I have a 13-year-old daughter who is physically disabled. She finds it hard to make friends and suffers from low self-esteem. She hates going to school as she feels that her classmates make fun of her. She has become quiet even at home and does not engage with any of the family members. Please help

Name: Veena, Pune

Answer: Dear Veena, Thank you for writing to us. You could try a few ways to help your daughter form friendships in school or maybe your society. It can be hard to join a group of friends as these groups may have been formed in her class.

She has to take the initiative to talk to people and try and encourage her to do that. You can also help by asking her to invite a few friends home for a meal. Perhaps her teacher can help out by organizing a group activity and including her in it.

You could also look at counselling sessions for her with a professional psychologist or a life coach. This could help build her sense of confidence in herself.

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