Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

DD 17 one step forward two back?

3 replies

Clare1971 · 25/10/2015 22:55

We've had a really rough ride with DD17 over the last 18 months including self-harm, an OD, eating disorder, drinking and dropping out of school. She managed to get a job but lost it fairly quickly through not turning up - she has managed to get another one but hasn't started yet. I did feel things were improving and she seemed a bit happier but today I did a bit of digging and now I think things are as bad as ever. She is posting stuff online that shows she is still intent on losing weight (she's already underweight) and feels she is ugly, useless etc, and she is also now contacting men online - no idea how often or under what guises but I overheard a conversation on the phone earlier that sounded very flirtatious at best. Also I'm pretty sure she's taking something though she denies it. I simply don't know what to do to help her feel better about herself. I should add that she's not difficult to live with - mostly pleasant and co-operative but lacks energy and gets anxious when leaving the house. Doesn't really have friends and spends her whole life online. I really feel like her life is pretty miserable and I'm not surprised she feels crap most of the time but it's like she's accepted feeling crap and is choosing to do stuff that will make it worse. If I confront her about what I've found I think we'll just have an almighty row - she never wants to talk about any of it. I really thought things were getting better and I don't know what to do.

OP posts:
TuTru · 26/10/2015 07:03

Have you already been to the doctors, regarding depression?

smileyforest · 26/10/2015 08:43

I feel for you. I'm going through dreadful time with 17 yr DS ....Has been smoking weed since 15 and over the last two week has had a big mental breakdown, stopped weed so has withdrawal symptoms... Had to get urgent mental Health assessment....which is tomorrow...He is suffering, alone, unable to go to College, I don't know what to do to help....it breaks my heart....

Clare1971 · 26/10/2015 09:44

Tu yes, she is on anti-depressants and they have helped a bit, had camhs but she refuses to engage so they've signed her off. It just feels like she doesn't want to be happy and every chance she gets she sabotages. I swing wildly between feeling I should support her no matter what and wondering if I should just leave her to get on with it and stop providing all but essentials. I'm so angry today as she clearly took something yesterday and has been up all night texting and on the internet doing god knows what.
Smiley that sounds awful. I've seen weed cause so many problems in young people I get so angry when people say it's harmless. In my experience though, once they're off it, they pick up pretty quickly. The problem then is dealing with the problems that led them to getting dependent in the first place and keeping them off it. Hope you get the help you need. Heartbreaking is the word.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread