The first question to ask yourself when wondering how to help your depressed daughter is what do you mean by "depressed." If you mean "unhappy because of poor self-image and social concerns," you can address this yourself as a parent. If you mean "showing symptoms of clinical depression," that's a situation for a counselor and psychiatrist to handle. In either case, taking some basic steps to alleviate the obesity behind a bout of the blues can help treat the symptom and the cause.
Step 1
Help your daughter to celebrate the talents she has and the traits she values. This might mean reading terrible supernatural romances or listening to music you can't distinguish from industrial construction noise. That doesn't matter -- taking one for the team is part of being a parent.
Step 2
Avoid using phrases like "cheer up" or "snap out of it." If your daughter could do so, she would. Worse, the implied judgment behind that kind of talk may worsen her depressive state.
Step 3
Establish and maintain trust and rapport with your daughter. The more she trusts you, the more likely she will be to keep you in the loop about her depressive feelings. This may be your best warning about the onset of clinical symptoms.
Step 4
Watch for the symptoms of clinical depression. Some common examples include irritability over small things, loss of interest in favorite activities, slowed movement and speech, changes in appetite, difficulty with concentration, and dropping school performance. Changes in behavior are better warning signs than behaviors on the list that have been true for a long time. If you have reason to believe the depression is clinical, seek medical help right away.
Step 5
Accompany your daughter on a light workout -- such as a walk with the family dog -- every day. Even 20 minutes of walking daily will not only help her lose weight, but it also will stimulate the production of neurochemicals that combat depression.
Step 6
Adopt a healthy diet at home, and sign up the entire family to participate. Healthy diets are long on vegetables, fruits and whole grains. They are short on processed foods, refined grains and sweets. If you involve your daughter in menu planning and cooking, you will have a better chance of her buying in on the family diet routine.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Symptoms of Depression
- World of Diets: Is Your Teenage Daughter Depressed by Her Weight?
- "You: The Owner's Manual"; Michael F. Roizen, Mehmet Oz; 2005
