Wow. Never expected to see such a conversation here.... and am thankful for it. I'm not one to share (that much), but many of the comments here hit close to home as well. We've had significant challenges dealing with anxiety, emotions, other mental health challenges, 2 steps forward then 5 backwards then 7 forward rollercoaster, many therapists, medical f-ups (how do they lose test results? referrals? samples? followups? etc) , medical mis-direction, medical pride/ego affecting decision making/effectiveness, etc...
For helping...
Biggest things are "being there"... but not smothering or excessively.
Don't judge.
Expressing genuine interest in their interests, and even attempting/trying, even if you suck or make a fool of yourself
Asking if they're ok to have an engagement - ie talking, hug or hand shake, being silently present
Giving them time and space as well, but also gentle guidance
Acknowledging that sometimes life sucks @$$
Realizing that THEIR path is harder than your own perhaps, and can teach you lessons on resilience, persistence, trust, etc... Sometimes their bravery is asking for help.
Also, and I cannot understate this enough, but DIET makes a massive difference... that includes both what you/they put into their body as well as what their mind is exposed to. A family member worked in natural health for several years and it was amazing to hear the stories of how many kids/adults turned around once they identified and removed specific allergens/sensitivities from their body/environment. For those who have never experienced this please don't doubt it. Just like excess alcohol affects you, so does XYZ affect some people. Of course diet changes are one of the hardest things when 99% of people just want a magic pill.
Anyways, some very complex issues going on everywhere it seems.
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