Replies to 'Depression'

I've been reading about the dreams some of you have been having & also the problems you all are having with your teenagers.  My nightmares are of the time our daughter ended her life at the age of 15.  I wish this experience had given me some great wisdom I could pass on to you that are currently blessed with teens, but all I can say is ALWAYS make sure they know you love them & will support & stand up with them against anything that comes along.  Our Heather was a straight "A" student, never any problem with her. She was active in church, a born again Christian.  Yet a chain of events happened in her young life that was more than she could handle & she wasn't able to live up to the expectations she had of herself.  She became so disappointed with herself over this she simply ended her life.  Some kids expect entirely too much of themselves & when they can't reach that goal, they crumble.  Others are so down on themselves they don't even try anymore.  My best advice: love them unconditionally, listen to them without judgment, respect their beliefs, try to remember when you were that age, but above all, never give them reason to question your total love & acceptance of them.  When their outside world falls in on them, they need you as a safe haven in the storm.  I guess I'm rambling a bit, but it is 3:38 AM & I've slept little...thanks to dreams I won't go into.  Hope you all understand what I'm trying to say. 

Denise 

I've been reading about the dreams some of you have been having & also the problems you all are having with your teenagers.  My nightmares are of the time our daughter ended her life at the age of 15.  I wish this experience had given me some great wisdom I could pass on to you that are currently blessed with teens, but all I can say is ALWAYS make sure they know you love them & will support & stand up with them against anything that comes along.  Our Heather was a straight "A" student, never any problem with her. She was active in church, a born again Christian.  Yet a chain of events happened in her young life that was more than she could handle & she wasn't able to live up to the expectations she had of herself.  She became so disappointed with herself over this she simply ended her life.  Some kids expect entirely too much of themselves & when they can't reach that goal, they crumble.  Others are so down on themselves they don't even try anymore.  My best advice: love them unconditionally, listen to them without judgment, respect their beliefs, try to remember when you were that age, but above all, never give them reason to question your total love & acceptance of them.  When their outside world falls in on them, they need you as a safe haven in the storm.  I guess I'm rambling a bit, but it is 3:38 AM & I've slept little...thanks to dreams I won't go into.  Hope you all understand what I'm trying to say. 

Denise