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Original poster

Help!

14 replies

Nancy34 · 02/03/2018 15:31

I am completely at the end of my tether. My 7 year old daughter, who has never had any issues with sleep. Having been told scary stories about Slenderman (I had no idea who he was!!), is now terrified to sleep on her own, be left in a room on her own, follows me from room to room (makes excuses as to why she is following me, yet its pretty obvious as she was always happy to sit and draw, watch tv on her own etc). Initially I let her sleep in our room, but was advised by a work colleague (child psychologist) that I need to get her back in her own room, so I chose to sleep on the floor in her room for two nights (this is now in its 4th week). I have now stopped this and told her we need to conquer this fear, I am still staying with her whilst she gets to sleep as she will scream and shout if I leave her (I thought she was just trying it on, but she appears genuinely terrified). I leave her light on for her (she always liked to sleep in the dark). It doesn't take long for me to get her to sleep (because she is so sleep deprived), but she wakes on average about 4 times a night and I am having to console her. I have tried to keep calm, but very hard when I'm getting on average 2 hours a night and I admit I lost it last night - she eventually went to sleep at 5am. I'm a loss of what to do. We visited our GP today who prescribed piriton, which I can't see working. Other than totally giving into her requests (sleeping with her and going to bed at her bedtime), i've no idea what to do :-(

Any advice from anyone who has experienced anything like this would be gratefully received as I'm losing the plot here

OP posts:
Wetwashing00 · 02/03/2018 19:33

Personally I would do whatever you need to get a full nights sleep. Even if that means sharing a bed, but I would still try her in her own bed every now and then. Weekly maybe?

Martyngibson · 02/03/2018 19:59

Piriton is a great drug for sleep. I would let her sleep in your bed.

Original poster
Nancy34 · 02/03/2018 20:14

GP has prescribed piriton today. I'm sceptical, but who knows!

OP posts:
Martyngibson · 02/03/2018 20:30

It knocks me out. Fingers crossed!

Haypanky · 03/03/2018 07:34

Following with interest, not quite the same thing but my 3yr and counting on fingers... 4 month old, has treated having nightmares and wants to come into bed with me every night.

TooMinty · 03/03/2018 07:54

I don't know who Slenderman is either (and too much of a wuss to google...) But can you try and fill her mind with nice stories? Maybe audio books to listen to while she goes to sleep and a dream catcher to hang over her bed? Does she have a soft toy to cuddle?

Original poster
Nancy34 · 03/03/2018 10:42

Yes, tried most of these. Going to download the headspace app as meant to be very helpful. Just found out there is a slenderman film out in August, so probably got over it and then he'll be on every bus and advertisement going 😐

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crazycatlady5 · 03/03/2018 15:12

What are you actually doing to try to conquer her fears though? She does sound petrified and it’ll either wither away with time or she needs some guidance, im sure there would be some literature you could read her to help or she could talk to someone? Until then, keep being there for her. I used to be terrified of ET (yep, ridiculous I know) and if I was ever in the dark especially on stairs I thought he was following me. I certainly don’t feel the same now at 33 years old!

Original poster
Nancy34 · 03/03/2018 19:56

She knows it's not real, but still terrified. We have printed off drawings of him, made him look silly, happy, which has made her laugh, she feels a bit sorry for him now. All of this is in the day though. Dark is different, but all i can do is reassure her, help her get to sleep and allow her to come into bed if she wants. If this is still going on when she's 15 then I'll be worried 😂

OP posts:
crazycatlady5 · 03/03/2018 20:03

We have printed off drawings of him, made him look silly, happy, which has made her laugh, she feels a bit sorry for him now.

That’s really good!! I would say it’ll pass soon, soon could be a few months Confused but it sounds like you’re doing a great job!

Original poster
Nancy34 · 05/03/2018 15:09

Just confirming its all going swimmingly. I was up just 8 times last night 🤔

OP posts:
TooMinty · 06/03/2018 16:19

8 times! Brewfor you. That is worse than my 3 year old. I'd have caved and let her sleep with me...
Is anything else stressing her out? Have you checked her room for weird shadows or things that might look scary at night? I remember being scared of a hat and long coat hanging on the back of a door.

Original poster
Nancy34 · 06/03/2018 20:25

I don't think so. She tells me everything eventually, so think she'd tell me. I've told her today that its ok to creep into bed with me (preferable to getting me up). She now sleeps with her door open which is helping in that she knows that she can get to me sooner, but then thinks if her door is open then Slenderman will sense her first if he comes up the stairs (he has no features, so can't see, smell, hear or speak), but in her head (even though she knows he's not real), she thinks he has heightened sense of being able to feel if someone is close. I'm considering seeing a therapist 😐

OP posts:
TooMinty · 06/03/2018 20:37

Ok I'm still too much of a wuss to google slenderman but that description is terrifying me (and I'm nearly 40!). No wonder she is scared. Good idea telling her to just quietly get into your bed, sounds like you just need to ride it out until she forgets about it.

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