Hidden Losses

We all must cope with various losses over the span of a lifetime. Some are relatively minor while some are life-changing, but always grieving properly is a primordial need.

When someone passes away, relatives get support from those around while social rituals facilitate the mourning process. But how to cope when the loss is on-going and doesn’t result in a funeral and in tears shared with family and friends? Yet, such a loss can be as devastating as the death of a dear one.

A friend is undergoing such a loss after her son was diagnosed with a serious mental disorder. The family unit has been shaken to its very foundation, and she and her family are having trouble coping. They can`t mourn publicly and they are not receiving social support because so many people feel somewhat awkward discussing mental illness so they simply avoid the subject totally.

Meanwhile the family is suffering the full impact of the many stages of the losses in their lives, from facing the pain of seeing their child suffer to their own pain of a diminished future. It`s a heavy burden.

Whatever the time of year, we should all see the importance of discussing mental problems. It`s more than time for all of us to let go of old prejudices and acknowledge that mental disorders are no more shameful than physical ones. Simply different. We all rally around those suffering through medical procedures and treatments, so why not do the same for families facing diseases of the mind?