How do I live with a mentally-ill parent?

For any ill parent, there are many support groups available for support and advice. To begin, have you asked your parent's doctor what recommendations they have for you?

I don't - I ended up being sent into care. But at the time I just did what worked for both of us, healthy or not.

I don't think there is a singular "one-size-fits-all" answer for such a question. Mental illness is very wide in scope and different types require different approaches. For one, try to have empathy for them. It's always helpful to try and put yourself in someones shoes. Secondly, if this makes it a struggle for you to positively interact with them, try to teach yourself that how they are with you should be separate from how you treat them - IE: If they continually try to push your buttons or are consistently stressful, try to see it as a good opportunity to practice being kind and compassionate - It's easier to be kind to people who don't test your kindness, in the first place, so let this be an opportunity to not let how you're treated dictate how you treat someone in response. Third, try to read up on or generally inform yourself about their diagnosis/diagnoses, as being knowledgeable about what they're going through can't hurt. Generally, just be aware of them, listen to them, and try to help where you can. PS: If they treat you flat out abusively, understand that it is inappropriate. Respond the best you can, and try to empathize with them if they don't know any better, but know your limits, know that abusive behavior is abusive behavior, and seek out appropriate (professional) resources if need be.

I understand that you are going through difficult times, you need to find other people to support you and the parent. You have to realize that it was not your responsibility to make sure she gets better. However, It was important that you played a role in the process. Don´t try to be overly responsible. Think about YOUR mental health also. You still need to be able to have a life, pursue your dreams, be active in your free time and meet up with friends.

First, realizing that your parent has a mental illness, that living this way is not "normal", is a big step for a child who wonders why their family seems to work differently than others. Second, to emotionally separate yourself from them and realize that you are your own person, and to find your own way to mental health and stability. Third, to return (if safe to do so) and offer your new-found empathy and love.

You must learn to accept them for who they are and know when you must contact help. You should never feel in danger because of them, but you must be patient and understand that they are different.

Whether you live with a mentally ill parent a mentally ill child or mentally ill family member it can be very very taxing on the family because it is a family disease and all you can do is just be there for support the one thing I feel that you shouldn't do is give up everything in your whole life and put everything ahead of yourself and not make time for yourself you can connect to the right resources so you can maybe get a caregiver or a facility or a therapist or talk to family members and have an intervention so to speak and figure out who can do what hours on which days and make sure that that family member is seeing a therapist and a psychiatrist and with your dreams and your goals as well

my mother has PTSD, depression, and bipolar disorder. The first step to living with this is to understand how these mental health issues affect them so that when you see them affected by these issues you can address it and be aware instead of being confused. I'm also aware of the medication she takes and this allows me to visualise and observe her progress will understanding everything happening. I also use trusted mental health help sites to ask my questions and understand how to react and respond productively and safely to whatever may be happening due to what their facing.

Living with a mentally ill parent is one of the hardest things to go through. It causes you to grow up way faster than you should. It causes you to question why you? Why can’t I just have a mom or dad who has it together? Why can’t I have a normal parent like everyone else? But then you grow up and you learn to take care of yourself. You learn to be strong for not only you but for throes who depend on you also. Tough times don’t last forever but tough people do. You can do this! We can do this!

If you can, i would get them a caregiver to help them or talk to them and explain what is/ isnt acceptavle for you so they dont cross too many lines.