parents

[Curry223]

my parents aren’t taking my mental health seriously n or that I’m an adult. I believe they thought it was just a stage in my teen years but now that I still struggle with anxiety and depression they say I need to grow up.

I feel like crap

[leaningonjesus]

i can relate

im 38, and my parents are still stuck in the years i was 16-21 when i made really awful choices and totally ignored the path i was on

and now decades later, as im on meds and deal with mental health issues, they still refuse to acknowledge them. They still see me as a teen.

Its a horrible place to be. I can tell you that while there is virtually zero relationship with my parents for many reasons, I am mentally healthier for it

[Curry223 in reply to leaningonjesus]

You’re right ! They do still see me as a teenager. sometimes I think they have some part in while my mental health was so bad. all the blaming and judging.

I hope everything gets better

[Ryanlion]

I think your parents need to grow up and accept you have mental health issues and could do better if they helped you. Some parents deny it because deep down they are afraid they may have been the cause in their child rearing. Stick around people who support you, its vital. Get help from proffessionals you so feserve it.

[Curry223 in reply to Ryanlion]

thank you! I will definitely take the advice

[scansnap]

This is an unfortunate but a common experience. Parents often do not acknowledge their children's problems and tell them things like "cheer up" or "take a walk," or "it's just a phase." This is totally useless advice and it does nothing to help you and indicates that your parents are not being supportive or certainly not recognizing your needs. It may be that they themselves have problems which make it difficult to accept the idea that somebody in the family has mental health problems. At one time, talking about mental health problems was really taboo.

If you have the means, I would certainly recommend going to see somebody for some mental health treatment. In addition to that, or in place of that, I would recommend reading Feeling Great by David Burns. This is an excellent book that teaches you how to do cognitive behavioral therapy for yourself to learn how to help yourself to feel better.

[Curry223 in reply to scansnap]

I agree. I’m not a professional but I think I got my mental illlness from my father and his side of the family. Thank you for the advice! And I will look into the book

[splash186]

I’m so sorry to hear this. I agree with lots of the above. Parents often see their child’s mental health struggles as a reflection of themselves and their parenting. I would hope at some time in their future as your parents they admit that while their parenting certainly shaped you in ways, their parenting did not cause your struggles and drop their defense (throw insult at the problem)