7yo Dd struggles to control her anger and emotions sometimes. We've been working through an anger management book for kids which talked about techniques to calm down and she told me that she often pinches herself when angry and upset and it makes her feel better. When I probed more she said she feels like she 'deserves' it. A common scenario is her running off to her room v upset after being told off for something eg. Hurting her sister whilst in a rage.
This really worries me and makes me fear for her future. I also found/find it hard to control my emotions and deal with feelings and self harmed as a teen and a bit as an adult when upset with myself, along similar lines to pinching never causjng lasting damage beyond bruising etc.
I so don't want this for her and don't want it to develop as she gets older. She seems to see it as no big deal and something that makes her feel better.
Should I tell her not to? Should we try to get professional help to nip it in the bud?
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Dd7 and 'self harm'
IWantDogger · 03/08/2015 09:53
Bumping for you. DC same age does similar. We have had minimal crap help from CAMHS 
Hmmmm. I guess it's the need to punish herself which is the concern. And the fact it makes her feel better. And the similarity in your history.
What exactly is it that you're after? Advice on how to stop it? How to define it? Where to seek help?
Camhs are generally very overstretched with all the government cuts and will tend only to see really serious self harmers (through no choice of the camhs workers themselves, I might add!).
Sounds like you're on the right track with th book. Does it cover anything to do with self harm?
How much so you know about self harm apart from your own experience?
Is it just anger that's the trigger or other emotions too?
Can you give an example of a typical situation which would lead to her getting angry and hurting herself?
Sorry you're going through this... But it sounds like you're on the ball and she's being open with you which us ace 
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