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Friend has Poor Health
A friend of mine, R, has very poor health. She does not sweat, is very thin, and her hair does not have the normal luster. She eats as far as I can see, but wears a size 0 despite her medium-sized frame. She almost never comes to school for the full week, missing so much. She gets mono, the flu, and frequently stays home for things like a sore neck or fatigue. I asked her if she gets shots and she said no. (Apparently because her mother has gotten the flu a week after the immunization.) Her mother lets her stay home for any number of reasons despite her abscence during long-term sicknesses. (She confided in me that her mother was on marijuana.) We come from a small, docile town with farms and "Village Centers" so it's not like we're in the ghetto. I want her to be healthy, but she is stubborn to admit that anything is wrong with her, especially her ADD, which is obvious she has, though denies it at every accuse. She eats junk food and almost no vegetables or fruits, even when we offer them to her. She spends her extra time playing Sims, experimenting with clothes and makeup, and will not try to study. I really want her to be healthy and have a decent education, but she seems like she's not trying. It's really taking a toll on me because she thinks that she is smart and gets angry when not put on Honor Roll or AP classes, even though she refuses to pay attention, study, or do homework. What should I do? I feel like I need to support her, but she thinks that she does not have anything that she needs support with.
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Maybe give some free advice about: Health?
Unfortunately, your friend will not get any better until she decides to for herself. Nothing you say or do will change her mind and that is not really your problem to deal with. I know you will say that as a good friend you should help, but you can only do that if she asks.
The best advice I can give is you should confide in someone at your school, ie Educational Welfare Officer, Head of Year or your Form Teacher. They will then be able to investigate her home life and make any decisions based upon their findings. The school will obviously have any records of absence and failures in her school work and they are the ones to take this further.
Keep on trying to support her, but if you are rejected please don't take it too personally.
All the best.
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