Often the relatives are the only social contacts
of the recovered,
since a person who suffers from a serious mental illness most often
has problems making contact with others. The hospital stay, the
disease, and the medications are all obstacles. The sick person
may be too week to contact other people, or may feel ashamed of
things like her symptoms and her changed behavior. She may also
be afraid of being a burden to other people. During the stay in
hospital the patient appreciates the visits of relatives and friends.
Through their visits, these people show that they accept the sick
individual despite her illness, and that they will not give up hope.
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