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Nightmares after witnessing violence

3 replies

Cakestreatmum · 28/01/2013 22:15

I am in need of some advice. A week ago my daughter aged 8 recently witnessed a violent fight between two dad's whom she knows outside her school, she was very upset at the time. I've tried to explain what happened but she is just so worried all the time. Since the event she has nights where she cannot go to sleep by herself, she has reverted to 'needing' someone with her as she goes off to sleep, she won't be by herself at bedtime, it's just ridiculous. She has never done tis before not even as a baby. Then in the night she wakes up time after time with nightmares about what happened. I'm just at a loss as to what to do. My poor little girl worries in case she might bump into them outside school. She has got a little better as we can now stand outside the shop that he owns before school as we always did. I just don't know what to do. Tonight i've had to let her sleep on the floor of her 10 year old sisters room, which did not go down well I can tell you. Does anyone have any ideas what I am to do?

OP posts:
SkaffenAmtiskaw · 28/01/2013 22:19

Your poor DD, how dreadful :( She seems traumatised.

Can you not sleep with her for a while?

Would it help if she spoke about her feelings to someone neutral, on Childline for instance?

BertieBotts · 28/01/2013 22:20

Are the school aware of this if it happened outside? Did other children see it etc? Even if not it might be worth contacting them to see if they have a school counsellor or anything (I suppose possibly unlikely for a primary school.) If not might be worth asking your GP?

BertieBotts · 28/01/2013 22:22

Oh childline is a good idea definitely.

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