Help please!

[cats7494]

I am sorry to break in here ... but I really need some serious advice from you wise teens!
I am the mom of a 14 year old daughter. She takes medicine for ADHD and anxiety. But she is feeling quite depressed lately. She plays volleyball and gets straight A's but her social life is what is hard on her. She is not always comfortable with other girls her age and sometimes in her words "acts goofy".

Any advice? She is really sad pretty much all the time right now and I am worried about her. I honestly remember my teen years and they really are a tough time.
I just want her to be ok.
Thank you

 

[KidGoofy]

I am sorry to break in here ... but I really need some serious advice from you wise teens!
I am the mom of a 14 year old daughter. She takes medicine for ADHD and anxiety. But she is feeling quite depressed lately. She plays volleyball and gets straight A's but her social life is what is hard on her. She is not always comfortable with other girls her age and sometimes in her words "acts goofy".

Any advice? She is really sad pretty much all the time right now and I am worried about her. I honestly remember my teen years and they really are a tough time.
I just want her to be ok.
Thank you

let her join here...everyone here is so welcoming and hopefully it will get her confidence up to talk to people...it worked for me I used to be extremely shy

 

[minniemouse440044]

let her join here...everyone here is so welcoming and hopefully it will get her confidence up to talk to people...it worked for me I used to be extremely shy

tom that sounsds like an amazing idea.

and do let her join! we are all so nice! and love disney!
i used to be shy, then when i met friends here on the DIS i started talking to a lot more people. everyone is just so nice, and they give the most amazing advice! ive made tons of new friends here. the DIS is like my 2nd family!

 

[HouseMD1120]

Yeah, definitely let her join. I used to be just like her, but now that I joined the dis I talk to a lot more people and my social life is a lot better.

 

[pigletgirl]

You know everyone is awkward at around that age, and it makes its it worse if your 'different'. Girls are especially not kind and so if she could find a couple of friends, that would really help her I think. She definitely doesn't need to be one of the popular ones.

And yeah, let her join.

 

[imabrat]

let her join here...everyone here is so welcoming and hopefully it will get her confidence up to talk to people...it worked for me I used to be extremely shy

I totally agree.

I think what your daughter is going through is normal. I feel dorky and awkward all the time, and I don't have ADHD or much anxiety. Heck, I'm 15 and I still can't talk to a boy without getting shy.

 

[CutieEm]

I totally agree.

I think what your daughter is going through is normal. I feel dorky and awkward all the time, and I don't have ADHD or much anxiety. Heck, I'm 15 and I still can't talk to a boy without getting shy.

It's the exact opposite for me. I feel so weird around a lot of girls my age, and talking to boys is like extremely easy for me. It's probably just her hormones, I have days like that all the time.

 

[TowerOfTerrorJunkie4]

i think that everyone goes threw those times where its weird to be around ppl. i know that i did when i was in 7th grade. But you tend to grow out of it. But i agree witheveryone, that you should let her join

 

[cats7494]

I am just worried about her depression. I remember being sad a lot at that age too. Any ideas for that?

 

[imabrat]

I am just worried about her depression. I remember being sad a lot at that age too. Any ideas for that?

I don't think she's depressed, I think she's just coming into her own. This is the age where you learn to find yourself, who your real friends are and who is there for looks.

Encourage her to step out of her norm, the people you would normally steer away from turn out to be the greatest friends.

 

[disneyoverload]

I'd encourage her to join a club or sport or something she enjoys doing. That way, she can meet other people who have a similar interest. If you are really concerned, you could talk to her doctor or bring her to a psychiatrist.

 

[Tinkerbell424]

I am just worried about her depression. I remember being sad a lot at that age too. Any ideas for that?

Ask why she's feeling depressed.
My mom noticed that I was off and feeling sad a lot, and made an appointment with a doctor.
I was diagnosed (I dont know if thats the right word to use) with depression.
I took anti-depressants, and slowly started to feel like my normal self with little down sides.
I stopped taking the anti-depressants, and now I'm worse then ever.
I would definitely suggest making an appointment to see if your daughter may have depression, or if it's just normal teen stuff.

Check out depression symptoms to see if any of the signs apply to your daughter, if any do..make the appointment.

I hope everything is alright and that it IS just teen stuff going on. Depression is hard on everyone, especially on teens.

 

[HouseMD1120]

I am just worried about her depression. I remember being sad a lot at that age too. Any ideas for that?

You may want to make an appointment with a doctor to get that checked out. It may be real depression, or it may just be normal teen girl stuff. I've gone through both. If it really is actual depression, I would get her on some medication. Trust me, it is less embarrassing for her to go on meds than to have to deal with depression. Her depression could just be a social anxiety though. Or it could be a case in which social anxiety, paired with teen girl drama and bullies at school could have led to depression.

I hope everything gets better for her!

 

[KitKat_Tink]

I am just worried about her depression. I remember being sad a lot at that age too. Any ideas for that?

It is possible she has deppression. If you are really concerned about it call her pediatrician and they can usually refere you from there. My mom relized I'm deppressed so I'm going in soon. And as much as I say I'm not I honestly am thankful for her being concerned.

Try listening to her though. If she really wants to do something try and let her. I got a job and its making me so much happier except for some drama going on right now with losing some friends. If she has been wanting to join a club or do a new sport encourage it. And encourage diary writing but DO NOT look at it. My mom read mine and that made me lose trust for a very long time.

 

[cats7494]

Thank you all for your input! I certainly will keep listening to her. She is involved in sports and a youth group at church. It is just hard on her - her bio. dad is not the best and I am remarried and we had a child 3 years ago. Her step-dad, luckily, is very good - but I understand he can not make up for her bio. dad.

I asked her if she wanted to go to counseling or see a dr. but she said no. I think we may need to.

 

[imabrat]

Thank you all for your input! I certainly will keep listening to her. She is involved in sports and a youth group at church. It is just hard on her - her bio. dad is not the best and I am remarried and we had a child 3 years ago. Her step-dad, luckily, is very good - but I understand he can not make up for her bio. dad.

I asked her if she wanted to go to counseling or see a dr. but she said no. I think we may need to.

Get a younger counselor! I can't stress this enough. Last year I had cancer, and while going through chemotherapy, I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I was put on meds for both and was referred to the cancer centers therapist. Although she had cancer before, she was in her 40s, and it was hard for me to open up to her as a 14 year old.
I had Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and I'm seeing two young ladies in college going for their Masters in Pyschology. It is SO much easier to talk to them because they were my age less than 10 years ago, and they can relate a lot easier.