How do I handle my moody daughter?
Lately, I have noticed that my daughter has started behaving in a strange way. She seems to be deep in thought all the time. She looks sad and when I ask her, she is hostile towards me. PHOTO| FILE
What you need to know:
The goal here is to make sure your daughter is comfortable communicating with you, not to reprimand her for things that she may have done. Acknowledge her feelings.
No matter how trivial something may seem to you, it is important to validate her feelings. Otherwise, you run the risk of your teen thinking that you do not take her emotions seriously.
Get a doctor’s diagnosis. Even if she insists that nothing is wrong, let her understand the importance of medication in her case.
Q: Lately, I have noticed that my daughter has started behaving in a strange way. She seems to be deep in thought all the time. She looks sad and when I ask her, she is hostile towards me.
She tells me to leave her alone, then she cries bitterly. She does not leave her bedroom and she is not relating well with her friends and siblings. She hardly eats. I am worried that she may be sick; I really want to help her.
How can I get to talk to her? Could she be in depression? How do I handle this?
A: All the signs indicate that your child may be suffering from depression. However, this is a sensitive issue and should be handled with care. Start by initiating a conversation with your daughter.
Stay calm and be gentle. Make her aware of your concerns in a non-intrusive way by pointing out the signs of depression that you’ve noticed in her. Avoid asking lots of questions as this will trigger her to block further conversation.
Instead, let her know that you’re willing to support her in any way that she needs. Your daughter might not open up right away; do not get discouraged, as you should not expect your teen to want to share everything with you the first time you bring it up.
Be persistent without being overbearing. Listen. When she finally opens up to you, remember that that is not the time to pass judgment.
Listen to everything she says with an open mind, and avoid giving advice unless she asks you for it.
The goal here is to make sure your daughter is comfortable communicating with you, not to reprimand her for things that she may have done. Acknowledge her feelings.
No matter how trivial something may seem to you, it is important to validate her feelings. Otherwise, you run the risk of your teen thinking that you do not take her emotions seriously.
Get a doctor’s diagnosis. Even if she insists that nothing is wrong, let her understand the importance of medication in her case.
It is important to accompany your child to the appointment, as you will need to provide the doctor with the symptoms that you have noticed. It is important that you consider psychological therapy for your daughter. All the best!
