After several years of roller coasters, I think I have accepted the reality of my loved one’s mental illness, but I am saddened when I think that they may not be able to hold a steady job or start a family. How can I overcome this sadness?

People who suffer from a mental health disorder, like those living with a chronic physical illness, need to find meaning in their lives. They must come to terms with unfulfilled expectations and a life different from the one they had imagined. It is important to verify if they really are sad or if this is your interpretation of their emotions. Often, two people who witness the same event will give very different accounts of it. The same phenomenon happens when you examine someone else’s life. You see things you would consider unacceptable in your life, whereas the other person may find them to be enriching.

It is not uncommon for someone who has been on a roller coaster for years to recover enough to hold a steady job and start a family.