What Should A Parent Who Is Depressed Do?

• Talk about the illness and its effect on your family. Just having a name for the problem can be very helpful to some families.
• Pay extra attention to adolescent emotional development and your teenager's need for stronger connections to peers and increasing autonomy from your family.
• Don't assume that because your child says nothing, he doesn't have concerns.
• Help children learn self-soothing strategies when upset (especially if your child was young when his parent was depressed), and model non-depressed ways of coping. Relaxation techniques, writing down your feelings, taking a bath, going for a walk, listening to (or playing) a favorite piece of music, spending time with a pet, or working on a favorite hobby or artistic pursuit can all be helpful in soothing yourself.
• Take care of yourself. Avoiding relapse is the most therapeutic thing you can do for your family. Involve yourself in activities, as recommended for your teen, and maintain mental health follow-up if necessary.
• Be honest with your family about how you feel, but emphasize what you are doing to overcome depression. This will reduce the chances that your children will worry about you.
• Resist the temptation to use a child or teen as a confidante. Youngsters have enough to do dealing with their own problems; they don't need to be burdened with yours.
• Talk to your spouse or a trusted friend. He or she may be able to better handle some aspects of childrearing while you are depressed. Setting appropriate limits with children, for example, can be very difficult when you are depressed. Don't be afraid to modify "traditional" roles, if needed.
• Focus on recovering from depression and gradually resume your usual responsibilities as you are able to. Just like academic expectations have to be modified for depressed teens, your expectations of yourself in the work and family environments may have to be modified as well.
• Ask for help outside the immediate family, if needed. Sometimes it can feel as if having a depressed child can add to your own depression or make you feel responsible and guilty. Talk about these feelings with someone you can trust so they don't become burdensome and overwhelming.
• Be prepared for times of crisis. Create action plans with your family about how to handle "down" times or hospitalizations.



If You Want Immediate Anxiety Relief, Check Out Our New Natural Technique To Stop Panic Attacks and General Anxiety Fast!