with my son-in-law last night!!
Seems there were some interesting developments at the hospital yesterday..
First of all, he and my DD had a very LONG conversation - he asked LOTS of questions - and was really, really trying to understand what her depression is all about.. The best part is that he wasn't just "faking" interest or "patronizing" her - he was SINCERELY trying to get a grasp of the whole situation..
Secondly, he inadvertently "interacted" with some of the other patients and that seemed to be a real eye-opener for him..
You see - they're big on "art therapy" over there.. They have hundreds and hundreds of sheets of paper with various pictures and designs printed out on them and they encourage the patients to color them whenever they're feeling bored, stressed, lonely, etc.. (I know that sounds funny - a bunch of adults "coloring", but from what I understand it's helpful for them to make decisions - such as which picture; what colors to use; etc. - it gives them something to "focus" on - staying in the lines and such - and it's also an "accomplishment" to be proud of when they're finished.. Also, by looking at the colors that have been chosen it gives the therapists an idea of how a patient is feeling..)
Unfortunatley - as in most hospitals and such - they have a limited supply of art materials on hand (limited choice of colored markers, etc.) so my DD asked her DH if he would bring some markers in.. Well - he went out and got a package of like 95 markers and when the other patients saw them they got all excited and wanted to know if they were my DD's.. She said yes -they were - but anyone was free to join her at the table and use them..
So - about 6 other patients came over to the table, introduced themselves to my son-in-law and they all began to color (SIL included).. As time went on, they began to talk to my son-in-law and tell him a bit about their lives and why they were there (the majority suffering from severe depression like my DD).. They were of all ages - all walks of life - and that's when it hit my son-in-law that these people were normal.. They were not "crazy" - and they were not "weak".. He talked to many of them at great length and is really beginning to understand what depression is!!
Now get this.. He is an engineer, architect, and project estimator for a multi-million dollar commercial construction firm.. In his spare time at home he designs these huge house plans - one of which he will eventually build for my DD.. He has TONS of these drawings because he's always making revisions.. So last night he told me that he was going to take all of the drawings that he's decided against using and bring them in so the patients can have something different to color!!!!!!!
I am amazed! Not only is he interacting with the other patients, but he is showing compassion and interest in spending time with them and learning how people reach a point such as this in their lives!!!
Keep those prayers coming and keep dumping that PD on him - I think it's working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seems there were some interesting developments at the hospital yesterday..
First of all, he and my DD had a very LONG conversation - he asked LOTS of questions - and was really, really trying to understand what her depression is all about.. The best part is that he wasn't just "faking" interest or "patronizing" her - he was SINCERELY trying to get a grasp of the whole situation..
Secondly, he inadvertently "interacted" with some of the other patients and that seemed to be a real eye-opener for him..
You see - they're big on "art therapy" over there.. They have hundreds and hundreds of sheets of paper with various pictures and designs printed out on them and they encourage the patients to color them whenever they're feeling bored, stressed, lonely, etc.. (I know that sounds funny - a bunch of adults "coloring", but from what I understand it's helpful for them to make decisions - such as which picture; what colors to use; etc. - it gives them something to "focus" on - staying in the lines and such - and it's also an "accomplishment" to be proud of when they're finished.. Also, by looking at the colors that have been chosen it gives the therapists an idea of how a patient is feeling..)
Unfortunatley - as in most hospitals and such - they have a limited supply of art materials on hand (limited choice of colored markers, etc.) so my DD asked her DH if he would bring some markers in.. Well - he went out and got a package of like 95 markers and when the other patients saw them they got all excited and wanted to know if they were my DD's.. She said yes -they were - but anyone was free to join her at the table and use them..
So - about 6 other patients came over to the table, introduced themselves to my son-in-law and they all began to color (SIL included).. As time went on, they began to talk to my son-in-law and tell him a bit about their lives and why they were there (the majority suffering from severe depression like my DD).. They were of all ages - all walks of life - and that's when it hit my son-in-law that these people were normal.. They were not "crazy" - and they were not "weak".. He talked to many of them at great length and is really beginning to understand what depression is!!
Now get this.. He is an engineer, architect, and project estimator for a multi-million dollar commercial construction firm.. In his spare time at home he designs these huge house plans - one of which he will eventually build for my DD.. He has TONS of these drawings because he's always making revisions.. So last night he told me that he was going to take all of the drawings that he's decided against using and bring them in so the patients can have something different to color!!!!!!!
I am amazed! Not only is he interacting with the other patients, but he is showing compassion and interest in spending time with them and learning how people reach a point such as this in their lives!!!
Keep those prayers coming and keep dumping that PD on him - I think it's working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
