Dd13 self harming and obsessed with her screens

[Sonoio]

We just found out that dd has been self harming. We see a specialist on Monday. I think she has been anxious for 2 years and her coping mechanisms have been her phone, drawing on her laptop and recently self -harming. At the weekend unless she is out,she is on a screen the whole day. I convinced myself that because she spends a lot of time drawing on Photoshop,this was ok. But I think she is using screens to keep the anxiety at bay. When she comes off she looks depressed. I need some advice. How much time should a 13 year old spend online?

This sounds very difficult. Is she photoshopping pictures?

I think you know that she is on it too much. I’m not sure that there’s any answer as to how much she ‘should’ be on- it depends on the child.

I work in secondary school and, sadly, your story isn’t unusual. She is also at the most impressionable age and it’s great that you’re trying to make changes quickly.

I would try and reduce to, say, an hour in the morning and some time later in the day. Go out in between.

She just draws using Photoshop and another illustration programme. She just doesn't seem to know what to do with herself ,unless she is on a screen. There are no neurodevelopmental issues, she has an anxiety disorder we think. I am not even sure how her screen hours crept up.