Parenting Along With Depression

Being a parent is not an easy task, and this task becomes much more difficult when a parent is not in a good mental state. This kind of mental crisis leaves parents dissatisfied with their style of parenting leading to them torturing themselves for it Hence, it is essential for parents suffering from depression to get immediate attention and care. However, society doesn’t acknowledge this issue seriously and hence it is important for every parent to be aware of this condition. So, here is a brief description of parenting depression, along with everything you should know about it.

What Exactly Is Parental Depression? 

A condition where a parent suffers from depression and cannot participate in parenting properly is termed parental depression. This condition is harmful to children, as they may find themselves very weakly attached to their parents and find themselves in a situation where they do not know how to deal with a parent with depression.

Does Depression Impact Parenting? 

Depression is directly responsible for affecting the mental state of the parent. A parent not in the right mental state will not be able to perform parenting properly. Below mentioned are various ways in which parenting gets affected by parental depression. 

1. Weakened Bond

Depression usually impacts a parent in various ways. It can drain them of energy and happiness, compelling them to withdraw from social activity. This ultimately leads to a parent not being able to spend quality time with their children which eventually leads to weakening bonds with their children.

2. Impacts on Child’s Coping Mechanism 

A child learns everything that they see while growing up. Research shows that children learn to handle things calmly from their mothers and to deal with things more boldly in an assertive manner from their fathers. And if any one of them is mentally disturbed, it changes the whole equation ultimately impacting the child’s behaviour.

3. Increases Parental Guilt

Parents suffering from depression often know that their child is suffering because of them. Their inability to do something about it makes them irritated and furious and plunges them into grief. The feeling of self-blame and guilt.

How does Parental Depression impact children?

It is often difficult for a parent suffering from depression to respond to their child’s needs.  Not only does a child lose a connection with their parents, but they also find themselves in a situation where they are exposed to negative thoughts. Some of the primary impacts that parental depression has on a child are:

• When children have a depressed parent, they cannot get proper guidance from their parents. This makes them impulsive, leading to poor decision-making skills.
• In their adolescent phase, children learn poor communication and social skills from their parents and peers. A depressed parent will have a very serious impact on their cognitive skills. 
• Parenting through depression also leads to a very unfriendly environment in the home.

Symptoms of Parental Depression

Depression usually occurs due to increased anxiety, low energy level, and disrupted sleep. These factors severely impact the parent’s minds, which is reflected in their parenting. They also lose interest in things they previously enjoyed a lot. However, few signs and symptoms of parental depression are:

• Parents with depression are not responsive to children. Research shows that parents who suffer from depression cannot respond to basic gestures such as eye contact or crying.
• Sometimes, parents unknowingly tend to neglect their child’s needs and are not properly engaged in their lives. While some depressed parents may get very close to their children, this hyper intrusion may make the child feel that their parents are not respecting their personal space.
• Tardiness of children may also be an indication of a disturbed parent. The child may miss school or arrive late regularly. This can be simply due to a parent being unable to perform the basic duties.

How to Treat Parental Depression? 

Doctors are often aware of all the effects that depression can have on a person’s life and overall well-being. Therefore, a visit to the doctor is something you should do whenever you feel something is not right. Having a check on your weight, energy levels and any recent lifestyle changes is a good practice.

Ways to Treat Parental Depression?

Parental depression, like any other type of depression, can be diagnosed using cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of therapy helps to reconfigure the negative thoughts in the minds of a dressed person and change them into positive ones. Some sessions are also conducted with children and their parents to help the parent understand various cues of the child and care for them in a much better way. Below are few ways to treat parental depression:

1. Medications 

Consulting a doctor before taking any medications is one of the safest approach  for everyone. Moreover, it would help if you were not aware that a pill could fix your depression right away. Most pills take weeks or even months to have any visible effects on our body.

2. Psychotherapy 

Psychotherapy is one of the most proven ways to deal with depression. However, you need to be highly regular and invested in these exercises, complete your homework, and practice everything the doctor recommends. These psychological therapies can sometimes be very expensive for some people. Looking for online tools to take therapy is something you can try too. These apps and tools will help you recover yourself using self-help.

3. Therapy Group 

It is a group of individuals suffering from a common mental issue, such as depression, who get together in a place and discuss their issues along with each other. This creates an environment where depressed parents get to know more people like them, which helps them share their thoughts openly.

Hence parental depression is a serious issue and you should immediately consult a doctor or talk to someone if you or any of your loved ones is facing it.