any suggestion on how unwind from a day of working with clients with mental illness?

some days when I come home I feel that I am going crazy.everyone I work with has a mental illness and a drug addiction. i need some sanity.

Answers:
This is quite difficult although I don't work with them but I do have a few bi polars in my family an a drug addict of 15 years and they can cause a good day to look bad ,so I turn off all phones including cell phone ,I listen to some good music or watch a good movie,I also have started exercising four months ago an it has relieved stress tremendously,and a good 6 to 8 hour night of sleep is very important for sanity! good luck and let me tell you your job is so helpful to people because what I have seen with mental illness is difficult for the person whom deal with it every minute of their life even with meds it still never goes completely away .God Bless You for your gift you have toward helping the weaker of society .

Have you tried head banging?? OO that was mean.
Really try to unwind with music and nature. Try headphones and a nice walk outdoors.
Been there done that..I had to take a vacation.
pop in a good comedy movie i.e. adam sandler. or try doing something you enjoy doing. such as, walking, going to gym, hangout with friends.etc.
Soothing music, and a fine glass of Cabernet.
Xanax?
Close out all sound from your house and lie down and concentrate on your breathing for a good five minutes. Alternately flex and release each muscle in your body, starting with your feet and ending with your head. Picture the stress leaving your body. Take a walk and drink lots of water, then a hot bath with soothing music. Eat a light dinner. Do things to rejuvenate yourself. If you enjoy being around people, go out to a live music show, or the symphony or a movie. If you enjoy music, listen to your favorite CD, if you like reading, get a good novel and delve into it. Pamper yourself.
that used to be me. i actually got to burnout point and changed jobs for a bit worked in a library instead of social work and just de-stressed. However, baths and walks helped me. plus I had an hour commute to work so that drive helped me wind down after those long days.
have you thought about going to a massage therapist once a month or find a hobby that helps relieve your stress. and helps you unwind yourself.
maybe take a class like yoga but not nessary that if your not that type to help you unwind. losen up . you have to take on so much at work treat yourself to a massage will do wonders for you.
:D
I have a child who is bipolar stage 3(drug induced bipolar)who is also still an addict. I'm a stay-at-home mom(prisnor)and there is nothing I like better than getting together with friends, having dinner, and talking about anything other than MI or drug addiction.
Watch your favorite DVD - I just bought season 2 of Lost - It's so easy to get lost in it
get the phone numbers of your really paranoid clients, then call them from and untracable phone of course, and tell them that you are watching them and if they know what's good for them they better quit it.

Okay, not really, but I hope the idea gave you a chuckle.
That is how it works. You give them some of your sanity and they give you some of their insanity. Spend time with people with a high consciousness. Do anti-stressing things like exercise, yoga and meditation. Avoid partially crazy relatives. Read this webpage for more things including diet to help and avoid alcohol which causes more deaths and suffering in our society than any other drugs. Massage therapy also helps alot. Many crazy people cannot stand anything like that (massage).

http://phifoundation.org/happiness.html
Have you ever been to a Al anon meeting? You might want to see if you can put the focus in your life back on you and seek ways to nurture your your soul. Here are my suggestions.
Get outa yourself

Don't take your self to seriously

Do something fun.with a friend or alone Why noyt do something you always wanted to do but were to wraped up in your day to day life to do iit?

Stay close to your family and friends.

Find an outlet for your creativeivity

Meditation and self hipnosis.
Think of what makes you feel happy, relaxed and content. Is a nice warm bath? A good meal or a chocolate treat. Maybe you'd prefer a long walk or a short nap. An exercise workout (yoga) or slouching in front of the t.v. w/ a mindless comedy show or soap. Call a friend or surf the net. You could listen to music or have private dance party. Whatever works for you as a de-stresser do it.
Make a routine that you can fall into at the end of everyday.
In my job dealing with all sorts of different personalities, issues and unexpected problems. It always feel good to come home to the expected. I hope something I've said here will help. Good luck and remember to breathe.
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