Anxious eight year old at bedtime

[Jenbob87]

Hi all I was just looking for some advice or reassurance

we moved three months ago, new place new school etc… my son has settled beautifully but over the half term hi little sister got a vomiting bug. My son became very anxious that he was going to get it and was getting quite panicky about it.

since then every night he is almost having a panic attack before bed saying everything’s hopeless and breathing fast. When I try and ask him about it he will say I just don’t want to cry at school or my stomach hurts I don’t want to be sick or I’m worried about going to after school club even though he’s never worried about that before.

Ive found that staying in his room or talking too much about these worries makes it worse so I have been brushing them off a bit and changing the subject and distracting him when he gets upset but I don’t know if that’s the right thing to do. At the moment he reads for half an hour and then I turn his light off we have a cuddle say a prayer for peace and then I leave but I feel awful knowing he wants me to stay.

has anyone got any advice or hope that this will stop soon. Would be so grateful for any thoughts

thank you

It does sound like he's very anxious. Have you tried anything like a weighted blanket or leaving him with an audiobook playing?

Have you spoken to his Teacher about his anxiety and how they think he's coping st the new school?

Abc I'd just check with him that he's not being bullied

*And

Thank you so much for your reply. I’ve asked him about school and being bullied and he’s def not being bullied. It’s a weird sort of general anxiety he gets each night. I love the idea of a weighted blanket and think I will have a look at getting one. Thank you

I'd try one along with a gentle audio book. We had a bit of success with the Sleepy range from Lush too.