Should I tell my teen I'm suffering with depression?

Question

I'm pretty highly functional, but do have my bad days and struggle a great deal with fatigue. I've been seeing a doctor and taking medication, but we all know that medicine doesn't work 100% of the time.

She sees that sometimes I'm not feeling well. But I just didn't find it necessary to burden her. I work very hard to keep on my happy face.

If you have depression, are your older children aware of it? Or do you feel it's best kept to myself?

Thanks for any advice.

Answer 1

No, not unless it is directly affecting her. If it gets so bad that she is hating you for being such a downer... than yes. Otherwise you should probably wait until she isn't in such a state of transition for herself. And besides, aren't you trying to over come it? Going to therapy regularly? (medication only solves part of the problem) So maybe she will never need to know that you had this "rough patch".

I firmly believe that mental health diagnosis are or should be on a need to know basis. Especially with children. Otherwise diagnosis themselves begin to play a role in relationships with others.

hope this helps.

Answer 2

Blame her for the depression! Lol. Don't burden her with it. She can't make you not depressed. We choose how we feel. I can''t force you to choose to be happy, that is something you can do for yourself.

Answer 3

you need to tell her! "battlefield of the mind" by joyce meyer, and "victory over the darkness" by neil anderson. good luck!

Answer 4

Depends on her age. If she is in her early teens and you know she doesn't take stress too well then tell her something is wrong but don't go into too much detail. Teens are smarter and more observant now a  days. Give her a chance to be there for you. She knows something is wrong, just tell her.  

Answer 5

yes.  

(a)  she'll probably notice something's wrong anyway. not knowing what will cause more issues

(b) keeping this a secret will cause more distance between you.  which will cause more issues, including trust issues

(c) if this is your biological child, she deserves to know that there is a history of depression in the family, so that she can better protect/monitor herself.

(d) if you hide this like it's some sort of secret, it puts a stigma on the disease and she may be less likely to seek help if she ever needs it

Answer 6

it's entirely up to you if as to whether you tell her or not.  Keep in mind that she might see this as her fault if you guys argue a lot.  If I was you (my personal opinion) I wouldn't tell her.  She doesn't need that kinda thing weighing on her mind.  But that's just me.

Good Luck

Answer 7

I am a teen and still suffer from depression, and have been for 2 to 3 years without my parents knowing. And sometimes you have to deal with it yourself or have a loved one care for you, my parents, I don't trust them...

But if you try to put on a happy face as much as you can for your daughter, I can see how much you care. Tell her, if she goes through the burden of worries, use your experiences to help her. I'm sure how strong you're being, how much sadness you are trying to keep away from your daughter, I'm sure she can hold on.

A loved one that you can trust has the right toward an explanation of depression. The more time you keep away from her will burden her more.

Good luck to you.