Anxious 7 year old, can I have some advise please?

[LingDiLong]

My 7 yo DD has always been prone to a bit of anxiety, she will get an idea in her head and it worries her hugely for ages e.g. she's never wanted to be in a room on her own as it's 'scary'. This eased a little as she got older but has suddenly come back with a vengance since we got back from holidays a week ago. Nothing happened while we were away, she had a brilliant time and didn't want to come home. No big jet lag to get over either. But since we got back she gets absolutely hysterical if she's left in a room on her own, she works herself up in a state at bedtime because despite sharing a room with her brother she wants him actually in her bed with her or she's 'too scared' to get to sleep. At bathtime this week she suddenly went bananas because she decided there may be a crab in the bath!! She was scrabbling out of the bath like a lunatic and couldn't be reasoned with.

She also just seems very tired and down . I'm not sure if she's got herself in a vicscious cycle; she can't sleep because she's worked up, then because she's tired she gets worked up, but because she's worked up she can't sleep!

Does anyone have any tips for how to calm her down and ease her anxiety? I'm going to have a quick chat with her teacher next week to see if there's anything going on there but I really don't think there is, she's always been very open about everything that goes on at school and is happy going in every morning.

I was exactly like this as a child, at the same age!! Mine was however triggered by a dream which seemed so real I was convinced it was real and had happened. I drove my parents mad! I also wanted my brother in my room or to sleep in my patents room, I dreaded bedtimes, etc. my mum went to my teacher as she was at the end of her tether and we used a nightlight etc. I was like it for about a year!!!

I also have a 7 year old ds and he can get anxious on his own in rooms but not as bad. We have a dream catcher in his room as he does dream a lot too and always scary dreams... It has helped a bit.

If she's really genuinely frightened, give her lots of tlc and this will help! I just remember my parents loosing patience with me but I used to lie under blankets at night feeling very scared.

Thanks CharlieBoo, it really helps to get my daughter's perspective! We do try hard to be patient but I hold my hands up to failing sometimes at the end of a long day. She has a light on already but a dream catcher may help.

I know it's hard, I'm the same with ds, it's frustrating after a long day you just want them to go to sleep!! Go easy on her, go with what she feels comfortable with, so ok not fair on your ds to have to sleep with her, but maybe you sty upstairs until she's asleep, or let her read for a good while, this will relax her and make her sleepy. Good luck, I can see it from both child and parents side.