Recovering Family Sanity

Mother raising troubled child “Our middle daughter was really worried about losing friends and being embarrassed when people found out her big sister was mentally ill. We talked with her about this and prepared her to lose some friendships, but deepen others. It was a way to validate her view of reality but also give her coping skills.”

Create a SAFE Attitude

Safety first — All must be safe from fear, pain, or loss: family, friends, and pets.

Acceptance — All must accept the way things are today, and move forward from here.

Family balance — Everyone’s needs are met equally: not too much for one, not too little for another.

Expectations that are realistic — The goal is just one step up the ladder at a time, one day at a time. There is no quick fix.

When your family is in trouble, the whole family must take immediate steps to ensure physical and emotional survival, and the most important steps are about improving everyone's mental health. Getting a SAFE attitude is ultimately about returning sanity and peace to home life. Once family members together make this shift in attitudes and priorities, stress is reduced and everyone feels more secure and supported by each other. If your troubled child cannot participate, all other members must still work together as a team. You will be amazed that your child will improve when everyone does this mental work.