Most everyone has heard the phrase, “When momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”. As silly as the phrase might seem, you have probably experienced this very same thing in your family. The honest truth is that children can sense when their parents are not operating at 100%. And that is okay. Parents are not robots and immune to bouts of depression or anxiety. However, it is important that as parents you make sure your children understand what is going on and how they can help.
1) Make sure your children understand that they are not the “cause” of the depression.
2) Adjust everyone’s expectations. There might be things that mom used to do that now need to be dad’s responsibility. And vice versa. The children might need to be a little more self-sufficient than they are used to. Make sure everyone understands that you are working together as a family with the common goal of having a healthy and happy family dynamic.
3) Have an open and honest conversation about depression and what it is.
4) Cultivate an atmosphere that allows everyone in the family to ask for help. If everyone feels safe and free of judgement, they are more prone to ask for the things that they need.
Depression is not something that just affects one group of people. Old or young, male or female, parent or child. At Insight Child & Family Counseling, we have years of experience in depression counseling and know how to help your family best cope with depression as a family unit. Give us a call today for more information at 972-426-9500 or visit us online for some free resources. www.j9n.83e.myftpupload.com