⚠️ Trigger Warning:

This episode includes discussion of mental health, depression, suicidal ideation and coming out. Please listen with care.

In this powerful episode of the Parenting Collective Podcast, host Donna Moala sits down with her daughter Eloise for an honest mother–daughter conversation about mental health, sexuality, identity and conscious parenting.

Eloise shares her lived experience with ADHD, anxiety, severe depression, suicidal ideation, and the challenges of growing up feeling different. Together, Donna and Eloise discuss the journey of realising she is gay, coming out during high school, masking, people, pleasing, and the fear of being judged, even within a loving family.

This episode explores:

• Teen mental health and suicidal ideation
• ADHD, anxiety, and depression in adolescents
• Coming out as LGBTQ+ and navigating identity
• The impact of masking and people-pleasing
• How conscious parenting supports connection and healing
• Parental adjustment, grief, and inner work
• Creating safety for children to be their authentic selves

Donna reflects on how parenting through mental health crises required letting go of control, fear, and societal expectations and how conscious parenting helped the family stay connected through the hardest years.

Eloise speaks openly about finding self-acceptance, building supportive friendships, and learning to trust herself after years of hiding who she was.

⏱️ Chapter Stamps

00:00 Introduction to a Pivotal Life Moment

00:30 Struggles with Mental Health

01:05 Realizing and Embracing Sexuality

02:35 Coming Out Stories and Family Reactions

04:46 Navigating Relationships and Acceptance

07:11 Family Dynamics and Support

12:05 Parental Reflections and Adjustments

23:05 Embracing Authenticity and Happiness

23:42 Parental Reflection and Growth

24:13 Navigating Family Dynamics

25:02 Adjusting to New Relationships

29:06 Conscious Parenting Insights

33:54 Advice for LGBTQ+ Youth and Parents

37:43 Reflecting on Personal Growth

42:02 The Importance of Support Systems

45:58 Final Thoughts and Resources

If you are a parent feeling overwhelmed or unsure how to support your child, this episode offers hope, insight, and reassurance, healing is possible.

I would appreciate it greatly if you could please LIKE and FOLLOW this podcast and if you are not following me over on instagram, head over there for all of my top tips and advice around sleep and parenting @parentingcollective.au. I also offer a free 15 minute phone chat to run through all your questions CLICK here to book your FREE 15 minute chat

Much Love 💞

Donna Moala
Parenting Collective

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