Parents with mood disorders often feel guilty - which is why I hesitated to share this study article.
It says:
"It has been shown that even highly efficacious prevention programs for previously depressed adolescents were less effective if the parent was depressed. Our previous work has shown that treatment of the depressed parent to remission can reduce the symptoms of depression for both parent and child."
This is probably not news.
But might it also mean that when we prioritize our health we are engaged in good parenting?
I find the thought encouraging. It's not exactly obvious to all of us. Many of us have trouble taking care of ourselves thinking we must focus first or only on our children.
Yet, if we know that our own depression impacts our children we can't ignore that fact.
Of course, I can't help but wonder what the ACE scores are of the parents with depression. I wonder what the ACE score is of the teens with depression. And if and how the causes of ACEs were addressed.
That's pretty crucial information.
But even without knowing more I can take away this gem.
All I do to improve my mental health and happiness will have health benefits for my daughter.
That's empowering. This is the type of study which will be a gentle nudge getting me to do the things I know help me manage my moods.
If someone is battling a mood disorder for the first time it might be a while before one even knows how to manage the condition. And not all moods are easy to manage or treat.
But for those of us with a condition that's recurrent or long-term, and where we know what improves our health, this study if a reminder that prioritizing health is an urgent need not just a luxury to indulge if we have time.
I'm not suggesting we leave toddlers alone to do self-care or ignore the needs of those dependent on us. But for those of us with all or nothing thinking, who don't always know the difference between healthy parenting and overcompensating at martyr levels - this is a reminder.
No matter how old we are we can continue to parent ourselves in our ways that can benefit our own children.
These efforts alone might actually be considered part of good parenting.
There are some things I don't understand about the study. This paragraph, for example, which said:
"In the high- and low-risk groups did not show differences in education, employment status, or income at the 30-year follow-up, those in the high-risk group were more likely to be separated or divorced and had fewer children. They also received more treatment over a longer period of time, received more continuous treatment for emotional problems, and had worse overall functioning than those in the low-risk group."
I'm not sure what to make of these details. Does it mean the biggest toll of depression is on personal relationships? Or that those with fewer interpersonal relationships are more depressed?
Why do those who receive the longest and most continuous treatment also have overall worse functioning? Is that a reflection of the depth of depression being treated or the ineffectiveness of the treatment methods?
Or both?
I don't know.
How do you manage your own depression or that of your kid - or both? What do you make of this study summary? There's lots more to explore. Here's the start of the study summary.
The latest report from a 30-year study of families at high- and low-risk for depression reveals that the offspring of depressed parents have a higher risk for depression, morbidity and mortality that persists into middle age. While major depression typically begins during adolescence in both high- and low-risk individuals, children with a family history are more likely to have recurrent episodes of depression and poor outcomes as they mature.
Comments (0)