How can I help my depressed child?.
When your mind and heart are truly open abundance will flow to you effortlessly and easily.
Question:
“Dear Deepak, First, I want to thank you and your staff for allowing us to be part of your wonderful programs!
I started meditating two years ago.
I have followed the Catholic faith since birth and I still do.
I’m now in a higher practice of faith which is the Raja Yoga.
As we all have many challenges in life, I thought that after leaving and divorcing my abusive husband of 16 years, my life would finally be at peace.
It has been 3 years and four months since the separation and divorce.
Now I’m facing my angry, depressed 19-year-old son.
He graduated from high school last year, and he doesn’t want to pursue higher education nor does he have motivation to do anything.
I have tried to take him to counseling and offer him my support in many ways.
For the past year, he has tried self-help, such as becoming a vegetarian and meditating.
However, he doesn’t want to go out during the day, only at night.
Today was a day when he was not doing well.
I hold to positive thinking, energy, peace, love, etc. however it is hard to see your child in that situation.
Deepak, I’m in fear and pain.
What can I do in this situation? How can I help transform it?
Please help. I don’t know what else to do. Sincerely, Thank You”
Response:
It can be difficult for a parent when a child finishes High School and then has no motivation to begin the next phase of their life.
Given that you say he has become a vegetarian and started meditating, it seems safe to assume he is healthy and is not pursuing any strong self-destructive behaviors.
The meditation practice suggests he is looking for his identity and a place from which to discover his passions and interests.
At such an unformed stage of life, often the best way to find oneself is to not rely on too much introspection and isolation, but to jump into life and explore it—get an ordinary job, meet interesting people, fall in love, travel to new lands and get lost.
As he develops new relationships and experiences he will activate new parts of himself.
He will discover his talents and gifts, and from that, he will discover what aspects of life he is drawn to and what his contribution and role in the world will be.
Love,
Deepak