DD is 8. For the past few weeks she's been showing some anxiety. I have posted in other sections previously but there isn't much traffic, and we seem to be progressing and she has improved overall so some of the concerns I had then don't apply anymore but I'm interested in others' thoughts on how to handle this so I'll explain where we are at now.
The issue is separation anxiety. She's worried about something happening to us or us dying when she is away from us. This has been prompted by a couple of different things - seeing some videos on YouTube and witnessing a car crash. Its been difficult for her to leave us at school but she says once she is in and distracted she's fine and enjoys herself. It's just the actual physical handover. She does a hobby and I've been having to stay in the car because she's flatly refuses to go in if she knows I've gone home in case I don't return. Again, once in there she enjoys herself.
We've tried different things but wondering about how to progress. We don't feel it's significant enough to need psychological help at the moment as it's certainly not taking over her life, she's not having meltdowns and is happy overall but we need to get past this. We've obviously given lots of reassurance but we can't keep repeating ourselves forever. We've tried a bit of tough love. I've also talked through strategies to help her if her fear does happen - eg. If I'm late to pick you up, you will be safe with your teachers until I get there, but that doesn't help as she says she just wants me there at the right time.
There's no signs of neurodiversity, no friendship fallouts, doing well academically, supportive family and friends, continues to socialise well.
Has anyone else been in a similar situation?