Worried
asks:
Q:
Could My Daughter Be Depressed?
I have noticed a series of scars on my twelve-year-old daughter's left wrist. She seems fine some of the time, but I have also noticed her feeling sad or angry. She had not withdrawn from her normal activities, but some of her grades have been slipping, something I had attributed to laziness. She says that she is a nervous test-taker, and sometimes has panic attacks during tests, but I thought she was doing better. She sleeps a lot during the day, but she stays up late at night, no matter how hard I try to stop her from doing so. I suffered from depression when I was younger, could my daughter be depressed even though she doesn't show most signs, only a few? And is she cutting herself, even though that is unlike her? I asked her about them, but she denied hurting herself, saying that the dog scratched her. What should I do? I'm worried.
In Topics:
Depression, Cutting
> 60 days ago
Additional Answers (5)
I'm sorry to hear about your daughter. I'm glad you are concerned for her emotional and physical well being. I'm including some articles on teens and depression. I hope you can maybe learn some facts and symptoms of depression to help determine a course of action for your daughter.
http://www.education.com/reference/article/teens-depression/
http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Cutting/
I hope these help!
Rachna
http://www.education.com/reference/article/teens-depression/
http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Cutting/
I hope these help!
Rachna
> 60 days ago
Hi all,
First off, I would like to thank everyone who offered me their opinions. You have all been very helpful, and I wanted to let you know that my daughter has now agreed to seeing a therapist. Her decision to willingly see a doctor and admit that she needs help makes me feel so much better. For now, at least, she has stopped cutting, and I hope that she never cuts herself again. I feel terrible that I had not noticed it sooner, but I now truly believe that she will be getting the help she requires. Thank you all!
Still Worried, But Feeling Better
First off, I would like to thank everyone who offered me their opinions. You have all been very helpful, and I wanted to let you know that my daughter has now agreed to seeing a therapist. Her decision to willingly see a doctor and admit that she needs help makes me feel so much better. For now, at least, she has stopped cutting, and I hope that she never cuts herself again. I feel terrible that I had not noticed it sooner, but I now truly believe that she will be getting the help she requires. Thank you all!
Still Worried, But Feeling Better
> 60 days ago
Your daughter sounds very much like myself when I was a teen. I was depressed and have anxiety and panic attacks. I would try and get her some help. Talk to her about it first and let her know you're just worried about her. I wish I had had parents who cared as much as you to notice, I think my adolescence would have gone alot smoother. I applaud you for noticing the signs. As far as the cutting, only a professional may know for sure.
> 60 days ago
The first thing I would do is realize that sadness is a normal human emotion. A lot of times when we see our children sad, we feel guilty as parents and try to compensate for it. The best thing to do is talk about our feelings if the time is right and accept that some days will be good and others not so good. Your child is in her pre-teen years which poses unique challenges of its own. So if she is emotional, then understand it is a normal part of growing up until it DOES interfere with normal daily activities. Depression and anxiety issues kind of go hand in hand. You mentioned anxiety. I had anxiety when I was a child and at the time, my parents did not think anything about it. However, there are many choices for parents today. Just educate yourself on these options. Some are medications to counseling sessions to help her deal with the anxiety. Also, remember that abnormal anxiety will produce "panic attacks". The victim of a panic attack can't control the symptoms. And often it is a living nightmare for the anxiety sufferer. I would explore the actual symptoms that come on before a test. Anxiety can make a child's grades fall as well. Check out the link below for more information. Good Luck!
> 60 days ago
It's hard to suggest by few points that you describe in your question and can be judge that she is having depression. I think you would be more satisfied if you take time and visit a Psychologist/Psychiatrist. May be the signs you observe of her are more clarified after the visitation. I want to quote few lines from a site, " Teen depression is also hard to diagnose and early intervention is key. Adolescence is typically described as a journey of self-discovery, immense challenge and change, growth characterized by many physical, emotional, psychological and social changes during this stage of life."
Teens also don't want to disclose everything to their parents, so try spending quality time with your daughter and involve with her in the activities she like the most. This way, you would be able to gain her trust and she would open few things to you that are helpful to evaluate her condition.
My best wishes for her health...
Teens also don't want to disclose everything to their parents, so try spending quality time with your daughter and involve with her in the activities she like the most. This way, you would be able to gain her trust and she would open few things to you that are helpful to evaluate her condition.
My best wishes for her health...
> 60 days ago
