What to do with a 6 yr old afraid of everything and won't sleep???

[EvaAnna]

Hi my DD1 is 6. Two weeks ago her step brother showed her a video on you tube which was scary (michael jackson on thriller jumping up on the screen, you might know the one). It frightened her to death!
Now she has gone from a normal 6 yr old who slept 12 hours a night and walked round the house freely, to one that follows me everywhere, won't go to the toilet on her own; will definetly not let me put her to bed or stay in her room one her. She used to wake up to use the toilet and go straight back to bed on her own. Now when she wakes, she won't go back to sleep and has us up from 4.30/5 most mornings. Her school work is suffering. She stays in the bathroom while I have a shower! It is driving me to distraction and I just don't know what to do any more? I've tried everything. She is crying hysterically when I mention bed. Has anyone any experience or helpful advice to help her get over this?

Poor her.

Don't know if this will work but get some spray in a bottle (water and lavender which clams and is soothing) and spray everywhere that she's afraid of which will stop the 'monsters'.

saw it somewhere...

Hope you find something that works.

My dd is the same and I have just started a thread on here about it. At the moment she is terrified of vampires!

I am hoping someone will give some advice because I am at a loss as to what to do too.

I did try the monster spray when she was younger and had bad dreams but I just think she is a bit too old for it now. May be worth a try though.

Really common. My ds2 (aged 7) is currently petrified of his own shadow all because of a silly Simpsons episode his big brother was watching .... now won't be left in any room alone, won't stay on the shower alone and is having real problems sleeping. I'm hoping it will be a phase and end soon.

MadameSin - my DD1 had a much better weekend. Still got up very early, won't go in a room on her own or upstairs to the toilet on her own, but slept in her own bed all night on sat/sun which was a break through. We are hoping it will all fizzle out soon, and of course, it is much better to cope with when you have had some sleep! Hope the same happens with your DS2!

Mind you, funny you should mention Simpsons as there was a 'halloween' episode on at the weekend, she looked a bit scared and I got it off the telly pronto!

A bit worried about how the whole halloween/fireworks night thingy, but we'll just have to wait and see how that pans out.....