Hello Tobby and everybody ,

May I share the information we discuss on this list with people that help me
that are NOT on this list?

Kathy




----- Original Message -----
From: Toddy <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 10, 1999 5:09 PM
Subject: Re: Depression and disability


> >
>
>   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
>