Hit a wall with depression and I'm not hiding it from my kids anymore

M

Apr 191 min read

I'm 42, been struggling for years, finally got on meds. For a long time I tried to shield my kids from it but that just meant I was checked out. Now I'm more honest. I tell them daddy has a hard day and needs some quiet time. I'm actually more present when I'm taking care of myself than when I was trying to fake it. My therapist said kids are resilient but they need authentic parents. Still figuring this out but it's a relief to stop pretending.

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3 comments191 views

Comments(3)

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AAlexRegularApr 21

Meds made a huge difference for me too. Kids actually benefit from seeing their dad actually functional and working on himself instead of white-knuckling it through every day. You're modeling the right thing.

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MMitchell R.RegularApr 21

My kids have seen me struggle with anxiety and honestly I think it's made them less afraid to talk about their own feelings. You're doing the right thing being real with them.

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DDerekRegularApr 20

This takes guts. My oldest is only 4 but I'm already thinking about how to be honest with them about stuff like this without oversharing. Sounds like you found a good balance.

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