Can a 6yo suffer depression/have an ed or both?

[ShinyAndNew]

Dd1 is really worrying me lately. She is becoming fussy with her food again and is limiting her food intake. This time it is definately about her weight. She is going to a party with a meal and movie theme. SHe had to chose from the menu and fill in her invitation. She chose a hotdog, but with no fries, because that doesn't sound like it will be very much. And an ice lolly instead of ice cream, because ice cream makes you fat apparently, but lollies are just juice.

Last week, when I was putting her to bed she told me that no one loves her and she might aswell just die and proceeded to try and sufforcate herself with her pillow.

She tells me she is ugly and horrifying. And all her friends agree with her. I don't believe this, she is very popular with her friends, they are always pleased to see her and always asking for playdates. I haven't told dd1 that I don't believe her obviously.

Tonight she told me she had been trying to cut her hands with a leaf necklace she found in her room, to make them bleed. She wouldn't tell me why she would want to do something like this.

I'm really worried about her.

She has a had a really rough and unsettling year, during which she lost her cousin to cancer, she lost two of her pet dogs, someone stole her kitten and we moved house. Other friends and family members have died and been ill too. She will have picked up on this, inc. her 6yo friends mum dying

I really want some to tell me that all of this is normal and I am overreacting, but I know that I am not. She needs more help than I can give her doesn't she?

You need to take her to the GP, she is self harming and has the onset of an eating disorder, she needs a referral to the CAMHS team, which are an child and adolescent mental health team. Depression can affect children, it's a chemical imbalance in the brain. Our children are bombarded with images of thin women and it does influence them. It sounds like you've all had a really tough time and she's crying out for help. You need to do this as soon as you can.

I'm phoning GP first thing Monday and if needs be she will miss school. I had already decided that. I am scared for her tbh.

The school had said they would arrange counselling for her, but this was two weeks ago and a lot more has happened since then. She needs to see someone now.

It takes time for people to get things in motion, they are not trying to be unhelpful, there's a massive demand for the CAMHS team and they will do an assessment based on immediate need which is why it's a good idea to take her directly to A&E or preferably a childrens emergency department if she deteriorates between now and seeing the GP. This really is something that happens to so many children, she can get through it but she needs you to stay strong for her and fight on her behalf. You're not over reacting, she's your child, you know her better then anyone else and your instinct is to believe her and get her the help that she needs.