Clinical depression or teenaged angst?
Find a Conversation
| Thu, 11-27-2008 - 7:55pm |
First let me give you some background. My mother, brother and sister all have chemical imbalances. Mom's didn't appear until she started menopause, my sister started having panic attacks at 7 and attempted suicide at 11, 13 and 29. At 42 she was involuntarly committed for 12 days for being a danger to herself. My brother started having panic attacks at age 15. Although he did not attempt suicide he tells me he seriously thought about it as did my mother. All three are medicated and are doing well right now. I have two other sisters, one is medicated and is unable to come off the meds. The other like me has never been on meds and has never had a panic attack.
I have a daughter turning 15 on Sunday. Since March she has been really emotional, crying almost daily. I took her to the pediatrician in May and he was of no help. He told her she has no reason to be sad, she has a family that loves her, she gets

I think this is one of those "do no harm" moments. I would find her a good counselor (one who specializes in adolescence) and take her. Let them make this decision. That she didn't shoot down your idea immediately tells me that SHE would like someone to talk to. I also sense that your mommy instincts are giving off a bit of a warning and I think that a mother's internal alarm is one of the most reliable things out there, listen to your inner voice.
It certainly could be teenage angst, and hopefully it is. But many a teenager ends up on a bad path that changes their life forever, only because they felt so alone in their problems.
I would take her to someone, hopefully someone she can connect to, if she doesn't need it, you are not harming her; if she does, you might be really helping her through what could be a difficult transition in her life.
Hi , Kelly
If you feel that she is acting different then what she usually does and acting as if something is wrong --
Hugs Kelly, I'm sorry that your teen is having a tough time. I hope that she's enjoying her birthday.
Whether it's teen angst or clinical depression, seeing a mental health professional is a good idea.
<CENTER><A href="http://www.youngsurvival.org/"><IMG src="http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y23/jennt1111/mindy2.jpg"></A>