Communicating with someone who has mental illness

[Tsoygal]

Hello:

Is there any interest in discussing the work by Dr. Xavier Amador ? Because of a long history of butting heads with his older brother (who has bipolar) Amador devised a handy method for communicating. I have an adult son (I'll call him David) diagnosed with BiPolar; he moved back home with me and my husband 5 years ago. Last year was the hardest of all. His symptoms, especially raging, was off the wall.

Then, right before Christmas, I read Amador's book: "I'm not sick I don't need help" ( I'm about to begin his latest :"I'm right you're wrong: so now what?!") I used Amador's approach twice with my son: it worked to defuse two prolonged raging events.

Amador calls his method LEAP (Listen, Empathize, Agree, Partner) I've found it also works with people who are not diagnosed as mentally ill.

Let me know what you think and thanks for reading this.

Tsoygal

[hell2breakfast]

Hello:

Is there any interest in discussing the work by Dr. Xavier Amador ? Because of a long history of butting heads with his older brother (who has bipolar) Amador devised a handy method for communicating. I have an adult son (I'll call him David) diagnosed with BiPolar; he moved back home with me and my husband 5 years ago. Last year was the hardest of all. His symptoms, especially raging, was off the wall.

Then, right before Christmas, I read Amador's book: "I'm not sick I don't need help" ( I'm about to begin his latest :"I'm right you're wrong: so now what?!") I used Amador's approach twice with my son: it worked to defuse two prolonged raging events.

Amador calls his method LEAP (Listen, Empathize, Agree, Partner) I've found it also works with people who are not diagnosed as mentally ill.

Let me know what you think and thanks for reading this.

Tsoygal

I am sorry I have not read this but it sounds interesting, It reminds me a little of Dr. Harris' approach in his book "Im ok!" "Your ok!" where he recomends "stroking the child"

However, I doubt it would work in all situations and all disorders; "Reality Therapy" for example recommends encouraging the patient to take responsibility. "radical Honesty" highlights telling the truth come-what-may.

I have used this "Humoring"? approach several times in the past and found it to be very useful in certain situations. I guess a lot of it depends on the specific situation. I sure wouldn't try it with a Narsissistic type. I must admit I am not that familiar with BP, though I probably have some of the symptoms, since I have symptoms of just about everything else