Loooonnnnnnngggggg Sigh....

April 23, 2003

Sorry to be so uncommunicative lately...seems like there is just one

thing after another these days.

Today's saga stars Elaine. (Don't worry, this eventually becomes

autism-related...) She had a physical last week, and is now

officially, *medically* underweight. At 5 ft. 1 1/2 in., she weighs

a mere 83 lbs...and thinks she is fat. Jeekers.

She has symptoms of depression, anorexia, and being a teenager...none

of which is good, apparently, and most of which relates either to

having as a brother (see?) or to being a ballet

dancer...double whammy. The doctor put her on a calcium supplement,

recommended a nutritional consultation, and a phone call to the

psychologist to discuss counseling.

Just got off the phone with the psychologist who has been unfortunate

enough to have followed our woes since was 3, and we had a

nice, long chat. We decided on a plan of action that includes

allowing Elaine to use some of her school time to research and

construct a healthy eating plan, and then graphing/reporting on it.

We will look for creative ways to give her time alone to talk to me

(there's lots of loose time around, as you can imagine...), and will

start working on positive self-talk, etc. If she isn't doing any

better by mid-summer, she gets to start counseling---but we will aim

it at depression/coping rather than eating disorder, as that is not a

good label for her to have.

One of the things that came out in our conversation is that in our

family, it's very easy to feel a need to identify oneself by what

your " problem " is...and now she has hers. Rats.

If any of you know of a good website that discusses appropriate

nutrition for teens and/or natural remedies for depression (I don't

really want to drug yet another kid, ya know?), I'd sure love to have

the address(es).

Raena (who should really stop whining soon, huh?)

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