Friends, Family & Carers Forum

[Jo]

It is always extremely important that when the family member we care for is behaving strangely and erratically, to keep reminding ourselves that it is the illness talking and behaving in this manner, not the son/daughter/parent/partner we have always known. We find ourselves dealing with a complete stranger. In a television  interview being repeated in the news today, the brother of Olympic Swimming Champion Grant Hackett ( who experienced a violent meltdown yesterday) emphasises several times that the current Grant Hackett is not 'Grant Hackett', that he doesn't know this person, that he is not his brother. He is  not the Grant Hackett the world has known. This succinctly confirms what happens when a serious mental illlness dominates our loved one's thoughts, feelings and actions.
I just wanted to call attention to this news clip because Grant's brother is stating publicly, something all of us carers constantly experience. That it is not our loved one behaving and speaking strangely and erratically. It is the illness. And that when the correct medication and correct dosage is eventually found, the loved one we had always known does return.

[suzanne]

Thanks for drawing our attention to this @Jo.  It's such an important thing for carers to remember.

[Fancy_Pants]

Hello @Jo

It's good that the community can learn from others experiences and what has been highlighted in this story is the distinction between a person and their illness. It sounds like this has made you feel less alone. As a carer it would help to see this difference so you can go on supporting your loved one. Maybe there can be more compassion for the 'real' person. 

Thank you for sharing,

@Fancy_Pants