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blueskies · ‎07-16-2021

My child is in year 11...its the worst time for concerns and the school system not allowing considerations. I'm not sure its the same state to state but here we have an application you can lodge for "reasonable adjustments" to be made. You may need to speak with their doctor to start this process because they a likely needed to sign/disclose evidence with the application. I had never heard about this until my teens psychologist mentioned this to me. Try to look into this asap....if their health is bad, reasonable adjustments need to be considered for re sitting tests, exams etc. If your doctor cant put you on the right track with this, ask the school where/how to apply for the school to be able to make reasonable adjustments for students where necessary to enable their access and participation.

blueskies · ‎07-16-2021

Hi, Headspace would be a great place to start and perhaps in person if you have the option. They seem to have a great/gentle approach when taking kids on board for the first time. We have always held the rule with our teen that when she is dark/not in a good space that we need to make decisions about what's best for her. My teen was not ok with seeing someone in the beginning, but she came around the the idea. I said to her that if she cant talk to me....she needs to be able to talk to someone so we can work on a plan to help her. I said that I'm making the choice that she will see someone. She can make the choice of who she will see, how often and what they talk about. Its taken 3 psychologists but we now have the right person for her and she looks forward to the visits. Its such a confusing age. I found in the early days my daughter didn't know how to explain what she was feeling. Hang in there.

blueskies · ‎02-04-2021

It's great that you're an active part in his life. Around this age I find they struggle with the fact that they are not little kids anymore but not taken seriously enough to make big decisions about their own life by many people. Ask what he wants and needs. My 13 year old son cant really give specific answers sometimes but loves to just be heard even if there aren't answers. Give him the opportunities to stay busy and active with people around him that care. I like the previous youth group suggestion! It's harder to make new friends but youth groups can be the less daunting way to do this.

blueskies · ‎02-04-2021

It's hard to watch them go through things and not have the answers. Don't stress over what he is missing. There is room to catch up. Certainly see a GP if it continues. When my children are experiencing stress or anxiety without drawing attention to it I ask them to come and do things with me (walking, or cafe's after school pick ups to talk about their days would be semi regular). Anything that includes talking or exercise really (to give them the opportunity to vent or think through their worries).

blueskies · ‎02-04-2021

I have a good relationship with my children (aged 13 and 16) by good relationship I meant they dont fight me on rules too much and we have always given choice and negotiation. Sleep and healthy main meals I've always been little tougher on with negotiating. Many of my friends struggle with telling their kids past about 11yrs old to go to bed before they do. My kids usually shower an hour before bed and following this we do not allow tv, devices, etc 30-60 minutes before bed. We have tried sooner but they actually just take longer to fall asleep. We occasionally have patches where they don't sleep....our rules is no devices in the room unless its just for music. If they have longer patches I will ask them to come for a walk with me after school pick ups. I offer what ever they need in their rooms (books, diamond puzzles, gadgets, different lights, etc.) to have them kill a bit of "down time" before bed. We enforce 9-10 hours of sleep a night (sometimes a touch more) in our home. On weekends no less than 8 hours. During the holidays we are pretty relaxed (but wake them after a later night to keep them around the 10-12 hours sleep mark). As we get closer to it returning I slowly wake them earlier and earlier so its not a shock to their body clocks getting back into their "normal sleep routines".

blueskies · ‎02-03-2021

I can totally relate with my teen. My daughter was put on medication for severe anxiety and depression. We were told by many professionals on the medication it usually gets worse before they level out and get better on medications. We did however hit a point where it felt too much (increasing in dosage) I was loosing my daughter and she was sort of in "zombie mode". We did also seek alternatives that became a life changer for us. We saw a naturopath who gave us natural alternatives (still on medication) and we were slowly able to decrease over time. One of my teens biggest goals was to not be on medication.

blueskies · ‎10-21-2020

Just a quick reply of support to say keep moving forward focusing on the excitement. I became a parent at 21 (by choice) and have never looked back. It's hard but rewarding. I felt fears that were a very normal part of the process. When this baby arrives you will feel things you've never felt before (in a great way). I never knew I could love someone as much as I do in a totally different way to my partner. You are about to receive a very exciting role of being dad. This baby wont see you as anything else and biology really does means nothing.

blueskies · ‎10-21-2020

I wanted to send a reply because I hear and feel where you're at right now. Please reach out and seek some counselling for yourself if you feel it will help. My daughter is also on Sertraline. They keep increasing the dose. I swear this is actually making her less of the person she once was. She says it makes her feel "more crazy". Recently I got online and researched alternatives. A more herbal medication came up time and time again so we went to see a Naturopath who gave us P-Lift and my request of L-theonine. A few weeks into using this I'm seeing fantastic results with her psychosis symptoms reducing and less panic attacks. Her Psychiatrist is now agreeing to reduce her by 50ml every 2 months. Hang in there. I find going through this so isolating and a new level of stress that I never knew.

blueskies · ‎09-24-2020

-Coffee....not just today....every day. -A business partner who I can laugh with, when we really want to cry. -For my mother in law who has come to stay with us through the holidays so I can focus on a hard time at work with a large standard audit pending -That my daughters anxiety is reasonably low this week -That a naturopath has introduce a natural shake that might actually be working to support her (=no medication increase)

blueskies · ‎09-22-2020

1. How old are your kids and what is one thing they've done recently that made you laugh? 13 and 16. My 13 year old is quick witted and often make me giggle usually by pretending to be me. My 16 year and I joke together a lot. Usually in high stress situations making light of the situation. 2. Parenting can be really stressful - how do you try to keep those stress levels down? My husband and I talk a lot. We take turns to be sad, mad and angry. 3. What led you to ReachOut Parents today? I need an outlet. I cant/don't want talk about it in person. 4. Whats your top tip for parents whose kids are about to enter teenage years? Try and remember how you felt at the same age on the bad days. Be approachable without judgement or they wont talk to you. 5. Whats the best thing about weekends? I work 7 days a week so don't really get "weekends". Probably that my kids are looming around and we sneak out for takeaway lunches/dinners.

blueskies · ‎09-22-2020

It's an awful age when we cant jump in and protect them from the world and things that effect them so deeply. Does your school offer activities that she could join in break times? This worked for my daughter somewhat. As someone else suggested is there any outside groups she could get into that build on the connection inside school or give her the enjoyment to look forward to after school? Have you asked your daughter how she would feel if you reached out to teachers to talk to for their suggestions around this? My children's school has a wellbeing person who they can talk too and in a round about way they check in or have other children touch based when their see kids on their own. My daughter wasn't willing to take this step until I asked.

blueskies · ‎09-22-2020

My first post here... My daughter is 16. We are 2.5 years into our mental health journey but only diagnosed for the past year. At this stage we’re still looking into more but she is diagnosed with generalised anxiety, depression, and severe panic disorder. I’ve watched a happy, confident, vibrant child who was ready to take on the world, turn into someone who struggles to get through to day without shaking, crying or medication to control her breathing. I used to ask myself if I didn’t work so much would I have noticed more or these signs early that something "wasn't quiet right". Early on I came to the conclusion I can only focus on how we are fairing week by week...sometimes day by day. No amount of beating myself up with make me a better mother - just exhaust me. Some days I feel I don’t know what the hell to do (the hospitalisation weeks, where she simply wants it all to end and makes statements saying she wants to die)....often there is no triggers and no answers. I feel as if I'm bracing for the day that it actually happens. We have a huge team around us of psychologists, psychiatrist, school plans and even a naturopath treating her. I miss who my child was. This makes me the saddest. I can’t accept this change (but haven't let it show). I literally feel like I’m grieving for her when she’s right in front of me. Some days I don’t have the energy to get through the day if I take care of myself or show emotion so I’ve become very good and putting how I feel aside and just getting on with it. Friends often say "I don't know how you cope". I just smile and think to myself....actually I don't think I am. I feel like I have to kick into “robot mode” to hold down my mad schedules and the home schedule. I’m the brave one, I’m the main provider and I’m the one who always carries everyone’s **bleep** and keeps it together. I’m a manager/new business owner and I can’t tell you how much I’ve had to carry emotion wise with covid on my business. One step forward, two back. Emotionally everyone dumps on me and I carry it. All I can say is this journey has shown me who my true friends are and who was never healthy to remain in our lives. In the past month I’ve started to feel higher anxiety within myself and like I’m constant holding back tears. I want to scream when people tell me how hard they have it. I've sought counselling in the past and it’s never made me feel good. I’m considering thoughts around starting counselling in the coming month (I seriously don’t know where I will find the time) but I worry it may actually exhaust me further having to talk about it all. Just seeing and updating my daughters team and the school exhausts me. My sleep is poor but this is nothing new. I've added walking weekly and when I feel the pressure is too high I literally step out and take 30 mins grab a coffee and just have the headspace from it all. I wanted to ask how many here actually get counselling for themselves or your other children when you have a family member struggling with mental health?

Date Registered	‎09-22-2020 09:59 PM
Date Last Visited	‎07-16-2021 02:45 AM
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Date Last Visited	‎07-16-2021 02:45 AM

About blueskies

About blueskies

About blueskies

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