It is one of the hardest things to combat! and an extremely difficult thing to witness. Some say to imagine the person as they might have been when young to try and fight your feelings of helplessness. The hardest though is knowing that there isn't much you can do. The only glimmer of hope is that the kindness and compassion that you show in that small bit of time penetrates through her barrier and can set her slowly on to the road of recovery.