[bertieb]

My daughter has always been quiet and different but it has really come out since she became a teen and we realized she has no friends or social life. None. She is attractive, fit, good grades and nothing obvious to cause any low self-esteem. She's actually proud of her grades. She doesn't seem depressed, she just doesn't communicate with us or anyone else I know of.

Her teachers say she is quiet, but smiles and answers questions when asked directly. If they see a problem nobody has ever called us. She stays in her room except to come to the dinner table because we eat together. She only speaks at dinner if we ask her a question and then she only answers with yes, no, don't know, or don't remember. We've found there is no open-ended question she can't answer in less than 3 words. She makes eye contact with us though and listens to what we talk about. She isn't sullen or unhappy acting. She never asks us a question about anything! If I came to the dinner table naked I bet she would pretend she didn't notice.

If she needs something from the store she stands around and finally seems to get up the courage to say she needs shampoo or something. She has no friends, never had a date or boyfriend, no phone calls, no texts. Friday night she goes to bed at 10:00 and all weekend she just stays in her room and watches tv or does homework. We made her get her driver's license and bought her a car but she doesn't go anywhere unless I send her to the store. If we take her places with us she goes but doesn't talk. How do you not comment on absolutely anything going on around you??

I don't even think she will talk to a therapist and once when I mentioned it she said no, there is nothing wrong with her. We love her dearly but don't know what to do anymore or how to help. I'm also afraid to push her to get a job because the stress of communicating with the public may be too much for her. It is uncomfortable to sit in silence with her and exhausting to think of something to talk about, knowing she won't have a comment anyway. Are there any words of wisdom out there? I worry daily about her!

[Miswimmy1]

It may be the age. It also could be anxiety. As a teenager who knows what you mean all too well, I suggest checking it out. Her invtroverted-ness may be her coping mechanism. I know that I was similar to your daughter. I would also definatley get her into therapy. Let her known your concern for her, that you luv her, etc. Don't use therapy as a punishment or a threat, like "If you don't perk up, I'm making you go to counseling". That will only cause rebellion. Tell her that you want to assist her, and that you think she would probably not want to talk to you, and start interviewing therapists. It also could be depression... which manifests diferently in everyone.

Best of luck!

[shortandcute]

Originally Posted by bertieb

My daughter has always been quiet and different but it has really come out since she became a teen and we realized she has no friends or social life. None. She is attractive, fit, good grades and nothing obvious to cause any low self-esteem. She's actually proud of her grades. She doesn't seem depressed, she just doesn't communicate with us or anyone else I know of.

Her teachers say she is quiet, but smiles and answers questions when asked directly. If they see a problem nobody has ever called us. She stays in her room except to come to the dinner table because we eat together. She only speaks at dinner if we ask her a question and then she only answers with yes, no, don't know, or don't remember. We've found there is no open-ended question she can't answer in less than 3 words. She makes eye contact with us though and listens to what we talk about. She isn't sullen or unhappy acting. She never asks us a question about anything! If I came to the dinner table naked I bet she would pretend she didn't notice.

If she needs something from the store she stands around and finally seems to get up the courage to say she needs shampoo or something. She has no friends, never had a date or boyfriend, no phone calls, no texts. Friday night she goes to bed at 10:00 and all weekend she just stays in her room and watches tv or does homework. We made her get her driver's license and bought her a car but she doesn't go anywhere unless I send her to the store. If we take her places with us she goes but doesn't talk. How do you not comment on absolutely anything going on around you??

I don't even think she will talk to a therapist and once when I mentioned it she said no, there is nothing wrong with her. We love her dearly but don't know what to do anymore or how to help. I'm also afraid to push her to get a job because the stress of communicating with the public may be too much for her. It is uncomfortable to sit in silence with her and exhausting to think of something to talk about, knowing she won't have a comment anyway. Are there any words of wisdom out there? I worry daily about her!

Wow--if that is the worst of it -- I say count your blessings, hun!