Do you have a child who is frequently depressed? Do you have a youngster who is frequently sad and depressed? This article gives suggestions for dealing with, reducing, and even eliminating depression for parents, other family members, and children.
I recall numerous times in my youth when I was quite miserable and depressed. I was the type of person who would allow parts of my life get the best of me, causing my sleep habits to suffer. Growing up, from childhood to adolescence to maturity, seemed to me to be one huge choir and struggle. I was always comparing my life to my brother's, sister's, and friends'. Their lives appeared to be so much easier than mine, which made me envious of them.
One of my flaws, in retrospect, was that I was unwilling to express my worries and fears with my parents, preferring instead to keep them bottled up inside of me. Of course, this meant that I had to deal with each and every difficulty (trouble) on my own, with no outside assistance or advice. I wish I had been more open with my family because I believe it would have made my life so much better.
I now have a child of my own and am constantly on the lookout for her. I try to gauge how she is coping with life, and if I sense that she is having a bad day or mood, I try to figure out what is causing it by talking to her. She isn't always eager to talk about these topics, but I make sure she understands that I will be there for her when she is ready. I tell her about my own childhood and the mistakes I believe I made by keeping my own problems hidden.
I want my children to understand that they may talk to me about anything and that I would listen to them rather than condemn them. Life in general, and school in particular, may be challenging at times, with issues such as bullying affecting many youngsters. Exams add to the pressure, as does attempting to establish oneself within a circle of friends. Many youngsters find changing schools and going through all of the bodily changes to be rather distressing.
We aim to make our children's home lives as pleasurable and relaxing as possible as a family. This involves many family outings and, if finances permit, a summer family vacation.
My recommendation to any parent who has a child that is unhappy or depressed on a regular basis is to be patient with them throughout these times. I would try to get them to talk about what is making them feel this way, as I have already indicated, and if they do not want to talk, I would let them know that I am there for a discussion or whatever they need.
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