About my daughter's mental problems?

Question

A year ago my daughter spent a year with depression because nobody (not me, her or her counselor) noticed it until I had a parent teacher conference and her English teacher told me she looked like a sick girl. I got her to medication and therapy right away. Other than that, the doctor is telling me she also has OCD, anxiety disorder, panic attacks and is right now AGAIN in a deeper depression.

She doesn't want me to worry or even talk about those things. I try to keep her happy, she's home schooled until December (she's 14 now). She use to be so happy, and I just don't know why she is so sensitive right now. She loves animals, so to make her happy I bought her a fish as a surprise, she liked it and I encouraged her to name him and everything. The fish died and the rest of the week she didn't smile or want to talk to me, sometimes even if her dog barks out of nowhere she gets this huge anxiety. She told the doctor she hated people and in the future would want to get away from everyone in a secluded place because "she's tired of the ignorance and judges", she fainted when her step-father tried to see if she will get better by getting her in HIS religion, he brought her to an African lady (something about a saint) and just speaking to her she fainted.

Is there anyway to tell when she will be better? She's telling me therapy IS helping her. Also do you think she should be homeschooled for a longer time?

Answer 1

You poor thing! I was 16 when I was diagnosed and I know now how hard it was on my mother looking after me!

I'm 20 now and have been diagnosed with clinical depression and I suffer from anxiety attacks. Nothing caused it, I just don't produce enough serotonin.

The fish was a great idea and very unfortunate that is didn't live for longer.

Unfortunately there is no way of telling her when she will be better, it could be a few months or she may have to deal with it for the rest of her life. Make sure you keep an eye on her even if she says therapy is working, while it does help its a lot easier to tell people that you feel better and you're fine even if you're not.

Keep homeschooling her as long as she needs it, she might not be ready in December. Talk to her about it as the date gets closer.

Good Luck  

Answer 2

Maybe a trip will cheer her up. Instead of a pet, try taking her to Disney. The being alone thing I would say it's because of her age but it sounds a bit extended for that. Avoid things that you think will leave her in shock (like religions). I share the same huge anxiety and I always tell me mum to never speak bad news to me, and it's what you should do too.

But for the love of humanity!! Don't make it just until December, have her home schooled at least this entire year.

Answer 3

Hi Sir,

      You please dont worry about your daughter. Its only your daughter's age which is making hger depressed like this. There is nothing to get worried about your daughter's psycology. With whatever the incidents you have told here it shows that she is more into relations with animals i mean pets and gets depressed in their loss.. Just do onething try to take her to many places where she can meet many people and can start sharing relationship with them. I think now its better to send her school so that she can understand the world and hw she shud live in the world. It gets habituated to her once she gets acquainted with everyone in the school. I prefer you to send her to school so that she gets ridoff all the things which has troubled her all these days.. Am sure she will be alright in the future..

Answer 4

You need to sit down with her and make sure that the therapy is working because if she still hates people it isnt.

Anyway, what was she doing at the time when she was happy?  Was she going to a regular school?  Did she have a lot of friends?  Did she go out, do sports, have friends around to stay?

What events occurred to make her unhappy?  You will need to ask her that.  Why is she depressed?  You need to know what it is.  Is it the state of the people in general, and their ignorance, their judgement, their condemnation of others?

Answer 5

Maybe she has been abused & she is acting out her anger.  The fainting spells sounds like a defense mechanism she does when she feels threatened.  What does the person treating her have to say about her progressing?  Is she a licensed psychiatrist? Ask daughter if she wants to be home schooled.  What kind of a relationship does she have with her step-dad?