Toddy, Very thoughtful and to me, it does tie the two threads together. I lecture on the grieving process all the time, but I have not applied to myself. The fact of cycling through numerous times is interesting. Never thought about it. Bobby >> > > Re: Depression and disability > >Hello everyone. >I have been reading the recent posts with great interest. Hope it’s not >too late >for me to >add my 2 cents. A while back there was a thread regarding adults with CP and >parents of >children with CP. I wanted to jump in but was too chicken. Maybe I can >tie the >two >together. > >Are any of you familiar with the grieving progress? As I understand it >when we >experience loss we go through a grieving process. The stages are Denial & >Isolation, >Anger, Bargaining, Depression and finally Acceptance. When a child is >disabled, >the >parent goes through the grieving process. Later the PWD will go through the >process, >probably several times at various ages. It is possible for a person be >get stuck >for years or >for a lifetime in any one of the stages. > >As an advocate for the disabled and as a special ed. paraprofessional I >have come >across >PWDs and parents in all stages. And it’s not a one time deal, we cycle >through >again and >again. It can be briefly. You catch a glimpse of your reflection and >think “that >can’t be >me”. A major change or loss can send you through the cycle again Big >Time. It >can take >months or even years. > >This group has made me realize how very fortunate I have been. I grew up in a >loving >and accepting family. My parents and grandparents did some remarkable >things for >me >when I was little. I’ll save that for another time. > >I had a bout with depression when I hit fifty-something and noticed a decided >physical >change. Was getting slower, stiffer and feeling worn out. I was >convinced it was > >somehow related to aging CP but I could find little or no information. On the >bright side, >I found this group. > >Toddy