-- Posted by lilsmokey425 at 2:22 pm on Nov. 17, 2008 ok...so im 20 years old and my sister is 15, and ive been living at home and going to a small community college. we've always been close despite our ups and downs, but lately she's been acting strange, and everyone's noticing it. she seems like she's depressed and she doesnt ever wanna hang out with me anymore for casual video game playing and chatting. my mom recently saw some cuts on her arms and asked her what was going on, but my sister didnt have anything to say. she doesnt talk to my parents about personal stuff usually. has anyone been through this, and if so, what can i do to help her out? any help is greatly appreciated. im worried about her. -- Posted by juliaa at 2:23 pm on Nov. 17, 2008 just try and support her and encourage her and be the one to listen without pressuring her, and if it gets worse ask for help -- Posted by MystiqueBeauty16 at 2:23 pm on Nov. 17, 2008 I would get your Mom to take her to a counselor. She's obviously going through something, and those cuts aren't coincidences. She needs help. -- Posted by IceTeaEdwin at 2:24 pm on Nov. 17, 2008 Take her to see a shrink, chain her when she's not in public *so she won't hurt herself*, talk to her. -- Posted by shawtybaby00 at 2:26 pm on Nov. 17, 2008 UM MY ADViCE iS TO TRY YOUR BEST TO COMFORT HER AND THT YOU'RE THERE FOR HER FOR WATEVER YA KNW? AND iF SHE iS CUTTiNG HERSELF, THEN SHE NEEDS TO SEE SOME HELP BEFORE iT GETS ALiTTLE OUTTA HAND..HOPE THiS HELPS. -- Posted by noraa at 2:28 pm on Nov. 17, 2008 First of all, let me just say that it's great of you for listening. So many people distance themselves from their families because they feel like they don't want to get involved in helping depression. It's not a good thing. She needs you, whether or not she acts like it. I think the best thing to do for your is be there for her. Come into her room and talk to her, about whatever. Mention your own stress. See if you two can relate to each other. It may be that she completely closes up to you, and acts like everything is fine. THat may happen because she is shy about opening up to you and describing what she is feeling and how she is hurting. If that happens, your family and you may have to do some detective work. I don't mean spying, anything like that. Just watch her relations with her friends. Look at her grades from school. Try and work out the source for this stress. If she does open up to you, she'll most likely say that you can't help. But that's not true. You can tell her to snap a rubberband on her wrist when she feels like cutting. That is a common way to evade actually hurting yourself. While it may not be a long term solution, it's a good way to ease into stopping. Teach her to channel her emotions into other things--art, music, just plain crying. Talk to her A LOT. Let her vent, pour things out to you. You're her big sister, somebody who can always be there for her, and she needs that. PM me if you want more advice.