Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Daughter over reacting, screeching like a banshee upsetting siblings

116 replies

Heswall · 26/03/2012 14:03

My DD thought she was late for school today which set off a tantrum, a howling fit and screeching in her younger siblings faces terrfying them.
I lost it with her after half an hour of this non sense and I'm ashamed to say I did shout back as did DH, we were at the end of our tether.
She sobs like the world has ended, scratches herself til she bleeds whenever she's under pressure.
Given that she's at a grammar I feel she ought to have better coping mechanisms, it's not that she isn't capable the school is very very pleased with her and her progressed.
I've asked the head of year to contact me about referring her to the school counsellor who comes in once a week to help with strategies.
Is the school the right people to deal with this ?

OP posts:
Heswall · 26/03/2012 21:14

I'm happy to acknowledge that she is unhappy but what do you say when she tells me I think she's mad and will send her away in response ? I have never said either to her or implied it.

OP posts:
ethelb · 26/03/2012 21:14

Is she the eldest? My parents resented thta I was divertign attention from the younger siblings too.

Heswall · 26/03/2012 21:17

Yes she's the eldest and if anything the younger ones have half the attention divided between the three of them that she has. However i am conscious that in working full time she doesn't get as much as she deserves it's not easy at the moment.

OP posts:
oiwheresthecoffee · 26/03/2012 21:17

If shes saying things like that she knows something is wrong. you dont have to have said anything for her to think it. Its irrational. Maybe this is what shes afraid of and why she refuses to talk about it ?

Im sure you reasured her that you want to help and you dont think shes mad. Did you ask her why she thought someone might think that as well ? Or could you ask her ? It might reveal something about it.

ethelb · 26/03/2012 21:19

@Heswall my mother says the only time she regrets being full time was at that time. But I do understand now. What was she supposed to do? Put her career and my sister's lives on hold?

I think it is v hard being a parent to pre-teens teens, maybe more so than for younger children, even though MN tends to deny this.

Is their a chaplain or councellor at school? I saw one and she really helped.

Heswall · 26/03/2012 21:21

By taking her to the GP i proved that i thought she was mad that's what i am up against, talking when she's off on one is not easy, when calm i talk through using a stress ball, drawing pictures, biting the pillow, punching a pillow, controlling what you can control and not letting the other stuff wind up up.

OP posts:
Heswall · 26/03/2012 21:24

I hope there is ethelb the head of year has had a message left for her and I have to talk to her to get a referal but the person only comes in once a week by which time DD will be right as rain no doubt.

OP posts:
Pumpster · 26/03/2012 21:31

Ask the school to refer her to camhs.

Brightspark1 · 26/03/2012 21:33

Heswall, it sounds as one to one time is exactly what she needs? 'Attention seeking' is another way of saying 'a cry for help' and it sounds exactly that. I missed cues from my bright, caring loving daughter halfwayy through year 7. In year 8, she made a good circle of friends and won a prize at school, all seemed well until year 10 (last year). In the past year she progressed from scratching to full on cutting with whatever she could lay her hands on, took 40 paracetamol and was admiitted to a psychiatric ward which just made her worse. She has missed loads of school, it will be a miracle if she makes it through her GCSEs and is in no fit state to contemplate 6th form. Please understand that I am not trying to alarm you but just flagging up that dismissing her self harm now could store up worse for the future.

fluffydressinggown · 26/03/2012 21:38

I was very high functioning (and continue to be) in terms of my emotions, I could talk and go to school and live my life. But inside I felt (feel) wrong.

If she says she is upset I would acknowledge it, ask her if she wants to talk about it, and reassure her that you love her no matter what. Sometimes shouting and being angry at the people you love can be almost like a sub-concious test to see how much they love you. A lot of people are scared that mental ill - health means you will be sent away and that can be a worrying time.

Heswall · 26/03/2012 21:38

I don't want camh i really don't, is that all the school will do ?

I have a good friend who is a social worker and she told me camh will take at least 6 weeks to send out a questionnaire and goodness knows how long before anything is actioned, maybe going private would be better? I want this resolving asap.

OP posts:
Heswall · 26/03/2012 21:41

I know fluffy and that's why I was so cross with myself that I shouted at her.
That won't happen again but god it would test the patience of a saint when she's in full flight, I can't win though if I try and hug her that's "assault" and she'll call child line, ignore her and she was right about me all along.

OP posts:
Pumpster · 26/03/2012 21:45

'i want this resolving asap'
Hmmmm!
I had some private therapy for my dd, still had to and still am, with camhs. We didn't have any choice really!

fluffydressinggown · 26/03/2012 21:45

Not everything can be solved quickly though, I think CAMHS would be the best service for her.

I think you need to acknowledge that this is not about you, this is about her. What you want in terms of no meds, quick fix, might not be what she needs.

oiwheresthecoffee · 26/03/2012 21:46

Why are you so against cahm ? She really does need to see proffessionals. They honestly will help.

oiwheresthecoffee · 26/03/2012 21:47

CAMHS even

Heswall · 26/03/2012 21:48

Only because I've been told they take so bloody long to "do" anything.
It isn't about me I realise that but equally I am the adult in charge here and I am not going to be pushed into anything that might have long term effects or be more damaging than doing nothing so I'll be considering each step carefully hence why I asked about what the school can do.

OP posts:
Heswall · 26/03/2012 21:49

It's not a quick fix I want it's a quick response, entirely different.

OP posts:
fluffydressinggown · 26/03/2012 21:56

I understand about a quick response and that is good that you want to help her quickly. It is about the right resources and CAMHs may well have more specialised support and (if) needed can provide long term support.

What damaging long term effects are you worried about?

Pumpster · 26/03/2012 21:57

So the quicker you get a referral the better surely?

Heswall · 26/03/2012 21:58

Creating a pattern of poor me, i'm ill now I get attention, a relative is exactly like that and it works because we all come running but one day they'll be really ill and nobody will bother. Drug usage is not ideal.

OP posts:
Heswall · 26/03/2012 22:00

Well if the are required, I'm going to see what the school counsellor says when they get back to me, camh is not something I want to go to lightly, there would need to be compelling reasons to go down that route and after other avenues have been explored.

OP posts:
fluffydressinggown · 26/03/2012 22:21

But maybe she is ill and she does need attention? (your daughter or your relative)

Self harm and mental health have so much stigma and one of them is that people can just stop or be stronger, or they are being dramatic or attention seeking.

In general if you are hurting yourself there is something wrong, regardless of why you do it.

mathanxiety · 26/03/2012 22:28

'...it's bad enough a 60 year old playing up for sympathy, my concern is the 11 year old has seen this and thought I know that works I'll have a go.'

Heswall, no -- this is not what is happening here. Your DD is in the throes of something that is getting the better of her. This is not behaviour resulting from a conscious decision of hers.

'I have made sure my DD has lead a charmed existence and now I don't quite know what it is she needs recusing from at the age of 11 I really don't.'

This is not a child who is ungrateful for all that you have provided, or a child punishing you for working full time, or a matter of providing more for her or feeling guilty that what has been provided has not been enough. Please don't resent her for her problem or feel that she is throwing your efforts back in your face. She is not.

'What I don't want is for her to get lots of 1 to 1 time, trips to see various people and as a result all the positive attention she gets is surrounding this because I will not have time for anything else it will take every ounce of spare energy I have, that's why I so so hoping she's just had a shit time at school or fallen out with somebody.'

Yes, you are frustrated with her, but she is not doing this on purpose. You are catastrophising here. You need to stop. This is not about you and your time and your perceptions, or your fears. She absolutely needs 1 on 1 time and attention from a professional to get to the bottom of this problem of hers.

'lets hope we can nip this in the bud...'

This is not bad behaviour that can be nipped in the bud, or wished away, or mothered away.

'I'm happy to acknowledge that she is unhappy but what do you say when she tells me I think she's mad and will send her away in response ? I have never said either to her or implied it.'

You need to stop taking this so personally. She is not mad with you. She is not rejecting you. She is ill. It is scary when someone you love is seemingly out of your reach, but you have to go beyond your own comfort zone here, see beyond your own hurt, and get her the help she needs.

'By taking her to the GP i proved that i thought she was mad that's what i am up against...'

She knows there is something wrong and that is why she said that, and you are not up against anything, least of all your DD. She is telling you in every way she can that she needs help. You have to take charge here, put the problem in the hands of people who know what they are doing.

'maybe going private would be better? I want this resolving asap.'

Private is the way to go if camhs would take too long to get their act in gear. But there is no magic pill here. There will be no 'asap'. Your DD will need help over a long period of time, and you will need to get on board with whatever course of medication or therapy is recommended for her.

'It isn't about me I realise that but equally I am the adult in charge here and I am not going to be pushed into anything that might have long term effects or be more damaging than doing nothing so I'll be considering each step carefully hence why I asked about what the school can do.'

Doing nothing here is the one choice guaranteed to result in damage. You must seek help for your DD. You may well be the adult but are not in charge of whatever problem she has. You cannot command it to go away. You are not in control here any more than you would be if your DD developed malaria. She is not some nuisance of a child creating problems for you and making outrageous claims on your time and attention. She is not being manipulative. She needs serious help.

Brightspark1 · 26/03/2012 22:32

Her self harm could equally have long term damaging effects, early CAMHS intervention could prevent further problems. My experience of them is that they do precisely the opposite of feeding into a 'poor me ' attitude, but actually challenges that in a supportive way. The quicker she's referred, the quicker she'll be seen? Yes there are forms and questionnaires, but they need information to work with.