Written by Jonathan Breeden
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.
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:
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:
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.
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.