Happy Eldest Daughter's Day to all the eldest daughters! If you're the eldest daughter in your family, you might be entitled to all sorts of compensation today (or at least a little extra love).
Are you the overachieving, responsible, anxious, caring, “parentified” eldest daughter? Take all the time you can today to celebrate yourself – you deserve it. Here's more on Eldest Daughter's Day, and why it was created.
When is Eldest Daughter's Day?
This day was co-created by Home Girls Unite and Eldest Daughter Club, a safe space for eldest daughters who face challenges in their homes, such as taking care of younger siblings or financially supporting their families.
Eldest Daughter's Day is Aug. 26.
Why was Eldest Daughter's Day created?
Home Girls Unite and Eldest Daughter Club created Eldest Daughters Day to celebrate
all eldest daughters who deserve to be recognized for who they are and what they do.
What is the eldest daughter?
As you might imagine, the eldest daughter is the firstborn daughter of the household.
This organization works with eldest daughters who have suffered emotional, physical, and financial abuse within their homes. Many firstborn daughters suffer from "eldest-daughter syndrome," according to the mental health website Charlie Health. This term has been used on social media to describe the struggles of being the firstborn daughter.
The eldest daughter might have several responsibilities from a very young age, such as looking after their siblings at the expense of their time and energy, taking care of people and their emotions, and working and giving paychecks to their family.
This extra set of responsibilities can lead to depression, anxiety and other mental health issues, according to Charlie Health.
@theholisticpsychologist Oldest daughter syndrome happens when we grow up parentified. This means we become the parent of the home at a young age. In the process, we abandon and neglect our own needs. And focus on making everyone else comfortable. This leads to: people-pleasing, perfectionism, and numbing behaviors. We end up disconnected from ourselves. And burnt out from being over-responsible for others. If you’re ready to heal, my private membership community opens Jan 2nd. Spaces sell out. Click the link in my bio if you know you want to join. This will get you on the waitlist and secure your spot.
♬ original sound - Dr. Nicole LePera
Are you the eldest daughter? Here's how to look after yourself.
If you're an eldest daughter, here's your reminder that it's okay to take care of yourself.
It's important to reflect on who you are and set those boundaries to protect yourself. Here are ways you can heal your eldest daughter syndrome and improve your well-being, according to Charlie Health.
@hayleygracepoetry the curse of being the eldest daughter…🌷🤍 #spokenword #poetrytok #spokenpoetry
♬ original sound - hayley grace
- Learn to prioritize yourself: You've been taking care of people your whole life. Take some time to take care of yourself.
- Practice self-care: Give yourself some alone time to decompress.
- Lean on your support system: You might have friends that relate to your struggles, don't hesitate to reach out when you need them.
- Learn to set boundaries: It's okay to say "no" sometimes.
- Know when to seek help: Your struggles might lead to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Seeking help from a mental health professional can improve daily life and break generational cycles.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: It's Eldest Daughter's Day. They may be dealing with more than it seems
