrawal, meaning they’ll
experience some uncomfortable symptoms.
 Psychological substance dependence is when his/
her thoughts become obsessed with using and getting the
substance. They’ll skip out on their responsibilities, miss
school and neglect friends, all because their mind can only
think about trying to get the next fix. It becomes very difficult
to stop.
What is substance abuse?
Substance abuse is when he/she continues to use the substance
despite negative consequences.
For more info
check these out:
www.ccsa.ca
www.aa.org
www.aadac.com
9
suicide is real!!
If you suspect
your brother/
sister is suicidal
ask them!!!
Here’s what to do:
• Try to get them to open up &
talk about how they’re feeling.
• Do not be judgmental – just
listen to them.
• Find out if they have a plan already in place.
Don’t be afraid that you
may be putting the idea
into his/her head.
• Do not leave him/her alone.
• You can’t save him/her on
your own!!!
They will be relieved that
you cared enough to ask.
• Tell your parents or a
responsible trusted adult.
CALL 911
or take them to the hospital
10
myths busted
x MYTH: People with mental illness are violent and dangerous.
aFACT: Of course when a psychiatric patient commits a crime it’s
always in the news but that doesn’t mean everyone with a mental
illness is violent! People with mental illnesses are NO more violent
or dangerous than anyone else! In fact, they are more likely to hurt
themselves or be hurt by others than to hurt other people.
x MYTH: People with mental illnesses are just weak.
aFACT: People do not choose to become ill and they cannot just
snap out of it. Mental illnesses have to do with brain chemistry
and brain function and are not due to lack of willpower.
x MYTH: People with mental illnesses are usually financially poor
and not very smart.
aFACT: Social status has nothing to do with whether or not someone
has or will get a mental illness. In fact, studies show that most people
with mental illness have average or above-average intelligence.
x MYTH: Mental illnesses are very rare.
aFACT: They are actually quite common; in fact 1 in 5 people will
experience a mental illness at some point in their life.
x MYTH: People with mental illnesses can never lead normal lives.
aFACT: With early intervention, treatment and a good support
system, people can and mostly do recover from mental illness.
x MYTH: Kids can’t get mental illnesses.
aFACT: Anyone at any age can get a mental illness.
11
Fast
Fact!
Mental illnesses are just as
real as any medical condition.
Mental illnesses are disorders of
the brain, just like liver disease is
an illness of the liver.
Can anyone get a mental illness?
Mental illnesses can affect anyone of any race, religion, nationality,
gender and age. Although the exact causes of many mental
disorders are not known yet, mental illness is thought to be caused
by a combination of many factors, including:
genetics
 environment (physical and social factors)
 some traumatic life events
Will I get it too?
This is a common concern but first of all, you need to know that mental
illnesses are not contagious. Also, just because you’re related, it doesn’t
mean you’re also going to get a mental illness. It’s like every other medical
illness. For example, just because your sister may have poor eyesight, that
doesn’t mean you’re also going to have poor eyesight. There are many
factors that contribute to mental illnesses, as mentioned earlier.
So even if you inherit the genetic possibility of getting a mental illness,
this does not necessarily mean you will develop one. There are some
things you can to do lower the risk of developing a mental illness, such as
avoiding drugs and living a healthy life.
12
“People at school make fun of these
two twins in Grade 9 because their
mom is an alcoholic. I really feel bad
because it’s not their fault and it
doesn’t make them trash. I’m worried
that they’ll feel bad about themselves
and end up with really low self-esteem
and turn to alcohol too. I wish people
would be more sympathetic and
befriend them instead of making fun!”
~ Nicole, age 15
C
.
.
.
e
r
t
r
t
C
e
i
h
t
t
a
h
“My neighbour told me that all criminals
are psychotic and you can’t trust
anyone with a mental illness. But that
doesn’t seem right to me. I’m sure just
like with any illness, whether it be
cancer, or a mental illness, it doesn’t
make someone more likely to cause
crime – that’s just ridiculous! I’m sure
people with a mental disorder are far
more likely to hurt themselves, or be
hurt by someone else, than to hurt
others.”
~ Stacey, age 14
13
Am I to blame?
You had nothing to do with the fact that your brother or sister
developed a mental illness. If you’re worried that you didn’t spend
enough time with him/her or that you teased him/her too much,
know that your actions didn’t have anything to do with it. Your
teasing was a normal part of growing up, so don’t feel guilty.
IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT! Mental illness is caused by a number of factors but
the normal give and take between brothers and sisters is not a cause of
mental illness.
I feel like I lost my brother/sister
forever.
It actually may feel like someone you love got
lost somewhere. And your family may be really
changed. There will be some pretty tough
times ahead and ya, it will suck at times. But
it’s OK to grieve! You may cry, get angry and
frustrated – it’s all perfectly natural. So take as
long as you need to learn to accept and adjust.
Will my brother/sister get better?
Recovery is possible, even in the most severe forms of mental
illness. With medication, counselling and appropriate care and
support, people can definitely live healthy, normal and fulfilling
lives.
14
Recovery is possible
Factors that help people recover from
mental illnesses:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Early identification and early effective treatment!
Avoiding drugs
Positive attitudes
A healthy lifestyle (good food, exercise and proper sleep)
Good support network of family, friends and professionals
Taking medications and other treatments as prescribed
Learning how to cope with stress
Also, although some people may need to take medication for long
periods of time to control symptoms, as they get older their symptoms may change and/or become less severe.
Keep in mind that sometimes it can take months for improvements
to show in someone with a mental illness. The individual may be
prescribed many different medications or other treatments before
the doctors find the one that works best. They may also have to
switch medications or other treatments as their symptoms change.
Realize that treatment is complicated and there is no magic pill that
works overnight.
Fast
Fact!
One of the most common medical
problems amongst youth aged
15-24 is depression. Depression can
affect 6-8% of teenagers.
15
“I had no idea boys could get eating
disorders., but my brother has been
diagnosed with anorexia. It’s really
confusing and difficult to understand why
he won’t eat. I wish I could just get in
his mind to better understand ”
~ Tyson, age 14
t
i
t
h
C er C
hat
ter ...
“Me and my sister used to be like joined twins, we
did absolutely everything together! Lately it feels
like I’m in a bad dream. She’s got OCD and freaks
on me every time I move anything in her bedroom,
even if just an inch. She’ll spend hours in her room
folding clothes perfectly! Not just perfect but
PERFECTLY! Last week we had plans to go to a movie,
well when 7:00 came and it was time to go – she
couldn’t leave because after getting dressed all her
clothes got messed up. She had to not only refold
the clothes she took out but had to refold and
reorganize absolutely everything in her closet!! It’s
so frustrating because I just wanted her to leave it
until later, but she couldn’t. It’s like she’s a broken
robot sometimes.” ~ Laura, age 14
16
Take care of yourself
Sometimes you may feel completely overwhelmed, so just realize you
can’t single-handedly cure your brother/sister. You have to know your
limits and when to say no. It’s OK to take a step back and take care
of yourself. If you’re having a rough day and feeling under pressure,
take time out for yourself. Go for a walk or go hang out with friends.
You can’t help anyone else until you take care of yourself.
“Sometimes I just don’t want my
brother around me at all. He can be
exhausting to be around. I have to tiptoe
around what I say so not to upset him. So
I just go in my room and lock the door.
That way I can read quietly or draw all
by myself – it’s much more relaxing!” ~
Keith, age 14
“I actually learned to have more
fun from my brother. He taught me not
to be so competitive and just have fun
with games and that sort of thing. Now
I don’t even care who wins when we play
video games, I just enjoy being together
and laughing.” ~ Leslie, age 15
t
Chi
ter
Chatter ...
17
I feel guilty for being healthy when my brother/
sister is ill.
When you are healthy and doing well in life, it’s natural to feel badly
that your brother/sister hasn’t done as well. But it’s important to
know that it’s not your fault that your brother/sister is ill. Be proud
of yourself and your own accomplishments. Do not try to hide your
own victories to make your brother/sister feel better. He/she wants
you to be happy and will also be proud of you too. You have nothing
to feel guilty about – you have done nothing wrong and life isn’t
always fair, but you have to make the best of it.
I feel bad for not wanting to hang around my
brother/sister.
It’s perfectly normal to want to get away from your brother/sister once
in awhile. Hanging out with your brother/sister may be exhausting
sometimes and you may feel like you have to tiptoe around him/her,
not knowing what to say and afraid you may hurt him/her. So know
that it’s OK to take time away and just be free with your own friends.
You have to take care of yourself first before you can be there for
anyone else. Plus, you have every right to have your own life!
It’s also important to spend time with your
brother/sister.
It will help you learn to adjust to his/her needs. You’ll also learn how
to better communicate better with him/her and how to be more
patient and understand how he/she thinks and feels.
Try to keep an open mind. You may often learn from your brother/
sister – whether it’s about yourself, him/her or life in general.
Remember, even though your brother/sister has a mental illness,
they can still teach you a lot. And don’t forget to have fun!
18
Things to remember
g
g
g
g
g
g
g
g
g
g
g
g
g
g
g
g
It’s OK to grieve, get angry and/or sad.
It’s OK to take time to yourself.
You are not to blame for your brother/sister’s mental illness.
You may have to adjust your expectations of your
brother/sister.
You may have to change your communication style
when communicating with your brother/sister.
Know that your brother/sister’s symptoms may vary
and at times seem worse than others.
Try to appreciate the small victories.
Life doesn’t revolve around your brother/sister.
Don’t do everything for your brother/sister – he/she
has to learn to cope and manage his/her own
responsibilities.
See your brother/sister as a person and not as the
illness.
You can learn from your brother/sister.
It may be an emotional roller coaster.
There is nothing to be ashamed of.
If your brother/sister lashes out at you – remember, it’s
often the illness talking.
You come first.
You are not alone!
19
I don’t think my brother/sister likes me.
Sometimes it may seem like your brother/sister doesn’t like you or
he/she may seem distant, but just know it’s not your fault. If he/she
is mean to you sometimes, it’s not necessarily because of you. The
illness sometimes may cause him/her to act like that and he/she
really doesn’t mean to hurt your feelings.
Open up to your brother/sister.
Sometimes it helps to let your brother/sister know what you’re going
through and how their illness affects you. Although each situation is
unique, sharing your feelings with your brother/sister may help him/
her to feel an important part of life. Realize that your brother/sister
may feel left out and isolated sometimes, as he/she may sense that
others pity them or are afraid to burden them with their problems.
Sharing your feelings will show that you value his/her opinion and
consider him/her to be an important person in your life. However, if
your brother/sister is going through a particularly harder time than
usual, be sensitive as to how much to share with them.
Fast
Fact!
If your brother or sister has a
mental illness, you may be more
likely to be affected if you use
drugs. So stay away from illegal
drugs and avoid alcohol.
20
Have fun Together!
There are lots of things you can do with your brother/sister to have fun together.
Read what other brothers and sisters have to say:
“I really like just renting a funny movie with my sister and laughing our
butts off together.”
“In the winter, me and my brother’s favourite thing to do is grab the
toboggans and head to this giant hill down the street from us and whip
down it. We can go for hours and hours, running up and sliding down! It’s
so much fun!”
“My little sister loves peanut butter cookies, so for fun we love to spend all day
Saturday cooking up dozens of cookies, then pigging out on them!”
“I just like sitting with my brother and listening to music – we don’t even have to
talk and it’s just great sitting together enjoying the tunes.”
“You know what’s great? My sister and I both really love art – so we really
like painting things together. Sometimes she’ll do a picture of me and I’ll
do one of her – then we show them to each other. But sometimes I’ll put
like fish lips on her or rabbit ears – it’s funny.”
“The best thing to do with my brothers is to rock out on our guitars!”
“My sister can’t do much – but she sure knows how to laugh! We’ll just
laugh at nothing for hours!”
“ My favourite thing to do with my sister is to play video games! Especially
the car races!”
“Me and my sister like to work in our own little garden we made. We
planted all kinds of veggies and even a couple pumpkins. Normally I
don’t like veggies but fresh ones taste so much better and it’s kinda fun.”
“I really like skateboarding and my brother isn’t that good but I have fun
teaching him tricks . He thinks it’s cool and it makes me feel important.”
21
Dealing with
other people
I am embarrassed by my brother/sister; people
judge us.
People will be unkind at times and may even poke fun at you, your
family or your brother/sister. You need to know that they just don’t
understand. Plus, there’s still a lot of stigma around mental illness.
Therefore, you can choose to either ignore them or stand up to them
and teach them about mental illness. Remember though: you can’t
force someone to see through your eyes, BUT you don’t have to put
up with ridicule either!
Tips to help deal with other people
Talking to other people about your brother/sister’s mental illness is
not always cut and dry. Here are some tips to help:
• Try to be as straightforward and truthful as possible.
• Take it as an opportunity to bring awareness of mental illness and break
the stigma around it. Recommend they visit www.teenmentalhealth.org.
22
• Feel free to just tell people close to you that you can trust at first
and then consider opening up to other people.
• Do not make up lies and cover-up stories. Consider what would happen if the lies and stories got back to your brother/sister or other family
members. They may be very hurt and think you’re ashamed of them.
• If you sense someone will be very judgmental and critical, then
maybe consider just telling them you’re having family problems or
that you’d rather not talk about it right now.
• If telling someone may cause more stress to you or your family,
then just know that it’s your business and you can tell whoever you
want, when and if you want. Just know you have nothing to be
ashamed of.
You may be surprised at how compassionate and supportive people are!
23
Your family
Initially, this is going to be a challenging time for your family and
at times there may seem to be more strain on the family than
other times. However, with time things will get easier. Know that
everyone deals with things differently and some family members may
deny that your brother/sister has a mental illness, while other family
members may immediately want to seek out counseling to learn how
to cope. This is a major change for you and your family’s life and its
OK for you to be scared and to grieve. Take as long as you need to
adjust. It’s helpful to talk to a counsellor about this change and get
information about your brother/sister’s mental illness. Counsellors
will answer many questions you may have and also provide support
for you along the way as you and your family learn to adjust.
I feel like I have to take care of my brother/sister
and I’m not happy about it.
It’s natural to feel bitter once in awhile. Of course it’s not fun having to
help out and do your brother’s or sister’s chores sometimes, or make sure
he/she eats their dinner or watch over him/her carefully so that he/she
doesn’t get into trouble. You have every right to get annoyed and angry
sometimes. When you get really overloaded, just take time to yourself and
know that helping out is really appreciated by your family and it may also
bring your family closer together.
My parents seem to forget about me.
Your parents love you and are very proud of you. Know that they’re
probably really exhausted and emotionally drained from dealing
with your brother/sister; that they don’t purposely mean to neglect
you. Maybe they assume that you’re OK because you’re the ‘healthy’
24
and ‘successful’ one. However, if you’re feeling left out, feel free to
talk to them and tell them what’s going on. Help them understand
how you’re feeling. Consider, asking your mom or dad for alone
time where just the two of you can have a free day to do something
fun together. It’s OK to want more from them, YOU ARE JUST AS
IMPORTANT AS YOUR brother/sister!. Try to keep an open mind and
understand also where they’re coming from too.
I worry about the future.
It’s normal to be concerned about your brother/sister’s future and
your own future. You can’t give up your own dreams and goals
because you’re afraid your brother/sister may need help. You have
every right to your own life and to dream of having a good career
and starting your own family one day. Know that there are a lot of
resources out there that can help take care of your brother/sister if
need be. Your first responsibility is to take care of yourself.
My parents expect so much more from me.
First of all, ask yourself if they are really pressuring you – or if you’re
pressuring yourself. Sometimes when families have challenges like
having one child with a mental illness, the other children feel pressure
to be perfect in order to take pressure away from their parents. So if
this is the case, know that you are human and don’t have to try so
hard to be perfect all the time.
However, if they really are pressuring you, know that it’s because
they’re proud of you and they may really feel that you can do just
about anything. If you feel that they are putting too much pressure
on you – tell them. Talk to them calmly about how you’re feeling.
They’ll love you no matter what. So communicate and share your
feelings with them.
25
“I keep getting stuck with my sister’s
chores. It’s really not fair! They
claim she’s too ill to do this or that.
As if! I say stop treating her like a
sick person and let her learn to be
responsible.”
~ Terry, age 13
C
hitter C
hat
ter ...
“I feel like I’m the only hope in the family to
do well. My parents expect me to get straight
A’s, be on all the sports teams and be the
best pianist. It’s absurd! They think I can do
everything! Well forget it! I don’t even like
sports and I hate piano. I struggle enough just
to get B’s and they’ll just have to learn to live
with that. It’s not my fault my brother has
schizophrenia. So I’m not going to beat myself
up to reach my parents’ dreams – I got dreams
of my own!!” ~ Glen, age 16
26
Visiting a counsellor
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed out or have questions
about your brother/sister’s mental illness, you can talk to your school
counsellor. Counsellors are full of information about mental illness and can support you as you learn to adjust. Remember, your
school counsellor is there to help and is free of charge. Although
many of your questions are answered in this booklet – it helps
to talk to a professional face to face, as each situation is unique.
Make a list of questions to ask your counsellor and feel free to
express your own concerns and how you are feeling.
Some things to talk about with your counsellor:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
ask him/her what a mental illness is
ask him/her what treatment involves
ask him/her what you can do to help
tell him/her how you deal with your feelings
tell him/her about your family life
tell him/her about your relationship with your brother/sister
get their advice on things you can do
What you say with your counsellor is basically confidential!
Talk to your counsellor about confidentiality so you can
understand what that means.
27
TIPS to
help cope
• Learn about mental illness – Check the internet or take some
books out of the library. The more you know, the easier it will
be to make sense of things. But remember, lots of things on the
internet are misleading or even totally wrong. So, you can use
the trustworthy resources at the back of this book as a guide to
help you find what you are looking for.
• Live your own life – Continue doing what you enjoy doing and always
remember to take care of yourself!
• Talk to a counsellor – If you’re feeling confused, stressed or
even if you just have questions about mental illness, talk to your
school counsellor – that’s what they’re there for.
• Be patient – Realize that your brother/sister will not get better
overnight. Symptoms will vary so it’s important to be patient. As
well, be patient with your family members and friends – they are
all affected by your brother/sister’s illness and it will take time for
everyone to adjust.
• Create a support network outside the family – It’s always a good
thing to have your own friends aside from your family so that you
can get away from it all, clear your head and just have fun.
• Your feelings matter – Let your feelings be heard. No one can
28
read your mind or help you if don’t say anything. You have the
right to be heard.
• Take special time with your parents – You may feel neglected at
times if your brother/sister requires a lot of attention from your
parents, so just know that it’s OK to ask for special alone time
away with your parents once in a while. You’re just as important
as your brother/sister. So why not ask your mom or dad to have
a day together - just the two of you and go do something fun.
• Participate in activities – It’s important to take part in activities
you like, for example: if you love sports join a sports team or if
you like music, join the school band.
• Join a support group – It’s helpful to talk to other people who
can relate to what you’re going through.
• Find yourself – It’s important that you explore your dreams and
continue discovering who you are and where you’re going in life.
• Learn to communicate – You may have to adapt your
communication style with your brother/sister, as he or she
may not always be able to understand things, like how you are
feeling or what you’re trying to express.
• Know it’s not your fault! – NOBODY CAUSED your brother or
sister’s mental illness, so don’t blame yourself or anyone else.
• Be positive – A positive attitude can go a long way. Have fun
and try to look at the bright side of things.
• Be realistic – Know what to expect from your brother/sister and
know that he/she may not be able to always be there for you,
and his/her symptoms may also vary with some times being
worse than others.
• Accept it – Accepting your brother/sister’s mental illness will
definitely make life easier. It will help you be more positive, to
cope and to adapt.
29
What I learned from
my brother/sister
“I used to have a bad temper, but my brother taught me how to be patient
and know that I can’t control everything in life.” ~ Allison, age 16
“I learned how to be a good sport from playing games with my little brother.
I am a very competitive person and whenever I used to lose at a game, I
would get pretty bummed out and mad. From playing with my brother I
learned that it’s OK to lose sometimes because it’s about having fun. I even
let him win sometimes now because it’s so great to see him get excited!” ~
Kyle, age 14
“I definitely learned to be less selfish. I only really cared about myself before
and what I wanted. I had no choice but to change when my brother got an
anxiety disorder. I learned how to help him through difficult situations and
not just think about myself all the time.” ~ Laurie, age 13
“I learned how to cooperate better. For awhile I was pretty independent
– always had to do things my way and preferably alone. But my sister
often can’t do things alone, so I have to help her. Anyway – I learned that
everyone has their own way of doing things and I can’t force my ways on
her. Now we work much better together and I’m more willing try new ways
of doing things.” ~ Samantha, age 15
“I learned how to communicate better with other people. Before I was really
shy but I had to stick up for my brother many times, so I had to learn quickly
how to speak up because I didn’t want people judging us. So I’m much more
confident now.” ~ Leslie, age 14
“I realized how much I take things for granted. Little things like just going
outside is really easy for most of us, but my older sister has extreme difficulty
even just thinking about going out of the house. She has taught me to really
appreciate the little things in life more now.” ~ Kelly, age 13
30
Internet resources
For more information on mental illness or to find a support group in
your area, visit some of these helpful and trustworthy websites:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
www.anxietycanada.ca
www.caddac.ca
www.caddra.ca
www.camh.net
www.cmha.ca
www.dana.org
www.earlypsychosis.medicine.dal.ca
www.keltymentalhealth.ca
www.keltyeatingdisorders.ca
www.lainghouse.org
www.letsfacethis.ca
www.mindmatters.edu.au
www.mindyourmind.ca
www.mooddisorderscanada.ca
www.nedic.ca
www.nimh.nih.gov
www.ocdfoundation.org
www.psychosissucks.ca
www.schizophrenia.ca
For a list of easy to understand definitions of mental health terms
please visit our online glossary of commonly used mental health
terms, which is available at: http://teenmentalhealth.org/glossary/
31
What Is
evidence based
medicine?
Everyone of us is different, which means that how our body will respond to
treatments may also be different. It's important that every patient receives
the treatment that is best for them. Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) helps
patients receive the best treatment by finding a balance between scientific
evidence, patient values and the experience of the health care provider.
For information on EBM please check out our patient guide on EBM which
uses easy to understand language to explain how science is used to provide information on medical treatment and care. It also gives practical suggestions on how help you talk with your health care provider so that you
can help make sure that the best knowledge from research is being used
to direct your treatment.
There are two versions available: one written expressly for youth and the
other for parents, educators and health providers. Use the one that fits
your needs best.
This guide is downloadable at:
www.teenmentalhealth.org and select
resources for this and other valuable materials
32
33