I think that we've all probably had the opportunity to deal with people who have severe mental illness--the kind of mental illness that is dangerous and difficult to understand. When that happens, we typically do our best to help the individual and get along well, but then there are points when we have to let the village care for the person, points where we may need to distance ourselves from an individual's daily care or connection.
I've watched friends of mine deal with this situation with such grace, compassion, and care. As they dealt with their mentally ill loved ones, they tried many, many solutions and endured many hardship along the way. In both cases that I'm thinking of, the situations ended very peacefully as their loved ones aged and were subdued enough to get the kind of care they needed. My friends were able to say good bye to their loved ones at their deaths without regret and with the knowledge that they did what they could to help them.
Sometimes, when mental illness is a factor, distance may be the only solution, especially if that mental illness threatens the well being of other loved ones or your own good living and happiness. Sadly, sometimes when illnesses like this strike, the aim is to hurt others, and you can't let that happen.
In life, we come across all kinds of situations, and in every case we have to think deeply and often with the consult of others about what is the best solution. This is true when you are dealing with someone with mental illness as well.
I've watched friends of mine deal with this situation with such grace, compassion, and care. As they dealt with their mentally ill loved ones, they tried many, many solutions and endured many hardship along the way. In both cases that I'm thinking of, the situations ended very peacefully as their loved ones aged and were subdued enough to get the kind of care they needed. My friends were able to say good bye to their loved ones at their deaths without regret and with the knowledge that they did what they could to help them.
Sometimes, when mental illness is a factor, distance may be the only solution, especially if that mental illness threatens the well being of other loved ones or your own good living and happiness. Sadly, sometimes when illnesses like this strike, the aim is to hurt others, and you can't let that happen.
In life, we come across all kinds of situations, and in every case we have to think deeply and often with the consult of others about what is the best solution. This is true when you are dealing with someone with mental illness as well.