Presentation of counseling regarding truth?

The biggest red flag I saw was that she suffers from depression. First and foremost, before she can get her weight under control, she must get her depression under control.

Clinical depression is a real and serious medical condition. It cannot be "thought" or "prayed" away. It must be disagnosed and dealt with like any other medical condition, and she will likely have to adhere to a strict regimen of treatment her entire life.

The other things you mentioned, most notably her overall health and weight, are common aftereffects of depression. She must first combat her depression, and then she will have the strength to combat her weight issue. This can take years and years, but you've got to start somewhere. But unfortunately, combating the weight issue sans the depression issue will result in failure in the weight area.

 

Benjamin,

Start walking with her each morning. You will both be heathier, and you will give the attention she needs ...

 

I think Johnv and El Guero said it very well.

Can I speak to the other part of your post? From a lady's point of view? Regarding pointing out problem areas, you have to have the relationship there in order to do that. You mentioned going into someone's house and after complimenting the design of the house you'd mention a crooked wall. While honesty is a good thing, COMPLETE unequivocal honesty is not always necessary. You can compliment someone's nice new windows without pointing out the flaking paint or the fact that the floor isn't totally straight, without it being lying. And to point out someone's flaws is never something they want. If you can, it is always better to overlook the shortcomings of someone's house or yard, or even their personality.....unless they ask.

However, she's your sister, she knows you love her, and you are willing to be there for her. With your sister you have the kind of relationship that I think you can be this honest with her. Id do what Johnv said, and help her get some medical help for depression. And the walking is an excellent idea, too.

 

Would i do something that might make someone never speak to me again and hurt them? If it would save their life, yes. Tough love is harder to give in many cases. But as John said this depression thing must addressed.

 

My mother used to say the only justifiable criticism is constructive.

Your sister probably knows she is over weight. She probably knows it is killing her. She probably has tried to solve the problem. She probably feels over whelmed by it.

So, having her brother talk to her like she doesn't know these things, probably just increases her sense of failure, lowers her self-esteem and makes her depression worse, which then creates a greater obesity issue.

As to the crooked walls. There is a difference in honesty and in rudeness. Unless you are saying, "I noticed that the wall seems to lean, I can help you fix that," you should keep your thoughts to yourself.

 

I think it's near impossible to counsel a family member. You can be her friend and be moral support, but she needs a more objective person to counsel her.

 

Marcia,

That is a good point. It is actually against the ethic codes to try to serve as counselor to relatives if you are a professional psychologist.

 

Benjamin:

I sympathize with your concerns for your sister. I have had personal experience with both an eating disorder and depression. I would suggest several things:

She should see an internist who is knowledgable about weight/food issues. He should be able to recommend a good dietician who can help her with a food plan. If she is not seeing a professional about her depression, she needs to do so. It would be helpful if the internist, dietician and counselor could work as a team in addressing her problems.

I suffered with an eating disorder and depression from the time I was 20 years old until I was 32 years old. The above approach worked wonders for me. It was hard work, but my internist, dietician, and a wonderful psychologist helped me recover. It was also helpful for me to join a support group with others who were going through the same experience. I have not had a recurrance of depression or food issues for 15 years.

I pray that your sister will find help. Depression and food issues do not have to ruin a person's life.

God Bless!

PA

 

This may be a hurdle that she needs to overcome. Most often, clinical depression is a chemical imbalance, and the taking of medications to correct that imbalance may well be the only or most effective method of treating her illness. Believe me, I'm not in favor of popping a pill at the first sign of trouble, but I'm in favor of doing so when it is necessary. In the case of clinical depression, it is often necessary. Whatever treatment is required, it is imperitive that she seek continuous and regular treatment under the care of a physician. No one should decide how to treat themselves. There's an old saying: He who treats himself has a fool for a patient. As one who is often guilty of this, I can tell you it's very true.

 

Has she checked out naturopathic medicine? While some extreme ones are a little cuckcoo, there are many legitimate naturopaths who have studied things like herbal or eastern (ie chinese) medicines that are generally more "natural" and have historically worked as alternatives to western medicine in some cases. Although naturopathic medicine also comes with its problems too of lack of good regulatory bodies.

 

I do not want to be cruel, but could depression be the excuse to do nothing to improve her health?

In what way does she benefit from all these health/medical problems?
Does she need for her ailments to get loving attention?

 

I wouldn't automatically assume this is the case. As Johnv mentioned, obesity is often a symptom of depression and not necessarily a cause. Something to keep in mind.

 

If this is a case of clinical depression, it is a serious and controlling condition that can and often does impede a person's well-being in other areas. If it's a case of a person simply feeling depressed, as we all do from time to time, you may ahve a point. But this doesn't appear to the be the case here. I knew one specific person who had exactly the kind of depression described here. It was a serious clinical depression that required medication (sometimes it cd does, and sometimes it doesn't). Once this woman got her depression under control, she became more active and outgoing, and eventually became a member of the same gym that I was a member of. She eventually went on to go from a size 22 to a size 12.

 

Does she take drugs for her Diabetes? What about the heart problem? If so, she's not on a "naturalist" path already. Medication for depression is no different.