Empowering you to respond safely, consciously, and
courageously to emotional and behavioral crises.		  
   
  Home   |    Resources    |    About CinA



 

Buy Books

Meet the Authors

Bea's Blog

 

Test Your Skills:

Review The
Basics

Build
Caregiving
Skills

Deepen
Awareness

 

REVIEW THE BASICS
Reality II

Mentally ill people often don't fit the "good patient" profile...

Most of us have some picture in our heads of what a "good patient" looks like (actively seek treatment, grateful for assistance, doesn't want to be a bother, etc.) Many doctors from all different specialties will tell you that many patients don't fit this profile exactly...but mentally ill people frequently do not fit the "good patient" profile at all.
 

Below is a  list of common behaviors of patients with mental illness.  Place a check next to the behaviors you've witnessed in your loved one.
Denies that s/he is ill
Refuses treatment
Turns against family members with anger for implying that there is a problem
Shows no appreciation for the care s/he receives
Completely upsets the flow of our family's day-to-day life
Creates chaos in their/our home
Engages in potentially dangerous situations
Can be threatening
Does things that are socially unacceptable
Can have a disturbingly brutal effect on others

Can create enormous difficulties for all involved (financial, legal, parental)
 

<< • Back • Next • >>


Letting Go of the
"Good Patient"

What is your image of how a "good patient" behaves? And how does this compare with how your relative with mental illness behaves as a patient?

What has your experience been of encountering the difference between your idealized "good patient" image and the reality of your relative's behavior?

What would it feel like to let go of your expectation that your loved one with mental illness should behave as a good patient all of the time? What would change for you if you could accept that your loved one sometimes doesn't "measure up" to the ideal patient role?