Dd depression?

[krazykath67]

Hi Ladies,
I have a few concerns about my DD- she's normally a busy sociable person, often going out to parties or having friends round. but recently she's been cancelling plans with her friends, sleeping for hours and hours and just never leaving her room. DH thinks it's a teenage phase and probably boy issues but I just want to make sure nothings wrong and nip it in the bud!

First thing to do. Is address the screen time. Fast and hard. And unequivocal.

I believe in loads of easy, tiny interventions. Start with diet; cut out sugar, and add vitamin supplements and loads of mood-raising foods like nuts, turkey, dark chocolate, salmon, bananas etc.

I'm very surprised that the first two replies are instantly taking things away from her and not actually talking to her?! Op, as a teen I was experiencing this exact thing, and all I wanted was someone to sit with me and just talk about what maybe was going on. I would suggest taking her out for a coffee/insert favourite drink here, and just ask how she is, good luck x

I'm a child counsellor. This a 200%.

Do you know what she I'd accessing online? I would check her phone. Teens don't have privacy online in this house.

Ask her to trial doing affirmations, meditations etc. Gratitude journaling works if done the right way, for example not writing “I should feel fine because I have XYZ” but writing “I feel shit but at least I have XYZ.” Get her to also record all of her achievements, however small, to challenge any black and white thinking.

I'd also make sure she has no access to her phone or computer after 9pm. Make sure she has a sensible bedtime and a decent diet.

Help her plan a small thing each day to look forward to, a bigger thing each week, even bigger each month, and one major thing each year.

This is a video from camhs on supporting young people with low mood. Young minds website also has good advice. My understanding is that theres research showing affirmations work for those who already feel OK about themselves but make things worse if they don't. As it's another thing to feel bad about that you can't make yourself feel the " truth" you are affirming and it squashes rather than acknowledges and deals with difficult emotions. Good luck.