4 Ways To Talk To Your Parents About Your Mental Health
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As you grow up, some teens may feel uncomfortable or difficult to talk about with their parents. Mental health is one of these difficult conversations. Sometimes you may not even understand the source of your troubling feelings or thoughts. The stigma surrounding mental health disorders can also stop you from seeking help. However, this subject can be a lot easier if you plan well. Remember that you can prevent this stigma by speaking up and finding the best
adolescent mental health treatment center to manage your mental health disorder. For more information, contact Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center at
662.373.2828.
4 Ways to Talk to Your Parents About Your Mental Health
The first thing to understand is that there is nothing wrong with seeking help from your parents. Parents are your closest and first support network. If you feel frozen, the following four ways can help you talk to your parents about your mental health:1. Plan What to Say
If you feel overwhelmed, you can write out a script. However, do not try to memorize an entire speech. A few bullet points are enough. When planning what you will say, focus on how your symptoms are impacting your life. Remember that it is normal for a teen to feel sad or anxious. As such, you can tell them how anxiety or depression is making you avoid things that matter to you. Maybe you are so depressed that you are avoiding your friends or you cannot sleep at night.2. Pick a Good Time to Talk to Your Parents
Like any other serious conversation, you must choose the right time to sit your parents down and talk about your mental health. Avoid bringing up the topic when everyone is busy. Choose a time when you have all your parent's attention. Also, pick a time when you are not in a crisis. You do not want to accidentally undermine your message and have your parents think you are just upset.3. Get Extra Support
Sometimes you may feel overwhelmed to have this conversation by yourself. You can explain everything to your school counselor or a close relative and ask them to reach out to your parents. You can also tell your doctor about your symptoms, and they can relay the message to your parents. Remember that some parents tend to listen more to a person in a position of authority. Instead of having your support team relay the message for you, you can also practice the conversation with them and then talk to your parents yourself.4. Prepare for Your Parent's Reaction
You do not want to overthink and get stressed out to a point where you walk out of the conversation. A mental preparation on how this conversation may go can prevent you from being caught off guard. Some parents may start making you feel guilty. For instance, parents may tell you that they provide the best life for you. You can agree with this statement and tell them that you do not understand your feelings, and you need help. Others may assume that you are having a bad day like any other teen, but you can tell them how this affects your ability to carry on with your daily responsibilities. Even loving parents can be shocked or get defensive. Give them time to process things or call a professional to help you have this conversation.How Can You Get Treatment for Mental Health Disorders?
After talking to your parents about your mental health problems, they can help you seek treatment at a teen mental health facility. The facility can either provide you with residential, outpatient, or partial hospitalization treatment. Some of the treatment programs at Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center, for instance, include:- Depression treatment program
- Family recovery support therapy program
- Bipolar disorder treatment program
- Trauma treatment program
- Anxiety treatment program
