My parents have no respect for me and talk about about me behind my back. My grades are down and I feel depressed, too. What should I do?

depressed girlMy parents have no respect for me or my feelings. They talk quietly about me behind my back, but I hear the names they call me. My grades are going down and I feel so tired every day and I hate myself. What should I do?

It’s very hurtful to hear that someone is talking about you behind your back, especially if it’s your parents. Try telling them that you overheard them talking and that what they said upset you. Hopefully your parents will understand that you’re hurting and will help you. If your parents are not helpful, try:

  • Talking to another adult whom you can trust such as an aunt, teacher, a friend’s mom, etc.
  • Call an emergency hotline and talk to someone who, cares such as: United States National Suicide and Crisis Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK or Samariteens at: 1-800-252-8336.
  • Have an open mind about talking to a counselor- It may be hard at first to think about opening up to someone but remember, counselors and therapists are specially trained to help people who are going through a hard time. There are many trained counselors to choose from, so you will eventually find someone you will feel comfortable with.
  • It’s VERY IMPORTANT TO TELL SOMEONE RIGHT AWAY and get help to keep you safe if you feel you might harm yourself and you can’t get in touch with anyone, go to the closest emergency room.

It’s normal to feel sad, down in the dumps or even depressed once in a while. Most of the time you’ll be able to deal with your problems with the help of your parents/guardians, other family members, and/or friends. However, sometimes problems come up that make you feel so depressed or hopeless that you think there’s no way out. Try to remember that you’re not alone. There is help available.