Watching My 19-Year-Old Daughter Lose Herself to Anxiety Has Been the Hardest Thing I've Ever Seen
By Charlotte on
I'm writing this because I feel helpless as a mom, and I'm hoping someone here has been through something similar.
My daughter is 19, and over the past year, anxiety has slowly changed her. She used to enjoy school, spend time with friends, and get excited about little things. Now she barely leaves her room.
She has panic attacks, cries more than she talks, and tells me she has no motivation to do anything anymore. She stopped going to her extra classes, and some days she barely eats because her anxiety feels so overwhelming.
The hardest part was hearing her tell me that she felt ignored when she tried to ask for help. No child should ever feel like they're carrying something this heavy by themselves.
As her mom, I can't fix her anxiety, but I can keep showing up for her. I'm reminding her every day that she's loved, that what she's feeling isn't her fault, and that we're going to keep looking for the right support until she gets the help she deserves.
If you struggled with anxiety as a teenager, or you're a parent walking a similar road, what helped you or your child start seeing hope again?