[Martina]

My daughter is now becoming curious about my medications, she sees me taking them, sees me filling up my Sunday-Saturday container. She also becomes curious when I get "tired" and lay in bed all day sometimes.

I really want to talk to my daughter about mental illness, but I have no idea where to start.

She's 5. She just started Kindergarten. I feel like she's old enough to know a little bit. Where do I begin?

I have already told her that it's okay to be sad, and that if she feels sad it's okay to cry, and it's okay to tell Mommy & Daddy how she is feeling. I want her to feel like it's okay to talk about her feelings, and not hold them in and be ashamed about them.

I try to teach her to think positively, and not look at the negative too much. Like when she can't do something right, not to beat herself up about it. But to just have fun with it.

What more can I do?

[bebop]

I think at 5 they just won't understand. if you are in therapy ask the therapist how to go about talking to her. good luck with it!

[Yoda]

I would keep it really simple for a five year old. At that age they still are learning to discern reality from fantasy.

[multi_gal71]

This is a hard one. My son is now 7 and I've only recently started explaining to him what my meds are for, why I take them and what's "wrong" with me; his therapist and I came up with a good starter:

"You know how Grampa has diabetes? And how he has to give himself those shots every day to keep him healthy? And how Mom-Mom has to take medicine for her heart because it doesn't work the way it's supposed to and if she doesn't take them, she could get very sick? Well, Mama has a disease in her brain, one that keeps it from working the way that it's supposed to, and the medicine I take keeps me from getting sick."

And there have been discussions about "mental illness," and how that term is widely used but how, in our family, we like to call it "brain disease," because the brain is an organ just like the heart or the liver or the lungs and all organs can get sick and require medicine to help keep them working properly. I do this because kids tend to repeat EVERYTHING and I would hate for him to tell his school mates that his mama is "mentally ill," then be stigmatized (him, not me) for having a "crazy" mama.

[otherone]

There's a children's book called Sometimes my Mommy Gets Angry, written by Bebe Moore Campbell that explains mental illness. Check it out, might be a good tool, although I'm not sure if 5 is quite old enugh.

[ECHOES]

I would not concern my child. I would feel as if I was laying a burden on the child.
Children want and need to know parents are capable of providing for their necessities and their needs.

I would tell her that medications are to help us feel well and to stay healthy. And aren't we so lucky to have medications to keep us healthy! That's really all a child needs for reassurance. A brief statement that says "Everything is okay and I am fine."

[Sabrina]

My son is almost 13 and I have never told him of my illness. I have been able to hide it from him though. I had a tough time trying to explain his ADHD meds to him but he is ok with it now.

[Princess_Obsidian]

Greetings,

Are there any local mental health resources, near you, which help educate families about mental illness? If so, they would be a great place to help explain such to small children, such as your daughter.

Have a good one.

My kids range from 5 to 21 and only the older two know I take meds, I felt it was too heavy a burden for them to grasp so just did not let them know.

[Perna]

I would compare to things she knows? Does she take a vitamin or pedialyte when she's sick? I would compare it to that; just call the meds special to help mommy feel better.

[crazygirl76]

Originally Posted by otherone

There's a children's book called Sometimes my Mommy Gets Angry, written by Bebe Moore Campbell that explains mental illness. Check it out, might be a good tool, although I'm not sure if 5 is quite old enugh.

Do you know where I can find this book? Thank you.

[Martina]

Originally Posted by crazygirl76

Do you know where I can find this book? Thank you.

I found that book on Amazon.com for $5.99 with free Super Saver Shipping if you spend $25 bucks total. I might buy it. I'd like to see it before buying it, though. But I live in a small town and I can guarantee no one will carry it here.

I don't want to hide my illness from my child. I want to be open about it. My mother's opinions about mental illness being such a shameful and hidden thing you just don't talk about are a major reason why I never got treatment until I was 28 years old. I've been this way my entire life. My first suicide attempt at age 11. While I wish more than anything in the world that my daughter NEVER goes through this hell, IF SHE DOES, I want her to know that it's normal to talk about it.

But that said.....I want it to be age-appropriate. I don't want to talk to a 5 year old child about neurotransmitters in the brain! Hello - not appropriate!!!

I had a small chat with her last night, actually, as I was taking my meds. I give her her vitamins when I take my meds. I said "do you know why you take vitamins?" She said yes, but then didn't know why. I said to help you stay healthy and grow up big & strong. Then I showed her my meds and said "do you know why Mommy takes medicine?" and she said no. and I said "Mommy's brain doesn't work like it's supposed to, so Mommy has to take medicine to help her brain work right"

There. I did something.

I guess I feel like I really want her to understand. But I know she can't. And at the same time I wish she never knew. It's a bit hard.