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My 8 year old daughter bit her own arm and said she wants to die because she said she hates herself! :-(

9 replies

mummyloveslucy · 12/03/2013 19:09

This is so out of charactor for her. She has learning difficulties, but is the kindest most loving little girl you could meet. She started school 5 months ago, after being home educated, and is loving it. She is very popular with the other children and they tend to argue over her, which she finds hard, as she wants to please everyone.
Her Dad and I dote on her, she is an only child and she gets so much love and attention from all her family. Only recently though, she's started to become jelous of people, say if we smile at someone or give them a compliment, she'll get all huffy and say "You don't love me anymore!"
She knows we'd like another baby, and that worries her. She thinks she's not good enough for us.
The other night she came into our room and said she'd bitten her arm. I could see the marks, but it wasn't that bad at all. I asked her why and she said she hates herself. When I asked why, she said "I'm too big and fat, I have funny teeth and I'm bonkers". I said that all the best people were bonkers, and she smiled. Then she said "I just want to die! I want to hit my head against a wall and let all the stuff come out, then I'll die" Shock Where on earth has she heard this?? I told her how upset that would make us, and all her family etc.
A boy at school has said to her that she's big etc and it has upset her greatly. She is very tall, and slightly over weight. She absoluitly loves her food and has a big appertite. What she does eat is healthy, but she needs a lot to fill her up. I never talk about mine or other peoples size, or diets.
She's never said she doesn't want to go to school, and she didn't seem that upset when telling us about hating herself. I just don't know what to make of it. Is there anything I can do? I'm going to speek to the school tomorrow.

OP posts:
mummyloveslucy · 12/03/2013 19:21

bump

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BeerTricksPotter · 12/03/2013 19:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mummyloveslucy · 12/03/2013 19:36

Thank you. Smile by "stuff", I think she meant brain, blood etc, rather than thoughts and feelings. (Delightful)

I've told her many times that people come in all shapes and sizes, but she just doesn't like being tall and bigger. She doesn't want to grow any more and has a fear of growing older. In fact, all this started after her 8th birthday.

I'll look for the social storys re-jelousy, and encourage her to talk to us.

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BeerTricksPotter · 12/03/2013 19:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mummyloveslucy · 12/03/2013 19:47

I agree, re the school. I'll speak to them tomorrow. They did mention a mentor from year 6, to look out for her at play times. I hope that'll go ahead.

I'll post under SEN's as well. Thanks.

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mummyloveslucy · 12/03/2013 20:21

bump

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mummy2benji · 12/03/2013 23:13

I've seen more than one thread with a mum asking advice as their daughter hates being tall. It's not easy being tall as a young girl - I was taller than all the boys and I hated it and used to slouch to try to make myself shorter. At around age 11 other people started catching me up and although I'm fairly tall for a woman (5' 8") I'm by no means way above average. You could try telling her that a lot of girls just have their growth spurts early and the others may catch her up in a year or two. Also, are there any tall women you can think of who are good role models / aspirational? Obviously models aren't the best choice here. But naming some women (or kids books with tall female characters?) who are tall that she would look up to (pun unintentional) might help her feel better about being tall. Wish I could advise about the rest, how upsetting for you to hear her say that - could you have a word with her teacher if she says anything similar again, just to watch out for her and try to make sure she is happy at school.

insanityscratching · 13/03/2013 19:57

As she's quite tall and has learning difficulties she is quite likely to go through puberty early. Could this be causing her mood swings do you think?

mummyloveslucy · 14/03/2013 10:41

Well, I think she is. She's had to wear anti persparent, since she was 6, and there are signs of change.

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