How do you help someone who has been traumatized and become lost? Suffering from insomnia, obesity, other illnesses, and has lost all hope. She does not see that her life can become better or that she will ever heal. Where do you start? This is what has happened to my cousin.

As her cousin all I can do is offer my support, listen, love her and let her know that she is wanted, that her life does have meaning and purpose. As a health and wellness student the only thing I know to do is to try to talk to her, cry with her, lend a shoulder and try to share the information I have gained with her. Trying to motivate her doesn't seem to work as she is not ready in her heart or soul to move forward. I really believe that until a person is ready to move forward or change nothing that is said or done will help.

She has made me question whether I am truly able to connect or help others if I have not experienced the things they have. My answer is yes, I can. My life experiences may not be the same but there may be similarities for I have experienced being lost, sick in the the body, mind and spirit. It is one of life's paths that is hard to move out of but can be done.

I heard someone say something during an interview the other day on Sirius Doctor Radio that has stuck with me, the geist of the conversation was; When someone has been traumatized and has suffered they are changed. When they can accept those changes the progress to heal starts. The past can not be changed and you can't worry about the future, all we can do is live in the here and now. The here and now will help take care of the future. This came from a woman who had been raped and left to die. This to me made alot of sense.