Brain Check
When I was growing up, especially in my teens, I now realize I suffered from anxiety and severe depression. My parents never did anything about it, even though they definitely could see something wasn’t right. I don’t place ALL the blame on them, as this was back in the 90s when mental health was still not openly discussed. But I was messed up for a very long time.
I got the help I needed, albeit as an adult, and now am a mom to an 11-year-old daughter. I am starting to see some familiar things in her; anxiety is the big one right now. So we have “Brain Checks.” If she ever needs to talk, at any time, all she has to do is say she needs a “Brain Check” and I stop whatever I am doing and let her tell me what is bothering her.
I can’t always fix her problem for her, but we talk it out and see if we can ease her mind or how we can do that. I know she won’t come to me for everything, but I hope that by doing this, she knows I will always provide her with a safe space to speak her mind and not be judged. I have no qualms dragging her to our GP for either meds or a therapist referral, though, if I feel talking to me just isn’t enough. I don’t want her to suffer like I did.