anxiety in an eight year old- and her parents

[potgirl]

DD is almost eight and gets very anxious about certain things. The first real one was her weight. "I'm fat" and "I'm greedy" were typical comments. Or she would grab her thights and say "look at this". I think this was triggered by a remark made by a stringbean at school. Incidentally DD is NOT fat- on the top centile for weight and off the scale for height so in proportion. More recently she has become very worried about being greedy, having too many things, getting too many presents at her birthday party, us spending too much on it etc etc. Reassurance that other kids have parties and get presents from her, that we have not sepnt a great deal (which is true, explanation of what being greedy really is have litle effect. The day before party she is in tears for an hour over these things and i'm not sure what to do. Since I have battled with anxiety and depression all my life, it's natural to assume she is picking it up somehow from me. Any advice please. I do not want her to grow up with the same problems I have.

[cab]

Would it be worth having a word with her g.p.? Sorry dd only 4 so it may just be a normal 'phase' but I have no idea. Hope someone else can help.

[pressure]

potgirl, I would definitely go to the GP (probably without dd) and ask them what counselling services are set up for kids. I had terrible anxiety as a child resulting in me having panic attacks from the age of 13 onwards.

I was desperate by that stage to have someone to talk to but could never find anyone I thought was suitable and who I thought wouldn't tell my parents (I was embarrassed because I was so anxious but didn't know how to deal with it). Later in life (when I was about 17), I found out that my mother suffered with anxiety (severe) and depression her whole life but kept it hidden from me. I only wish I had known because perhaps I would not have felt so paranoid about dealing with it. My parents were so appalled that I could be heading that way that they chose not to do anything about it (telling me I had to be positive and not so silly which only made it worse).

It really does sound like she needs some help. I honestly believe that if I could have had someone to talk to at that age, it would have completely changed my outlook. I looked up some counsellors on the website the other day and I noticed that some specialise in children so your GP will surely know someone in your area that could help.

And well done to you for identifying her anxiety and wanting to do something about it. I only wish someone had done the same for me.