My dad knows I have been really depressed so he...?

Question

offers to buy me a new video game. I want to scream at him but, I just calmly tell him there is nothing good out. I have never been really close to my parents I do not feel comfortable around them, like they are judging me. How can we take slow steps towards understanding each other.

Answer 1

If you can't sit down and have a face to face chat, being honest about how you feel, try writing it in a letter. Write it to yourself first, if it has everything you want to say send it in the mail. If it doesn't write it again.

Answer 2

So many parents realize there is a problem, but don't know what to do about it.  They will try to think of something their money will buy to fix your problem.  This doesn't mean that your Dad doesn't care about you, but it may very well mean that your Dad really doesn't know WHAT TO DO.  

If you have trouble explaining it to him face-to-face, then write him a note- something simple.  Sit by him at the table, or on the couch while he reads the note.   Reach over to him for a hug.   Make a suggestion of something to do together.  Then do it again often.

Shoot Baskets

Ask him to read stories or jokes to you aloud.

Make some music together (guitar, drums, etc.)

baking cookies

Take a walk or a bike ride, skate board, row a boat, go fishing

play a game that makes you laugh

find something where you talk or laugh together

the 2 of you go for a Pizza and take it to the park to eat it.

- something not too serious (nothing where you could "do it wrong")

Depression is something that is very real.

Relationships can be very helpful toward helping you to move beyond your depression.   Seeing a counselor or even your family Dr. can also be helpful.    

Writing is good for you........yes, even if you throw it away.

Be specific when you ask your dad to do something with you.

Name what you would like to do with him, and when you want to do it.

Be willing to negotiate to find something that will work for both of you.

Answer 3

I think your father wants to help but you need to help yourself too you need to forget about them judging you and really talk to him or else you won't find any help most likely. They are your parents they are there to guide you if they don't help you get help then you need to take it to the next level and talk to someone else like a friends adult.  

Answer 4

why do you want to scream at him for offering to buy you a video game? I think that was his way of trying to help you feel better. Or maybe he doesn't realize you are depressed or doesn't know how to help. Maybe you feel like your father should be able to know this intuitively, but our parents are human too and aren't always prepared to fix everything.

Why are you depressed?

Talking is the quickest way to knowing someone better, although you may never be able to understand each other. Each person is different and sometimes you just have to accept that others sometimes see things in quite a different way than you, and accept that. But I don't blame you for wanting to improve your relationship and work towards better understanding. Communication, patience, and caring are all important. Sometimes people show that they care in a way that is quite different than what we want from them. That is were communication comes in. You have to say, 'Thanks Dad for trying to help by offering to buy a video game, but I don't think that's going to solve my depression problem.'

Answer 5

Just ask your father if he has ever felt down about something when he was a teenager.  Then ask him if would talk with his parents about it when he was that age.  Then ask him how he would have felt if he had told them that he was depressed and they offered to buy him something instead of talk with him about it.

Ok maybe Im no help with this at all!