Please help! 7 year old is anxious

[littlemissmandi]

Hello - any advice on this would be SO welcome pls. My 7 year old daughter has suddenly become very clingy with me and is worried that something bad is going to happen to me or that I will become ill. She said she is worried that myself or my partner are unwell and says things like I would die if I couldn't be with mumma. I am sure this is a normal phase and her biological father (who doesn't live with us) has been ill recently so this is more than likely why she has become anxious. More worryingly though she is complaining of constant stomach ache and dizziness and is asking for me to take her to the doctors (which I am doing today). I'm unsure if this is related to her worries (is emotional) or if it's a separate more physical issue and also if I'm overthinking it all! we do talk openly and I'm trying to understand if this is a phase or something I really should be worrying about but I'm struggling with what to do for the best and if I should be bringing it up with her or waiting until she mentions it each time. Bedtime seems to be worse for her and she struggles to get to drop off to sleep sometimes too. I can't bear the thought of her having worries or anxiousness so any advice if you've been through this would be great. Thanks.

DS1 had an anxious phase when he was 8/9 and I found Helen Kennerley's book "Overcoming Anxiety" to be helpful.

My now 13yo DS went through a very anxious phase at a similar age, and it was down to a couple of things that happened with injuries to his Dad after a bike accident. I think they see the parent as vulnerable instead of invinsible all of a sudden and it's hard to deal with.

It passed, although he's generally an anxious clid anyway, suspect this is more down to his ASD more than anything. We did buy "What To Do When You Worry Too Much." but while it helped me DS didn't pay a huge amount of attention to it.

Anxiety does also cause the physical symptoms your DD describes so I wouldn't worry unduly about that.

It is really hard but it will pass. Keep being open and calm and kind with her and it will pass. It's horrible though, you'd do anything to make it OK.