How Can Affected Individuals and Their Families Cope with a Mental Illness?

Abstract Mental illness is a harrowing journey. When symptoms first appear, it can bring out many emotions. It is not uncommon to feel scared, confused, and disoriented when symptoms begin. If symptoms persist, and especially if they worsen, it is essential to get help. Once individuals find a treatment regimen that works to manage their symptoms, it becomes important to stick with it. With the help of treatment, the journey can move from a place of fear and a lack of control to a point of stability and increased confidence in their ability to maintain good mental health. There are no cures for mental illnesses. And these are typically lifelong disorders, even if the symptoms are not always present. So it is important for affected individuals and their families to learn strategies that can help them successfully manage the illness and achieve optimal health. This chapter discusses some of the tools that have been proven effective for coping with a mental illness.