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