What to do about a depressed 10 year old? Family’s in chaos, inconsistency. Divorce pending, mom in hospital, dad drifting away to girlfriend. This 10 year old has random meltdowns where he can’t stop crying and eventually storms off. No one can approach him. Sometimes he refuses to talk to anyone. He’s all right at school, I think, but home is miserable. It’s snowing right now and he doesn’t have any distractions.
I’m worried because I see some streaks in him similar to myself. He feels misused, shut-up, abandoned, unloved, etc.
I don’t know what to do. With my dad working nights we’re at home alone a lot, and he feels claustrophobic. We have to manage my four year old brother, who really needs an adult, but hell, there’s no one until my mom gets out of the psyche ward. I take online classes, so I’m able to watch the toddler whenever my dad’s working days. It’s lonely. The house is cursed and barren, lol.
So, this ten year old tries to be responsible, pull his own weight, help around the house, keep my dad from raging, etc.
I’m not some fucking overbearing mother, don’t get me wrong. I’m a 14 yr. old closeted FTM, scared to tell anyone.
How am I supposed to help him? He can’t take the instability. He’s constantly nervous, brooding, frustrated, lashing out, crying, etc. It’s enough work already to keep him from bullying the four year old.
It’s stressful, to be honest. My 13-year old brother helps out a lot, takes care of the toddler, etc. Without Z (the 13-yr-old), we’d never survive.
Of course, it’s easier now. Thank god my 12 year-old bro is living with my grandparents now – he was attempting to hang himself, he couldn’t take it.
I’m getting off topic, this is more of a journal daydream than anything else, but this 10 year old kid is depressed and no one knows what to do. He internalizes things; I’m scared he’s going to try something just as a cry for help or some shit.