FINDING THE WORDS TO TALK TO YOUR CHILD ABOUT YOUR ILLNESS
When parents and children broach the subject, the conversation naturally varies depending on the children's age and their ability to process information. But you can find books, films, and podcasts that can help you talk to your children about your feelings.
No one knows your child better than you, and it's better for them to receive information from you, rather than from an outsider. Without answers to their questions, they will search for them themselves or imagine their own scenarios.
"It's because I wasn't good enough that Mom went back to the hospital."
Paul, 8 years old
Outsourcing (Zig-Zag Project, Astrame, Switzerland) Sometimes, in the eyes of the parent, the child, or loved ones, the disorder and the parent become indistinguishable, as if they were one and the same. This can be experienced as confining, guilt-inducing, or even dehumanizing.
Talking about this disorder is therefore difficult. We invite the parent(s) and child(ren) to pretend that the illness is a separate object. What would it look like? Its shape? Its color? Its size? etc.
By creating this distinction, the loved one is once again a fully recognized parent, spouse, brother, sister, friend… The disorder is then seen as something external, something that can be discussed without guilt. The entire family can stand together in solidarity without being against the person experiencing the disorder. It is even possible to give this mental health issue that has entered the family a name, a representation.
In the media library), you will find books and other resources that can help you discuss this topic with your child(ren).
To give an example of outsourcing, you can watch the video "The Black Dog of Depression"