I'm sorry for the delay in replying to your last post, but I just saw it today.
I understand your feelings and I've battle them myself. Losing a child, even an adult child, has got to be one of the hardest events anyone can experience in life because it seems to be so out of the natural sequence of the way life 'should' go.
That pain is only compounded by the 'what if's' and 'if onlys' which parents battle post the loss of a loved one--and these parents are from many different circumstances, not just eating disorders. Right now, an aunt I have is battling the loss of her son to juvenile diabetes and the many 'if only's' that have come with his death. So, eating disorders don't have a monopoly on this painful experience.
But, I do think that the way ED's have been treated in the past often compounds a family's grief and guilt and this is terribly wrong. There is still a lot we don't know about these illnesses...why some young people get better with minimal to no treatment (as my sister did), why some don't and what the most effective treatment is at different points in the illness (especially at more chronic stages).
You are courageous, Mary. This illness has been one of shame and guilt for families. Many of us are still concerned to use our real names (partly out of privacy for our ill loved ones, but partly for self protection too...at least speaking for myself). Your willingness to say who you are and what happened to your family is indeed courageous. Channeling this into information for others that may result in helpful, supportive, hopefully positive outcomes is indeed a valuable gift to other families.
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Hi again Mary,
I'm sorry for the delay in replying to your last post, but I just saw it today.
I understand your feelings and I've battle them myself. Losing a child, even an adult child, has got to be one of the hardest events anyone can experience in life because it seems to be so out of the natural sequence of the way life 'should' go.
That pain is only compounded by the 'what if's' and 'if onlys' which parents battle post the loss of a loved one--and these parents are from many different circumstances, not just eating disorders. Right now, an aunt I have is battling the loss of her son to juvenile diabetes and the many 'if only's' that have come with his death. So, eating disorders don't have a monopoly on this painful experience.
But, I do think that the way ED's have been treated in the past often compounds a family's grief and guilt and this is terribly wrong. There is still a lot we don't know about these illnesses...why some young people get better with minimal to no treatment (as my sister did), why some don't and what the most effective treatment is at different points in the illness (especially at more chronic stages).
You are courageous, Mary. This illness has been one of shame and guilt for families. Many of us are still concerned to use our real names (partly out of privacy for our ill loved ones, but partly for self protection too...at least speaking for myself). Your willingness to say who you are and what happened to your family is indeed courageous. Channeling this into information for others that may result in helpful, supportive, hopefully positive outcomes is indeed a valuable gift to other families.
Thank you.
anne
December 28, 2009 - 1:16pmThis Comment
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