1 - THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CAREGIVER 11

Caregiving Today 12
Looking Back in History 13
Key Issues Affecting the Mentally lil and Their Families 16
Conclusion 23

2 - LIVING WITH THE ILLNESS

My Story How Does It Feel at First? Common Caregiver Reactions to the Illness
Looking for Someone to Blame
The Stigmatized Family
The Caregiving "Players"
Conclusion

3 - ACCEPTING THE ILLNESS
Phases of Acceptance 45
Don't Deny the Illness 46
Dealing With Your Own Day-To-Dav Problemc 47
Not Even the Best Caregivers Are Perfect

4 - EDUCATING YOURSELF, IDENTIFYING HELP, AND SEEKING SUPPORT

Educate Yourself About the Illness
Get Good Professional Help
Find a Support Group

5 - HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND DEAL WITH SERIOUS PROBLEM SYMPTOMS

Common Symptoms
Reconizing Signs of a Relapse

6 - BALANCE THE NEEDS OF OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS

Mental Illness Affects the Whole Family
Family Meetings

7 - THE CAREGIVER NEEDS SOME CARING
When You Need Help Yourself
Common Physical Problems
Overcoming Caregiver Burnout
Other Problems
Rediscovering Yourself

8 - PROBLEM SITUATIONS AND EFFECTIVE COPING STRATEGIES

Refusal to Take Medication
Suicide Threats
Paranoia or Phobias
Anger and Violence
Denial
Blaming Everything on the illness
Refusal to See the Doctor
Disagreements between Caregivers and Doctors or Therapists
Getting the Information
Keeping Stress Levels Down
Dealing with Manipulation
Dealing with Public Outbursts

PROBLEMS OF SPECIFIC TYPES OF CAREGIVERS
Parents, Spouses, Siblings, and Adult Children

Caring for Your Spouse
Caring for a Sibling
Caring for a Child
Caring for a Parent

9 - PROBLEMS OF SPECIFIC TYPES OF CAREGIVERS
Parents, Spouses, Siblings, and Adult Children

Caring for Your Spouse
Caring for a Sibling
Caring for a Child
Caring for a Parent

10 - DEALING WITH PEOPLE IMMEDIATE FAMILY

How the Illness Affects Relatives
Ask Relatives and Close Friends for Help

11 - BALANCING WORK AND CAREGIVING

Strategies for Combining work and Caregiving

12 - WHEN THE MENTALLY ILL PERSON HOLDS A JOB

Myths About Mentally ill People and Work
The Americans with Disabilities Act
Finding and Keeping a Job
Vocational Rehabilitation
Work and SSI

13 - WHEN YOUR RELATIVE IS TOO ILL TO CARE FOR AT HOME

Nursing Homes
Residential Treatment Centers
Day Treatment

14 - PLANNING FORYOUR RELATIVE'S FUTURE

Willing Money to Your Relative
Leaving Money to Another Relative
Guardianship
Planned Lifetime Assistance Network (PLAN)

15 THE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL SYSTEM

Problems You May Experience with Hospitals
If the Hospital Refuses to Take Your ill Relative

16 - THE EDUCATIONAL I O SYSTEM

Initial Evaluation for the IEP
The Individualized Education Program (IEP)
The School Year
Going to College

17 THE INSURANCE SYSTEM
Private Insurance
Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI)
Medicaid
SSA Disability
State Social Services-"Welfare"
The Medicaid Card

THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SYSTEMS

The Criminal Justice System
The Substance Abuse System

CONCLUSION

PART FOUR - APPENDIXES
 

Appendix A: Important Toll-Free Numbers
Appendix B: Recommended Books
Appendix C: Police Crisis Information Form
Appendix D: Example of Authorization to Release Information
Appendix E: National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) State Affiliate List
Appendix F: Important National Organizations
Appendix G: Self-Help Clearinghouses, by State
Appendix H: PLAN Programs
Appendix l: State Mental Health Offices
Appendix J: Clubhouses in the United States and Canada

Bibliography

Index