depressed teenage daughter

[nicolacookson]

I'm at the end of my tether. Has my daughter got depression? She's 17, 18 next week, suddenly refusing to go to college and very weepy. Always had trouble getting her to school and it's never been easy to get her to college but she seems so down this time. I've spoken to college and got an appointment at the docs but i'm just so worried about her. I talk to her constantly but she doesn't want to leave her bed. My heart is breaking for her...any ideas? x

Sounds like she might need a doctors appointment. Is she in the run up to A levels? Incredibly stressful time. My advice would be to pull back on any pressure, and don't necessarily expect her to tell you what's wrong - often they don't know. The best advice I got from my dr was try to make her feel you're on her side.
I'm not the best person to advise though since my DD (17, 18 next month) has been depressed for two years and I haven't been much help to her at all. Hopefully someone else with a more positive experience will come along and advise soon.

wd she like to have a year off and take a job instead ,then decide about college?

hi -I can hear really hard. A website which might help is www.youngminds.org. which has a parents helpline. Best of luck

Hi. Sounds very similar to my DD. Same age, at college, school refusal in year 11 but managed to get back etc. Tried a little therapy but didn't find it much help. Seemed to improve a bit but before Christmas she became as you describe - crying all the time, not going in to college. She herself suggested medication. The GP agreed and put her on antidepressants. I wasn't overly pleased (started a thread on here for advice) but they have helped. Not a miraculous change and she still has down days, but overall she's a lot steadier and more engaged. Prepare for it to get worse before it gets better, re: side effects, and she may need to try some different types. I agree with Clare about taking all pressure off, that always works with my DD. Good luck, it's very hard.

Hi. Sounds very similar to my DD. Same age, at college, school refusal in year 11 but managed to get back etc. Tried a little therapy but didn't find it much help. Seemed to improve a bit but before Christmas she became as you describe - crying all the time, not going in to college. She herself suggested medication. The GP agreed and put her on antidepressants. I wasn't overly pleased (started a thread on here for advice) but they have helped. Not a miraculous change and she still has down days, but overall she's a lot steadier and more engaged. Prepare for it to get worse before it gets better, re: side effects, and she may need to try some different types. I agree with Clare about taking all pressure off, that always works with my DD. Good luck, it's very hard.

Sorry for two posts! Silly phone.