DD suffering from anxiety/panic
Find a Conversation
| Sun, 12-03-2006 - 12:20am |
Hi,
My 7 year old DD has been having anxious moments (perhaps panic attacks?) where she starts focusing on her breathing to the point thet she starts breathing really fast. Then, she gets scared becasue she is breathing too fast. I need help with things that I can do with her to help her calm down or not focus on her breathing.
I have tried progressive realxation with her and deep breathing excercises. It will help for a few minutes, but then she is back to thinking about her breathing and breathing too fast. She has 2 or 3 epoisodes a day of this "breathing" thing. It tends to happen more at night when it is dark out (perhaps she is afraid of the dark) and at night before bed. (she is probably tired). Also, sometimes she is so upset about breathing too fast that she
starts crying and getting so upset that she can't even try to focus on relaxing. She will say to me "I can't do it" and continue to get more and more worked up and upset.
A little background on her-she had severe separation anxiety when she was 3 and 4 years old. At 5, in kindergarden, she seemed nervous at scool and would lick her fingers and then rub under her nose. (It got so bad that she had scabs on her skin). She really liked school, so we don't know why she felt this way. We took her to see a child psychologist for these issues. It seemed to help a bit, but didn't completely help the problem. I recently took her back to the psychologist, who basically talked to her about things to do to calm down. Her suggestions didn't seem to help, and so we have not been back to see her.
My DD is normally a very happy, outgoing child. There is nothing bad going on in her life right now. She loves school. She is our only child, and we lavish her with tons of attention/time/love.
I have a book I have started to read, but it is going to take me a while to finish it so in the meantime I am looking for some quick "helpful" hints. (For the record, she will not drink warm milk or tea, so we can't try this to help her relax.)
I have suffered from panic attacks in the past. However, mine were brought on by pregnancy when I was an adult at age 35. (I did not have them in my childhood.) Currently, my panic attacks are gone and I am not on any medication. (Medication-xanax- was the only thing that helped them. I tried many other things and they never worked.)
Thanks for reading this.
-JoJo

Pages
I read this last night & thought maybe it would be helpful. I know it made me feel better & gave me some ideas. GL! (((hugs))) jan
Everyday Tips
10 Ways to Nurture Your Child
Some kids seem to be born with more self-esteem than others, but there's a lot you can do to promote your child's emotional well-being — a stronger sense of self can make your child more emotionally resilient when problems come his way.
Providing for your child's physical needs (food, shelter, clothing) is a fairly straightforward matter. Trying to provide for your child's emotional needs can be trickier. Although there are many parenting styles, most experts agree on some general guidelines for nurturing a child's emotional health and laying the ground work for an emotionally healthy adulthood.
Be aware of stages in child development so you don't expect too much or too little from your child.
Encourage your child to express his or her feelings; respect those feelings. Let your child know that everyone experiences pain, fear, anger, and anxiety. Try to learn the source of these feelings. Help your child express anger positively, without resorting to violence.
Promote mutual respect and trust. Keep your voice level down — even when you don't agree. Keep communication channels open.
Listen to your child. Use words and examples your child can understand. Encourage questions. Provide comfort and assurance. Be honest. Focus on the positives. Express your willingness to talk about any subject.
Look at your own problem-solving and coping skills. Are you setting a good example? Seek help if you are overwhelmed by your child's feelings or behaviors, or if you are unable to control your own frustration or anger.
Encourage your child's talents and accept limitations. Set goals based on the child's abilities and interests — not someone else's expectations. Celebrate accomplishments. Don't compare your child's abilities to those of other children; appreciate the uniqueness of your child. Spend time regularly with your child.
Foster your child's independence and self-worth. Help your child deal with life's ups and downs. Show confidence in your child's ability to handle problems and tackle new experiences.
Discipline constructively, fairly, and consistently. Use discipline as a form of teaching, not physical punishment. All children and families are different; learn what is effective for your child. Show approval for positive behaviors. Help your child learn from his or her mistakes.
Love unconditionally. Teach the value of apologies, cooperation, patience, forgiveness, and consideration for others.
Do not expect to be perfect; parenting is a difficult job.
Pages