You have a gut feeling that something is not right. You’re asking a bunch of questions, but it seems that your child is NOT opening up. I would like to share with you 3 Tips for Parenting a Teenager with Depression.
What can a parent do?
No matter the age. Whether you have a 12-year-old or a 22-year-old. The same principles apply. I’m not saying it will be easy; there will be days that you feel wrung out like a towel.
I remember the dreaded phone call from the school. Telling me that my son was caught buying THC (marijuana) on school grounds. WHAT! How could that be? Why my child? At that moment, emotions stir up, and anger seems to win without realizing that this was just the beginning of his cry for help.
Seek help and more help, did I mention, ask for help?
I suggest this because depression makes a person feel lonely and your child will most likely not reach out on his own. There is a link between the feeling of loneliness and isolation. Getting everybody involved in your child’s life is essential. Make necessary calls to the family doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, school counselor, and reach out to friends.
Take this opportunity to get a second opinion, if necessary, sometimes depression can be situational or seasonal and may resolve with talk therapies. I’ve seen doctors jump in and prescribe antidepressants without giving much thought to the root of the problem.
We are social creatures. Much of our teen depression is associated with the increase in social media and less face-to-face interactions.
Physical Wellness
The positive aspect of social media is that you can find everything related to fitness. If your child is not already active, I encourage you to engage a more active lifestyle at home. Physical activity is one of the healthy coping mechanisms we can teach them to manage depression and anxiety. Plus there are tons of research on the link between exercise and happiness. Your child may not have any desire or motivation at first, but they will come around to liking it.
Physical wellness is not complete without proper nutrition. Take a hard look at the food pantry. What type of food is available at home, and what does your child eat daily? Could it be that they are eating mostly sugary or processed food?
Our bodies need essential vitamins and nutrients from natural sources to function correctly, and it is possible to reduce depression and anxiety with healthy food choices. And to make matters worse, it doesn’t help that the standard American diet is making us all sick.
Stand in the Gap
Let your child know YOU care. Carve out time each day to have meaningful conversations with them. I have found that on days when I feel most tired, that is when my son opens up but I enjoy those precious moments.
When you are listening try not to pass judgment, don’t blame, don’t give advice (unless they say it’s ok). Let them share what is in their hearts at that moment. You may learn something new about them!
Stay committed to the well-being of your precious child. Pray, fast, whatever is necessary, but most importantly, DO NOT worry.
“A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad heart makes it hard to get through the day.”
Proverbs 15:13 (MSG)
Dear Momma, don’t ever feel like you are in this alone. If your family is experiencing depression, remember that God loves our children more than we do, A LOT MORE! We can trust God with all of the hardships. Dont lose hope and stay encouraged.
I am here for you, too! Feel free to send me your prayer request, I’d love to pray for your family. If you try any of these 3 Tips for Parenting a Teenager with Depression please let me know how they worked for you.
♥ Blessings!
