Desperate - Need Advice For My Sister
My sister had a double preventive mastectomy at least 2 years ago. She was told the horror stories of husbands leaving/no longer being attracted to their spouses and relationships changing but for the sake of her marriage and children, she went through with the surgery (as I would hope most women would do). During her recovery process and after she caught her husband talking to other women (all of which were in perfect shape and had large breasts). From then on I believe her confidence started fading. She went through complications with the reconstructive process and ending up having 7 surgeries and was left physically and emotionally scarred without breasts. Her husband was barely there for her during all her pain and never reassured her of her beauty inside AND out. Ever.
About a month ago her husband asked for a divorce. (We all believe he never deserved her anyway). Well, she is absolutely devastated after 16 years with this man. Unfortunately, she blames the surgery for part of her failed marriage and has said multiple times she wishes she hadn't gone through with it and would rather have taken the chances with cancer. If you try to tell her that she did the right thing for her family, then she goes on to say that she'll never find any man to love her - because what man wants a woman with no breasts she says; she'll never feel comfortable sexually with someone; she will never see herself as beautiful; etc. She has even gone to say she no longer wants to live because her life will be miserable because she will be alone forever because what man would want her. I thought maybe it was initial hurt, but these comments, thoughts and feelings have continued for weeks with her.
I've tried telling her that she isn't the only woman out there who's ever had a mastectomy and gotten a divorce, I tried explaining that women and men who've been scarred, lost arms, legs, or who are or have been disfigured, do and can find love. She refuses to accept that. I've begged and pleaded for her to try and be grateful for what she does have - her life, her children, a house, etc. but for her not having boobs has completely changed the strong woman she once was. Her counselor even went on to say that with her permission she'd explain to us why she can never move on from him because of her mastectomy (some counselor she is, absolutely ridiculous to hear coming from someone who is supposed to help people through hard times, not hold them back).
Please someone help me, I've run out of things to say to my sister to try and make her feel better or have her open up her eyes and see that life COULD be worse. She just says I don't understand - which I get it, I have my 2 boobs and I'm not getting a divorce, but I've read so many happy-ending stories that I believe that good things can come from bad situations. She believes she is alone in this world. I have no idea what to do anymore. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you all so much!
Comments
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You can't convince your sister not to feel the way she feels right now. You can support her as she goes through grieving her marriage, and her breasts, and the life she knew, and let her feel the way she feels and talk about it if she wants to. Right now she may not be able to hear happy-ending stories; they are so different from hers--and happy-ending stories are easier to see/tell retrospectively, so they tend to be things we see looking back, not looking forward. Hang in there with her, and let her be where she is. Don't push feeling better or how life could be worse; she has to get there on her own, in her way. It's hard to see her hurting, I know, but you can't fix it for her.
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I agree somewhat and I guess I'm not trying to convince her to be happy right now but I just want to convince her that life is worth living and when she is talking about her "not being around" or wanting to kill herself.. I can't go along with that, nor do I agree with that ever being the answer when you have children. I also don't tell her the stories I read, I just simply use them as an example when she tries to say she's the only one going through it or that she can't survive this.
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If she's talking about killing herself that's definitely different--I apologize for missing that! You might see if she'd be willing to talk to her physician about wanting to kill herself. You can also tell her counselor (she will likely not be able to tell you anything, but she can listen to what you have to say), or take her to the emergency department of your local hospital. Check in your area for local mental health centers; many have staff on call 24/7 for just this kind of emergency. There is also a 24-hour number she can call (if she's willing)--1-800-273-TALK (8255).
I am so sorry you and your sister are dealing with this.
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Thank you for your advice. I appreciate having someone to talk to! She makes these comments then continues talking to me and then talks about the future and how awful it will be. It seems that she is saying these things out of hurt.
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