Loving Susan

Alexandra explores the most common affects children experience when they have a parent with a mental illness.  She also explains what helps kids be more resilient and do better in life, as well as whether a parent should have custodial responsibilities for their children.  She shares many examples from her own life and from the lives of other children of parents with a mental illness.

Alexandra explores the idea of how to enjoy who our loved one is with their mental illness.  It is a common experience to focus on what they have lost.  But if we can celebrate who they are, we can have a more positive relationship with our loved one.

Alexandra covers better ways to communicate with a loved one with a mental illness, and especially when the loved one is symptomatic or in crisis.  Techniques such as LEAP, de-escalation, and poor communication practices to avoid are all covered.  

In this podcast, Alexandra provides many ideas for what to do when you have a loved one with a mental illness who will not take medication, either because they do not know they are sick or they do not agree to medication.  Lots of helpful advice.

In this podcast, Alexandra shares information about the studies and published data which shows what contributes to the development of some mental illnesses.  The biological and environmental factors are all explained.  This podcast will help increase your understanding of these illnesses and know some better ways to love a person with one.  

In Episode 1 Alexandra shares her personal story of watching her mother change from being a caring attentive mom to being very sick with schizophrenia.  She shares how both her mom and her overcame and enjoyed recovery and a loving relationship even with such a difficult illness.  Alexandra also shares advice and hope for those who love someone who is challenged with a mental illness.