
Deedee86
@Deedee86
9 Years1,000+ Posts
Comments: 3 · Posts: 3225 · Topics: 93


Posted by xghyI'm sure not as great as it should be. He never wants breakfast, he has lunch at school and I cook relatively healthy every night but when he's out with his friends it's pizza.
How is his diet?



Posted by ShadowcatPosted by Deedee86
My 16 year old son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in June. Today he had an appointment with his dr and they referred him to a social worker. He scored a 21 out of 27 on a depression screening. He will start seeing someone next week.
What is going to happen? Will he live with this forever?
It's absolutely terrifying. I'm more nervous about this than I was about the diabetes.
My brother is schizophrenic and I basically lost him when he was around 17. He's living but trapped in a world of mental illness and medication. I see him regularly but we haven't had a conversation in 20 years.
I lost the love of my life to depression.
I'm scared that I will lose my son too.
What a shitty disease!
Hey so if I were you, I wouldpush for a cognitive behavioral therapist. Specifically. Whether or not his condition is severe enough for him to be put on medication is a discussion you and his therapist should have. Cbt with medication ie the most effective way to combat depression. That being said, not everyone who is depressed needs meds. Talk to his therapist qbout it, specifically.
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Posted by LadyNeptune![]()


Posted by Parkourler
Okay, I can tell you a few things, because I have or had diagnosed depression. It is a shitty disease, but it can be healed. Definetely push for Cognitive Therapy because its about chaning behavior and thought patterns, not so much digging in the past. Thats not a good thing for a child. Depression can be healed through healthy habits.
0: Talk to the therapist as well. Not necessarily about what they are talking about, but what you can do,
in terms of behavioral change.
1. To push through depression, he must at some point do something despite his horrible feelings. Talk about
that with him and the therapist. The energy and the good feelings come after and while he does something, not
before. When its appropriate how do you do that, without him feeling misunderstood
and overwhelmed. Depression is often lack of energy but you get energy when you do healthy things like
sports.
2. People with depression tend to isolate themselves, look out for that, dont let that become a habit.
Are there important Figures in his life, like his granddad, a loving aunt etc? Involve them even more.
3. The CBT-Approach involves doing pleasant and healthy activites, basically everything thats good:
Sports, getting outside, everything thats fun and enjoyment. google list of pleasant activities. Having a
depression is even one more reason to fully have an active and fun childhood. Spoil him a bit
(does he have favourite band, or candy etc?), and plan
fun activities. Maybe small ones with a deadlines Talk about that with the the therapist. Maybe you should
talk to the therapist too not just him. Establishing hobbies, getting a girlfriend etc can snap him out.
4. If its possible and not overwhelming make him use a bicycle not the bus or the car, because he will do
sports without scheduling it. Sports and movement has the same effect on the body and mind like
medication.
5. Be kind but know when to force him out of his mode. In germany we say, the appetite comes when you
eat. Talk about that with the therapists.
6. The daily requirements we take for granted like taking a shower daily, making homework can become
impossible for him and a source of shame, watch out for that and handle that in a loving a way.
7. Dont become a helicopter parent, avoid giving tips and judgements, that can be totally annoying. Do more
with him talk less , comfort him emotionally.
8. Family, friends, etc, can become a problem, because a depression is still a stigma and a source of shame
a barrage of good tips and kick in his ass attempts. Shield him against that.
9. Daily mindfulness practice will do wonders.
10. All this activities can be too much for him. Start small, like really small (only 5 minutes a day for example)
Establishing a daily pattern is more important than the outcome. 30 days in a row 2 minutes walking is
better than 5 a one hour. Talk about that with the therapist, because sometimes rest and letting him alone
is good too. Dont make him active 24/7
11. Hug him, and here a hug from me for you and him:
![]()

Posted by RindarooPosted by Deedee86Sometimes medication is a good thing. My daughter has major depression & anxiety after having post concussive syndrome. She is on meds for the anxiety & it makes a huge difference. Depression is gone now, and she is doing really great in school and life. When she goes off meds, depression comes back and she cannot function normally. Hoping to get off meds eventually but it is a blessing at this point in her life. She sees a therapist 2x a month & it helps a ton. She specializes in anxiety & depression with teens. He probably is having trouble with the diabetes diagnosis. The concussion & post-concussive syndrome really depressed her. She had to learn to manage it all & pull herself out to a better place which she has done ( with the help of meds)Posted by ShadowcatPosted by Deedee86
My 16 year old son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in June. Today he had an appointment with his dr and they referred him to a social worker. He scored a 21 out of 27 on a depression screening. He will start seeing someone next week.
What is going to happen? Will he live with this forever?
It's absolutely terrifying. I'm more nervous about this than I was about the diabetes.
My brother is schizophrenic and I basically lost him when he was around 17. He's living but trapped in a world of mental illness and medication. I see him regularly but we haven't had a conversation in 20 years.
I lost the love of my life to depression.
I'm scared that I will lose my son too.
What a shitty disease!
Hey so if I were you, I wouldpush for a cognitive behavioral therapist. Specifically. Whether or not his condition is severe enough for him to be put on medication is a discussion you and his therapist should have. Cbt with medication ie the most effective way to combat depression. That being said, not everyone who is depressed needs meds. Talk to his therapist qbout it, specifically.
Medication scares me because I see what that did to my brother.
This whole thing is overwhelming
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Posted by Cookieo
Do you know if there is something in particular that triggered it? Did someone happen to him? I'm sure it would be a great comfort for him to have you there by his side through this. *big hug*

Posted by Deedee86Posted by Parkourler
Okay, I can tell you a few things, because I have or had diagnosed depression. It is a shitty disease, but it can be healed. Definetely push for Cognitive Therapy because its about chaning behavior and thought patterns, not so much digging in the past. Thats not a good thing for a child. Depression can be healed through healthy habits.
0: Talk to the therapist as well. Not necessarily about what they are talking about, but what you can do,
in terms of behavioral change.
1. To push through depression, he must at some point do something despite his horrible feelings. Talk about
that with him and the therapist. The energy and the good feelings come after and while he does something, not
before. When its appropriate how do you do that, without him feeling misunderstood
and overwhelmed. Depression is often lack of energy but you get energy when you do healthy things like
sports.
2. People with depression tend to isolate themselves, look out for that, dont let that become a habit.
Are there important Figures in his life, like his granddad, a loving aunt etc? Involve them even more.
3. The CBT-Approach involves doing pleasant and healthy activites, basically everything thats good:
Sports, getting outside, everything thats fun and enjoyment. google list of pleasant activities. Having a
depression is even one more reason to fully have an active and fun childhood. Spoil him a bit
(does he have favourite band, or candy etc?), and plan
fun activities. Maybe small ones with a deadlines Talk about that with the the therapist. Maybe you should
talk to the therapist too not just him. Establishing hobbies, getting a girlfriend etc can snap him out.
4. If its possible and not overwhelming make him use a bicycle not the bus or the car, because he will do
sports without scheduling it. Sports and movement has the same effect on the body and mind like
medication.
5. Be kind but know when to force him out of his mode. In germany we say, the appetite comes when you
eat. Talk about that with the therapists.
6. The daily requirements we take for granted like taking a shower daily, making homework can become
impossible for him and a source of shame, watch out for that and handle that in a loving a way.
7. Dont become a helicopter parent, avoid giving tips and judgements, that can be totally annoying. Do more
with him talk less , comfort him emotionally.
8. Family, friends, etc, can become a problem, because a depression is still a stigma and a source of shame
a barrage of good tips and kick in his ass attempts. Shield him against that.
9. Daily mindfulness practice will do wonders.
10. All this activities can be too much for him. Start small, like really small (only 5 minutes a day for example)
Establishing a daily pattern is more important than the outcome. 30 days in a row 2 minutes walking is
better than 5 a one hour. Talk about that with the therapist, because sometimes rest and letting him alone
is good too. Dont make him active 24/7
11. Hug him, and here a hug from me for you and him:
![]()
Thank you!
I didn't notice that he was depressed. There has been some small changes but I attributed it to him being a teenager. He talks to his friends all the time and showers before school every day but he did quit sports this year. He played for 11 years so I was a bit shocked but he and the coach didn't get along. The coach was also his geometry teacher last year and there were issues.
A 21 out of 27 is a very high score. He must be keeping all of that inside.
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Posted by Mr_Pinchy
One more thing.....
That sports thing, quitting after so many years......was he good? Because i can relate, i was state champion at basketball in the under 14 range. Primary school league for reference.
Then it was customary in my family to go to maritime school (middle school) to the coast. There they had a so-so regimen of practice, sometime it was, sometime it wasn't and a piss poor high school team as a result so i quit it altogether.
So there was a void that needed to be filled and i found the clubbing scene with all its vices and some positives. Just a thought on how stopping actualizing in stuff you do for a long time affects a teen.

Posted by Deedee86That's like a triple whammy....loosing the sport he loved, loosing the pals (comradery) at the sport that he loved and loosing the structure repetitive trainings offered to his life.
He was really good but started losing interest last year when he moved up to varsity and this guy was his coach. There a couple other players that quit or moved to different sports because of this guy too. Their personalities just clashed.

Posted by juliettee
@Parkourler sorry for your story but he was "diagnosed" by social workers. let's not jump ahead, they might be full of shit. even if he is it's not their's to say.

Posted by Mr_PinchyPosted by Deedee86That's like a triple whammy....loosing the sport he loved, loosing the pals (comradery) at the sport that he loved and loosing the structure repetitive trainings offered to his life.
He was really good but started losing interest last year when he moved up to varsity and this guy was his coach. There a couple other players that quit or moved to different sports because of this guy too. Their personalities just clashed.
Add 16yo puberty woes = feeling lost.
I probably really sound like i'm projecting my own stuff here, but honestly i kinda see myself in this story.
2 cents from a layman.
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Posted by Deedee86Take it with a grain of salt or just as what might have happened as i do not know your son, the circumstances, the nature of stress he is under etc etc
I really appreciate all of your insight.
I'm lost on all of this.



Posted by black_kevorkianPosted by Deedee86well, based on your family history of mental retardation & bodily malfunctions, i can only assume things will get much worse for your child before it gets better
My 16 year old son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in June. Today he had an appointment with his dr and they referred him to a social worker. He scored a 21 out of 27 on a depression screening. He will start seeing someone next week.
What is going to happen? Will he live with this forever?
It's absolutely terrifying. I'm more nervous about this than I was about the diabetes.
My brother is schizophrenic and I basically lost him when he was around 17. He's living but trapped in a world of mental illness and medication. I see him regularly but we haven't had a conversation in 20 years.
I lost the love of my life to depression.
I'm scared that I will lose my son too.
What a shitty disease!
teen suicide is at its highest levels also, so unless you're prepared to come home and find your son dead from an overdose of your meds, i'd suggest putting him in an asylum
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What is going to happen? Will he live with this forever?
It's absolutely terrifying. I'm more nervous about this than I was about the diabetes.
My brother is schizophrenic and I basically lost him when he was around 17. He's living but trapped in a world of mental illness and medication. I see him regularly but we haven't had a conversation in 20 years.
I lost the love of my life to depression.
I'm scared that I will lose my son too.
What a shitty disease!