My 8 year old has a lot of trouble speaking out to adults without my help. Her teachers, anyone who asks her a question about things like a menu or something we are buying. I have to speak because she goes 100% mute.
She went on school camp for 2 nights and vomited both nights. She went to a sleep over this weekend and I had to pick her up because she vomited.
She says she feels too anxious and can't speak up to say I need my Mum. She just gets so worked up. But on the outside she is calm and has no emotion. I'm the only one she will show it to.
We moved out from our home and her Dad who is controlling and was emotionally abusive to me 2 years ago. She still sees him 2 times a week and it's all sunshine and roses and very fake on both sides.
Should I push her to talk to someone professionally? She is not keen and says she can only talk to me. But I feel like I don't want to mess with her future emotional strength and stability.
She is everything to me. I see her amazing abilities and know is a very special person. I want her to be able to feel confident in the world without me propping her up. But don't want to push her.
8 year old anxiety
8 year old anxiety
Posted in:
Kids
6 Replies
She def should see a child psychologist and work on this otherwise it will prob get a whole lot worse. Also you need to stop doing/ saying things for her as this enables the anxiety cycle to continue, as much as it sounds difficult and mean it needs to happen to help her in the long run! Good luck
Why don't you take her to a child psychologist. My daughter has th is and I completely understand everything d
You've said about her and have a grab bag of strategies to put in place as well as what's important to teach her and work on. You should too. Information is power. Xx
Seeing a mental health professional is the way to go, but if she has social anxiety this step will be really hard for her. There are some great resources you could introduce her to prior to taking her to see someone (just so she gets comfortable with the idea of talking about her anxiety with a stranger.. vulnerability is a main trigger for anxiety attacks). I would suggest starting with psychoeducational childrens books such as "The Huge Bag of Worries" by Virginia Ironside (i think Youtube might even have a narrated video for free?) and Wilma Jean The Worry Machine. Hope this helps!
Sounds like my DD who has Selective Mutism. A psychologist and Speech Therapist were most helpful. She’s always going to be introverted but at least she can speak up a bit more for her needs.
My son was like this at a young age, I didn’t know it but he had selective mutism. Something a psychologist made me aware of. I never knew it was such a thing. He has got better with age and coping skills but he still gets very anxious at times. He hates attention. Take her to a child psychologist. They are fantastic with kids.
She needs to get professional help. Sounds like anxiety and selective mutism. Google it. She needs to see a psychologist though because the longer you leave it the harder for her it will be as she gets older. Poor little girl. My son is exactly the same. I took him to a psychologist straight away and it helped so much.