how to explain to 9 year old why her dad took an overdose and is in psychiatric ward

[sya1309]

hello everyone.
my husband has ptsd and and severe depression as well as cronich severe migraines.
he has taken overdose and has ended up in intensive care unit.
they are in the process of transferring him to psychiatric ward for a number of weeks as he is delirius, his behaviour is erratic and unpredictable and he doesn't understand where he is and what is going on.

my daughter is very close to her dad and i am not sure what is the best way to explain it to her that he wanted to kill himself as he was so depressed.

any ideas?

[therese83]

Hi

I went to a family therapist with a similar/ well her Dad is a drunk with bipolar who just walked out on this beautiful child/so maybe not entirely similar  

Anyway my daughter is 6..  The therapist told me to use metaphor.  To draw a large brain and show where the love he feels for her is and how the brain sends this message and how the brain is like Jelly in places because he is sick and the messages get mixed up and the wrong message comes forward to the acting part.  That Daddy didnt do what he really wanted to do, if the good messages could get through clearly things would be good.

I hope you get the idea, it worked very well for my daughter

[mammo]

I agree with the above post.  There is no reason at this point to get into "why" her dad is in the hospital other than he is sick.  She's too young to understand, so just tell her that dad hasn't been feeling well, and he needs to be where the doctors can take good care of him and make him all well.  Let her make things, or write letters for you to take to him, so she feels some connection.  Then you can say how happy he was and that he said to give her a big hug and kiss and that he misses her.  If this is not a place for her to visit him, then just say children aren't allowed to visit.  I don't think at 9 she would question this.  I know this is all very difficult for you, but for now the less a deal you make of it with your daughter, the better.  I do wish all of you the very best, and take care.

[GettingOlder]

This is a very touchy situation, but I would tell her that her dad is sick and they are trying to make him better.