What do you say?

How do you act around someone who is just home from a mental health hospitalization?

I just loved this?Ask Amy column?with a question from a sweet grandma about how to support her granddaughter, who was coming out of eating disorder treatment. I think this is SUCH a good topic to think about, because what WE might want to do for a person we care about might not be what they?need. As Amy says, people newly in recovery from a mental health crisis really, really don't want to be the center of attention, nor do they want to be fielding lots of questions about their illness.?

It goes back to presence. Don't feel like you need to have everything figured out, or have the perfect words for the situation. Just be present. Tell them you've missed them, or that you are so glad to see them, but treat them as normally as you can.?

Remember too, that recovery is a process that takes place over a long time, and coming home from a psych stay or a residential treatment program doesn't mean they're all better, there is probably a long road ahead still.?

Give them the same space and grace you'd give someone recovering from any other health crisis. They may need more rest, they may not be as involved with things, they may have to temporarily reduce time commitments.?

Most importantly, remember that what they most need from you is LOVE. You can do that!

Hope your week is peaceful!

Tara