Mental health concerns are growing in public awareness, but as divorce lawyers in North Carolina, the Breeden Law Office is well acquainted with how mental health disorders impact relationships.
If you’re dealing with a spouse who has a diagnosed – or even suspected – mental health concern, what you do next is extremely important. To preserve your mental stability and ensure those involved get the help they need, here is some helpful information about relationships involving mental health problems.
If you need further help, it’s best to work with an experienced and trusted family attorney.
Mental Illness Is Common & Devastating
It can be tough to diagnose a mental health issue properly. However, mental illness must be taken seriously. It’s not safe for someone to avoid treatment, and mental illness can escalate into self-harming and violent behaviors.
While many issues can be addressed with proper medication, it’s still important to remain vigilant if you are in a relationship with someone who has a mental health disorder.
Our team has worked on many family law matters that involve mental illness. Some examples include:
- Depression
- Bipolar Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Schizophrenia
Personality Disorders Can Make Relationships Impossible
Personality disorders are different from other mental illnesses. Mental illnesses are medical problems that can often be treated with medication. Many medications treat depression or anxiety. A personality disorder, on the other hand, is not a chemical imbalance in the brain.
A personality disorder must be diagnosed and treated with counseling that allows the affected person to recognize their condition. With successful counseling, people can manage their personality disorders and lead fulfilling lives.
Unfortunately, many people ignore personality disorders. Your spouse may be avoiding necessary treatment. It’s also possible that their disorder has not been diagnosed. This can result in a person who becomes abusive. Many of these people make life impossible for their loved ones. They may frequently insult others or even become violent.
Common personality disorders include:
- Narcissism – This condition results in people being self-absorbed. They may be unable to relate to others.
- Borderline Personality Disorder – These people have unstable moods. They often have unpredictable behavior.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder – This is when a person has obsessions that result in repeated behavior.
What If You’re Living With Someone Who Has a Mental Health Issue?
Mental health problems are treatable, but the road can be challenging. These issues are tough to accept, and medication and therapy may need to be a routine part of their lives. They may be ashamed and become hard to live with or be around. Every aspect of your marriage can be affected by a spouse with a mental health problem. Do not delay in contacting mental health experts for assistance.
Sometimes staying together is not an option, and a compassionate and experienced divorce attorney can be a useful resource if you are in this unfortunate position.
The Breeden Law Office Can Help You
Mental health problems are devastating for a family. It’s common not to notice a mental health disorder for years or even decades. Many people live very everyday lives well into adulthood before mental health issues take hold. Difficulty at school or work can make a mental health problem appear. Many people suffer from these issues after surviving a violent incident. Drugs and alcohol also play a large part in many cases. Your life can quickly become difficult if your spouse has a mental health problem.
At Breeden Law Office, we have represented many families in North Carolina during some of the most challenging parts of their lives. Contact us at (919) 661-4970 or online to speak with a knowledgeable family attorney.
