While it is believed that parents are here to protect us, in certain cases they fail to do that. Here we are not talking about typical teenage whining, but about cases where parents may actually fail to understand and solve the problem that haunts their kids. Although it may sound weird, but parents often neglect to recognize severe depression of their child, preferring to dismiss it as a mere stress because of too much studying. Let’s check out why parents tend to refuse believing that their children have mental illnesses.
What a Child is to Parents?
While we all know that parents should view their child as a separate being and individual, in reality parents view their kids as an extension of themselves. How such an attitude affects the way they would treat a mental illness of their child? They would try to dismiss it as no serious problem. Now, let’s dig deeper to understand why.
There are very few people, especially adults, who would admit that they have mental health problems. Instead they go on with the ‘I’m Okay’-mantra. And if the child is considered by them to be their extension, what on Earth can force them not to use the above-mentioned mantra? It is way easier to act as if nothing serious has happened than to admit that your child is really having a mental health issues. Even in cases when the kid admits the problems himself/herself.
It is Hard to Face the Failure
Unfortunately, the first thing that parents come up with when their children turn out to have mental health issues is not that their children should get a necessary treatment. The very first thing that pop-ups in their heads is that they have failed as parents. No matter how egoistic or even egocentric it may sound, but it is true. A lot of parents first of all think about their responsibilities as parents, rather than children’s actual needs.
People always had hard times facing the failure. Once again, it is way easier to pretend that nothing had happened and that things are going the same way as they were, even if there’s something fishy in the air.
Failing to Believe Results
Such parents’ attitude may have severe consequences. A lot of teenagers commit suicide or even homicide due to their parents failing to believe that their children may actually have problems with mental health. It happens despite teachers, neighbours or kids themselves were hinting or openly telling the parents that they should pay closer attention to their kids, as something is definitely not okay with them.
What to Do?
First and foremost, you should start viewing your kid as a separate individual being. Children are no extension of their parents and while you may have no mental issues they, unfortunately, may have them.
Secondly, you must recognize that there is a problem without trying to dismiss it as non-existent. As soon as you would acknowledge the problem, you would have the possibility to solve it.
But don’t make fast decisions. First take your kid to the shrink for a consultation, as your kid may have no problems at all. But leave it to shrink to decide, as you are no mental health specialist. Thanks to our friends from Brides Dating for providing this article.
