My child who is never usually worried or concerned about anything has suddenly become anxious at bedtime. Shes 9, almost 10. Two night ago she said she was upset because her teddys aren't real, then she said she was worried about death and said she just felt anxious and upset but didn't really know why. She's been very clingy during the daytimes, again it's not like her. I'm so worried about it and really feel upset for her although I'm not letting on at all. I've cuddled her loads and reassured her that it's normal. I've tried to see if there's anything else worrying her etc.
I don't really know what I want from this post! Is this normal? I just want her to be ok and happy and not have that dreaded feeling. I suffer with anxiety (she is unaware) and I hate to think of her feeling how I do sometimes.
I have ordered some worry books for her, I have the calm app for bedtime stories and I also have a string which is tied from her bed to mine so she knows I'm at the end of it.
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Children's health
Anxious 9/10 yo at bedtime
fitnessmummy · 15/04/2024 21:30
coffeeisthebest · 16/04/2024 09:02
Hey OP, she sounds like she is just exploring and discovering some things about life. If we are anxious and we know how difficult anxiety feels then of course we wouldn't wish that on our children but we also can not remove anxiety from their lives. We also can't control how they might approach or manage it, for all we know they may be able to tolerate it better than us but if we decide that it is intolerable for them then they don't have a chance to find out. Just allow her some space to chat these things through with you. I remember worrying about death when I was little but I had no one to speak to as my Mum wasn't approachable for stuff like this so I would have loved a little safe space at bedtime to talk things through that I couldn't say to my friends at school. Take care and she sounds like she is a lovely, curious little soul.
fitnessmummy · 15/04/2024 21:30
My child who is never usually worried or concerned about anything has suddenly become anxious at bedtime. Shes 9, almost 10. Two night ago she said she was upset because her teddys aren't real, then she said she was worried about death and said she just felt anxious and upset but didn't really know why. She's been very clingy during the daytimes, again it's not like her. I'm so worried about it and really feel upset for her although I'm not letting on at all. I've cuddled her loads and reassured her that it's normal. I've tried to see if there's anything else worrying her etc.
I don't really know what I want from this post! Is this normal? I just want her to be ok and happy and not have that dreaded feeling. I suffer with anxiety (she is unaware) and I hate to think of her feeling how I do sometimes.
I have ordered some worry books for her, I have the calm app for bedtime stories and I also have a string which is tied from her bed to mine so she knows I'm at the end of it.
disasterStrikes · 22/04/2024 22:16
@fitnessmummy my 8 year old does this now and again. She seems to end up so worried that it all ends in tears.
I assumed it was normal to an extent, but I worry my dd will end up like me (i suffer from anxiety).
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