I have been reading the 'parents of anxious kids/teens' thread for a little while, and wondered if there was anyone who would like something similar for kids/teens with depression?
My autistic DD15 is waiting for a CAMHS referral after her first but very determined suicide attempt last week (have NC because she knows my username). She has made huge progress just in this last week, but what is becoming more and more apparent is how incredibly low her mood really is and has been for a long time. As an autistic girl she is an expert masker, and hid the reality of how she was feeling (as well as her plans for a suicide attempt) incredibly well.
She had started some CBTi to try and work on her sleep about 8 weeks ago (privately), so luckily there is someone involved who she has at least the beginnings of a relationship with. He suggests that alexithymia (inability to name your own emotions) is a significant factor, so we are concentrating on psycho-education for now, as well as establishing a routine and making sure that she gets out once a day minimum for a walk. Small steps.
Not hopeful that CAMHS will be any use, but very happy to be proved wrong. School and the GP have been amazing. Not sure if/when she will make it back to actual school, but there is county funding for her to access online provision if she is unable to attend face to face.
At the moment she says that she would rather not be here than be here, but isn't making any active plans for another attempt. She is eating at least one meal a day, and is mostly showering, although it takes until late morning/lunchtime for her to really make it downstairs. She is off the internet, and is mostly reading, with a little bit of model building sometimes.
Where we are now feels bizarrely manageable - just a little bubble of eating, sleeping and dog walking - but the journey ahead to get her back into education, seeing friends, just 'living' seems like a long and difficult one. I feel like such a shit parent for not understanding what was happening. I have just launched a big new project at work, and the guilt at not being present enough to spot her distress is huge. I am so so sad at the lack of joy in her life, and the difficult road ahead of her into adulthood.
Sorry for the long and incoherent post - is anyone else going through this? Or been through it? Or are there any adults who have suggestions for strategies that might help in any way?