The Bledsoe Firm - February 2022

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MY SPOUSE’S FAMILY HAS A HISTORY OF MENTAL ILLNESS S hould I B e C oncerned ? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 50% of Americans will be diagnosed with some sort of mental illness in their lifetime. Many don’t realize that mental illness also has a genetic component. This means it’s fairly common that your spouse could have a mental illness and/or come from a family with a history of mental illness. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t worry about what could happen. Instead, learn how to live life as normally as possible and cope with any challenges that may arise. Just because someone comes from a family with mental health problems, it doesn’t mean they will also be affected. But if you sense they are and you’re worried about it, take some time to talk to them in a non-judgmental way about what you have noticed. See how they feel and whether they want to seek help before things get worse. If you’re having problems with your spouse’s family, it’s okay to set boundaries. Be open and honest with your communication. Let your spouse know you love and accept their family, but you need to be careful to manage your own feelings, too. Because your spouse’s family is also your family, try and understand them. Learn about their illness and find ways to be an ally for them. Discover where they’re coming from and what they’re experiencing so you don’t have any ill will between you. However, don’t overexert yourself trying to manage the situation. If they aren’t making an effort to get help or make you more comfortable, you will have to draw a line. Their mental illness does not excuse them from being rude or disrespectful toward you. Talk with your spouse about it since they have been dealing with their family for their entire lives. Perhaps they can teach you their coping mechanisms and how to handle difficult situations. Ultimately, you have to look out for yourself. If your spouse and/or their family are making life difficult for you and you haven’t been able to find a way forward, reach out to our office. We specialize in helping clients who have family mental illness issues complicating divorce and family law matters.

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CHICKEN AND LEEK FILO PIE

Inspired by GoodHousekeeping.com

INGREDIENTS

3 oz unsalted butter, divided

3 tbsp heavy cream

2 large leeks, finely sliced

12 oz cooked chicken, cut into chunks

2 large carrots, finely chopped

2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

1 tbsp flour

12 sheets frozen filo pastry, thawed

14 oz chicken stock, warmed

2 tsp Dijon mustard

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In a pan over low heat, melt 1 oz butter. 3. Add leeks and carrots and cook for 15 minutes, until softened but not colored. 4. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. 5. Gradually add chicken

cooked chicken and parsley. Transfer to a large ovenproof dish. 7. In a pan, melt remaining butter. 8. Put a single filo sheet on a board and brush with melted butter. Scrunch up pastry sheet and place on top of chicken mixture. Continue until pie is covered.

stock, stirring until sauce is smooth, then let simmer for 10 minutes.

9. Bake for 20–25 minutes,

6. Stir in mustard and

until the filo is golden and chicken mixture is bubbling.

heavy cream, then add

3

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