Here is a link to the Conversation from Freya India's Substack - Girls
https://www.freyaindia.co.uk/p/diagnosing-our-daughters?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
What if the fastest way to strength isn’t fixing feelings but facing them together? We delve into a father’s candid perspective on raising resilient girls and the simple yet demanding equation that anchors the conversation: adversity plus community plus faith beats pills plus labels. Through real moments, hard-won reflections, and generous nods to thinkers like Freya India and clinical voices like Dr Roger McFillin, we chart a path away from reflexive pathologising and toward language, rituals, and relationships that actually heal.
We start with the words we choose. Swapping “I am depressed” for “I feel sad right now” seems small, but it changes everything—identity becomes experience, permanent becomes passing. From there, we move into the power of sitting with emotions instead of rushing to fix them, especially for daughters whose rich inner lives are often treated as disorders. We explore how numbing hard feelings can interrupt healthy brain development, while carefully acknowledging that medication has its place when used with wisdom and support.
Community and meaning do the heavy lifting. Shared meals, trusted mentors, faith gatherings, and team spaces help young people see themselves inside a bigger story. We talk about the lost art of grief rituals—funerals, vigils, prayers—that give shape to heartbreak and build resilience. History and philosophy also earn their place at the table, offering context that guards against ideological capture and reminding us that endurance is a human tradition, not a modern discovery.
By the end, you’ll have a framework to raise girls who do not fear their feelings, who can outlast emotional storms, and who grow into women with a steady core. If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs encouragement today, and leave a review to help more parents find these conversations.
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