What To Do When Your Loved Ones Need Help

Sometimes in our lives, we may realize that our loved ones are struggling. This can be really hard, especially if they haven’t turned to us for help but we can see something isn’t right. Maybe you believe your sister is in an abusive marriage or your partner is struggling with anxiety, whatever the situation is incredibly hard to know how to deal with it.

If a person you love asks you for help, you have a head start on the situation because you know they want you involved and you can talk to them freely about how they are feeling and what they need you to do. This is a hard situation, but you haven’t got to worry about approaching anything, because they have turned to you. It’s vital that you listen without judgement. Even if what they are telling you is something you don’t agree with. A person who is asking for help knows they are in a bad situation and will have almost certainly felt a lot of guilt and anxiety before coming to you. It’s a brave thing to put yourself in a vulnerable position and explain your deepest worries or concerns to a person you love. So make sure you offer them warmth, compassion, and advice where it is needed. Just be sure not to pressurize or judge them. The worst thing that could happen is they feel too worried to come back to you while they are suffering.

A more complicated situation is trying to help someone who either cannot help themselves or hasn’t turned to you for your support. This could happen if you have a parent in a care home and you don’t believe they are getting the level of care that they require, or worse you are concerned they are being taken advantage of. You need to be very careful in situations like this. It is hard for anyone to see their parent being cared for by someone else and in cases that involve dementia, you may not understand the full extent of your parents’ daily routine or how they behave when you aren’t there. So make sure you do lots of research, monitor the situation, and be sure that you are right before you act. If you are concerned that your parent is poorly treated you should engage a group of dedicated nursing home abuse attorneys. They will understand the very delicate nature of the situation and help you to work through at an efficient pace, offering all the support you, and the victim needs.

If you think a family member is in an abusive relationship, then you need to tread carefully. Victims of emotional and physical abuse very rarely reach out to help and will often protect their abuser. They have been conditioned and are trauma bonded. They may also believe that they are at fault or be too afraid or embarrassed to turn to someone to help. There are several support groups you can contact who will be able to advise you on how to handle the situation. Take their advice and make sure you are very careful in your approach.

When your loved ones need help, reach out and be there without judgment.