Hello,
My 16-year-old daughter was hospitalized last year with major depressive disorder and anxiety. She was a sophomore in high school and had been spending a lot of time alone since she started in a new high achool. She became more isolated and finally threatened to hurt herself.
When she was released after a week, she was very dependent on us and was unable to handle even the slightest disapproval from us. She could not go into a store without having panic attacks. She was not able to return to school. We home schooled for the rest of the year. This school year she has gradually been able to stay in class, in a small private school we found. At first she required valium to sit in class without panicking. Now she stays in class and does her work. She still has no real friends - only cyber friends from a game she plays.
She was a gifted student - several years ago she won a nationwide essay contest. Now, she ahs no interest in academics. She is lucky enough to have a therapist she trusts and takes an anti-depressant. My question is: Her therapist doesn't talk to me outside of her hearing and I think this is good. However, I am worried about what all of this means. She still has moments when she considers hurting herself. I am so worried about her isolation. She needs her own peers but she lost the ability to put up with the rough and tumble of teen relationships.
As a child, she was happy and social, although quiet, in preschool and early elementary. Then she began to have problems when she reached 6th grade - coming home and crying and saying no one would eat with her at lunch.In middle school, she told me that she was put into a "loser's club" for kids who didn't have friends. Since then, she has lost all of her connections with her peers. She is a very kind person and has a strong connection with her dogs. No drugs, no alcohol - a lot of empathy with others.
She refuses to go to social affairs, although we have tried to get her interested in different groups. She won't go to group therapy. She wants to get a job and we support this, but she hasn't been able to apply.
I want to know how a kid gets wiped out like this. I just can't really understand. Does this sound like it is depression? Does it go away or does she face a lifelong struggle?
Two worried parents.