No parent wants to see their child suffer from depression. Unfortunately, depression in children is becoming more and more common due to the pressures of modern life. But depression does not have to be an inevitable part of growing up. There are ways you can protect your child from developing depression or help them cope with it if they do fall into depression.
One of the most important steps is understanding what could make your child susceptible to depression — things you may be doing unknowingly that could make them vulnerable. Here are two things you might be doing unknowingly that could lead your child down the path toward depression.
Not Setting Healthy Boundaries
Boundaries are important for both children and adults. It can be difficult to provide structure, but it's important to help your child develop into a healthy, functioning adult. Without healthy boundaries, your child may feel like they don't have the freedom to be themselves and express their needs.
Kids need structure and guidelines to thrive, and depression can easily set in when these foundations are missing. But setting boundaries can be tricky, as you don't want to set too many or too few.
You can start by having healthy conversations about what boundaries you both think are important. Try to make them age-appropriate and discuss the consequences if these boundaries are broken. Involving them in that discussion shows that you respect their individual choices and opinions, which goes a long way in helping them develop strong mentalities and healthy coping mechanisms.
Kids need to know that their opinions matter, so it's important to create an environment where your children are free to express themselves. Allowing them to talk openly and listening to what they're saying can help kids feel safe expressing their feelings and opinions, which can help avoid depression.
Not Taking Time to Connect
It's easy for parents to get busy with work and other commitments, especially in modern life. But it's important to carve out time in your day and spend quality time with your child. This can be anything from playing a game together to discussing their day.
Regularly spending time with your child helps them feel connected and emotionally supported. It also allows them to open up and discuss any issues they might be facing. If depression does start to set in, it's easier for them to talk about it if they're used to discussing their day with you.
The best way to build a strong connection with your child is to be present and listen. Show them that you're available to talk, so they can feel comfortable opening up to you. You can then take proactive steps toward helping your children manage any negative emotions they might experience before they develop into something worse, like depression or anxiety.
Reach out to a depression treatment program for kids to learn more.
Share11 January 2023
From the time I was born to the time I graduated high school, my parents were very overprotective of me and shielded me from all of the "bad" things in the world. When I decided to go to college out of state, they wanted me to stay closer to home, but gave into my wishes eventually. Once I got settled at college, I realized just how attached I was to my parents. I began to feel so homesick that I almost quit before the first semester ended. I decided to visit a counselor to see if she could help me get through the semester, and after just a couple of visits, I began actually enjoying my time away from home. I know there are others in tough situations like I was who need guidance, so I decided to start a blog to share my tips for coping with stressful situations.
