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It is difficult working with many people with mental illness. I have found that not only do many of the people I work with have the "primary diagnosis" they are dealing with but a whole host of other problems as well (ie. substance abuse, housing issues, financial difficulties, family losses, lack of support network, history of mental/physical/sexual abuse, etc.). It is really hard as well when people cannot control symptoms of their mental illness and/or personality disorder and it can be really difficult to make any real impact for the positive in their lives. For example, I work with many delusional clients who have set beliefs in different things. No matter what, I am not going to be able to change their mind about their belief. It's like saying to me that I never went to Social Work school and I am not a Social Worker. Then you have the whole stigma issue thrown in, as well. A lot of times it comes down to just working by a harm reduction model with some of these clients. With the physical stuff, it is hard too because many people suffer from psychosomatic illnesses which are not really real but they think they are real but how do I tell someone they are not really suffering pain when they feel they are?
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