Hello
DD is 11 and has had spells of bad anxiety over the years. The last was when she was 8-9 but it's started up again.
She broke down in tears last week and said she feels stressed and anxious all the time just now but she can't quite put her finger on why. I'm going for surgery on Monday and I was sure she'd be worrying about that but she said she was OK because she knows I desperately need it and she wants me back as my old self (hip replacement - I have severe osteoarthritis in both hips). She said she felt there was something bit weighing down on her but she couldn't work out what. She feels snappy and grumpy but feels terrible as soon as she has snapped at us.
A couple of days ago she got up and showed us her forehead where she has picked the skin right along just at her hairline and made it scabby and bleeding. She said she didn't realise she was doing it while reading the night before, and now she keeps picking it more and making it bleed. She's got it in an awful state. Does anyone know what we could do to try to heal it and how to get her to stop picking it? She says she can't help it.
Last night she started hugging me and stroking my face so gently and hugging me some more and then she told me she's really worried about my surgery but didn't want me to be worried about her when I have my surgery to worry about 😥 She said she will be so worried all day at school. She's staying at her friend's on Sunday night because we have to leave at 6am. She asked at school yesterday if it's OK for DH to phone reception when I'm out of surgery so she will know I'm OK, bless her. The secretary said of course and that she will go immediately to find her and will even try to let her speak to him herself.
Sorry this is long, I just don't know how to help her and get her skin healed up. I'm not sure what's best to use on it. I'm hoping she will feel better once my surgery is over and I'm back home. It can't be easy for an 11 year old, I was 33 when my mum had hers done and I couldn't settle at work that day at all!