Parent Forces Depressed Daughter To Leave House For College, Asks If They're Wrong
Anxiety and depression can profoundly disrupt a person's daily life, making ordinary tasks feel insurmountable. For someone grappling with these mental health challenges, even simple activities like stepping outside the home can trigger intense fear and discomfort.
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This was starkly illustrated in a certain Reddit post where a father faced criticism for insisting his daughter attend a college meeting despite her severe anxiety and depression. The teenager, who had not been formally diagnosed but was undergoing assessments for various conditions including autism and ADHD, found herself overwhelmed by the prospect of leaving the safety of her home.
Her father, hoping to enforce a sense of responsibility and normalcy, presented her with a harsh ultimatum: attend the meeting or face expulsion from college. This decision, intended to push her towards functioning independently, instead spotlighted the delicate balance required when managing mental health issues.
Critics argued that such forced confrontations could exacerbate her anxiety, potentially causing more harm than good. The incident underscores the importance of understanding and compassion in handling mental health struggles, especially when the individual feels powerless against their own mind.
It highlights how critical it is to approach such situations with sensitivity and support, rather than pressure, to foster a healing environment. Just take a look at this...
OP is worried about her 17-year-old daughter's severe depression and anxiety, as they undergo assessments for autism and ADHD.
The daughter tested for BPD last year, but the diagnosis was delayed until 18.
Three days back: her daughter had met with a college teacher for extra work.
She woke up angry an hour before the meeting. OP gave her two options: attend or face college expulsion.
This is her last chance at college after two expulsions. She can't have a job due to intense anxiety and fear of leaving home.
OP's partner drove her to college—and the partner got called a bunch of names that don't need any repeating.
She attended the meeting, returned home fine. OP's partner suggests letting her skip, suspecting an episode.
OP's questioning if disagreement over her emotional handling makes them TA.
Scroll down to see what people had to say!
Keep cheering her on through the anxiety and depression marathon. Every small victory is a step closer to the finish line!
Seems like she's playing college musical chairs! Who knew higher education could be such a wild ride?
Tough love may sting, but it beats a lifelong housemate situation. Time to push the nestling out of the nest!
"The anxiety is crippling her."
Parenting: A rollercoaster of therapy, meds, and stress. Buckle up!
From backsliding to self-care champ, kiddo's the comeback kid! Those therapy hours? Priceless.
Parenting: where compassion meets tough love.
"She chose to go."
Ignoring doc's advice? College stress at 17? =
She needs a prescription for peace, not a crash course in stress. Let's upgrade to therapy and meds, stat!
University with mental health on the rocks? Two thumbs down.
Think about it...
Comfort zones are cozy, but they don't pay the bills. Time to give those wings a test flight!
Navigating mental health is a journey, not a sprint. Maybe the real college course we need is Compassion 101, where the assignments are understandable and the exams don't penalize you for anxiety. After all, isn't the ultimate goal to graduate as a better human?
Comment down your thoughts, or share this article for all your family and friends to see!