Deppresed?

[WorriedMom808]

My gorgeous 12 year old daughter has been acting very depressed since shes been in fifth grade, She's in sevent now, She's always talking about going on a diet, she barely comes out of her room, Shes been crying herself to sleep at night,Whenever I try to talk to her, she gets either very angry or starts cying. She's 5'9 and 145 pounds she's always talking about her wieght, I tell her she a normal wieght, but then she starts crying. What can I do, Is it my fault she like this,Maybe it's her peers, all I want is a improvment.

[RockRose]

Does she get regular physical activity?    Being an athlete can really help fight depression,  and body image at the same time.  

I always read people's profiles.  Are you a stepmother?  At 24 it seems unlikely you could be her mother - reason I ask is I'm wondering if there are broken family issues that she's dealing with.

[margypops]

Check out that she is not being bullied at school, she doesnt seem to have a weight problem at her height but it may not make any differance, she may see her self as overweight particularly if friends at school are skinny ..The pattern you describe does sound like something is going on so investigate , ask her how school is going , it sounds like an eating problem , make sure she is not in her room all by serself it is your house tell her you want her to join the family in the evenings.Has she a PC in her room as there are sites that encourage NOT eating ,check out any websites she is using ..Be aware ...

[Victoria01]

Being 145 pounds at 5'9" is VERY normal. I can see how she may be feeling, though, because she is probably bigger than most of her peers at that age. I do NOT think it's your fault at all. She, or you, can't help how she is made.

I would suggest getting her into some sort of counseling to help her deal with the depression and her body image. There are so many teens and pre-teens out there that put way too much emphasis on how they look and you really need to try and stop it before it goes too far and she ends up with an eating disorder. It's really hard for a teen girl to believe what mom says. You are considered 'old' and no matter how often you tell her she is normal and gorgeous, it's expected of you because you are her mother.  I think an outsider, a counselor, will have more luck.