Hi, I'm starting a new thread because this is the biggest hardest thing in my life right now. I have four kids - 11/boy, 14/girl, 14/girl, 16/boy. One of the girls is depressed. It seemed to start in February for reasons not really clear (even to her). I started her seeing a therapist in March and that helped initially, but then it got worse. She is now on her third day of Prozac. I am scared, sad and heartbroken, and everytime I catch myself feeling happy about something (like landing my dream part time job yesterday:-) I kind of catch myself and remember that my beloved child is sad and struggling, and I feel such fear that she will be sad forever. She has cut herself a few times, and says she feels hopeless alot of the time. She has a lot of trouble sleeping, the spark has dimmed in her eyes. I get something close to panic attacks about it, feeling the limits of my power to effect the situation. I think i'm doing everything i can do, but I can't "fix it." (obviously)
She is mostly depressed about her father (she says), who is alcoholic, minimally involved, emotionally manipulative. He's not a real dad, but he never was, even when we were married (divorced four years). It;s hard to figure out what tipped the balance for her. She is so sweet, smart, creative and a beautiful person, and she does not deserve to have such a father, and especially to feel so bad because of his dysfunction and narcisism! It just about kills me and I am feeling so alone with it all and so scared. I'm crying as i write this. I'm hoping with everything in me for a brighter day for my girl. I pray for that with the best prayer a mother can pray. I'm wishing the best for all the other single parents here too.