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Austin Babies
Dust and Help for DD (little update)
DD has been complaining about her stomach hurting this week. Then she gets really scared she is going to throw up. I couple weeks ago when we were at the dr for her staph infection, DS threw up in the dr's office and it really scared her. After her first tummy ache she's had them every day this week. But I think they're a result of her being scared. I think she has anxiety or panic attacks about her stomach hurting and throwing up. Yesterday she went to school but called by 9am and today she couldn't go to school. She rides her scooter and tried going two different times but was too "scared" to go. I asked her what she was scared of and she says she doesn't know. I asked her if she is scared of school or if someone is hurting her and she says no. She just kept crying that she is scared. She knows if she misses school she can't go to gymnastics tonight and that's her favorite thing to do.
I called her pedi but there isn't much they can do and in these cases they refer to a counselor. She has a counselor she saw last year once and I never followed up with. I've called her but I'm sure we won't be able to get in for a while.
I'm just at a loss here. How can an 8 year old have this level of anxiety already? With an infection, you treat it and it's better but with this what do you do?? How do I just force her to go to school when she is freaking out? Then I start worry that she is going to have these issues all her life. You're not supposed to have stress or anxiety as a kid. This is one of the first times I've felt totally helpless. I just don't know what to do.
**Update**
I was able to get her to go to school without freaking out after lunch. I said if she went to school in the afternoon, she could still go to gymnastics. She was still scared and I could hear her whispering to herself "I can do this." I was worried I would get a call from school but I didn't. She came running up to the car when I picked her up. She said her tummy didn't hurt at all and she did it! Such relief seeing her confidence. I have a couple calls out to therapist so she can start seeing a counselor. I also want her to start speaking with the school counselor. Thanks for the support today. I was kinda stressing this morning.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Dust and Help for DD (little update)
Poor girl
Life is so hard being a girl at that age. Is it possible there is something going on at school that she is too emberassed to tell you? I know at 8 I definitely had the feelings of not wanting to go to school for things as little as my clothes were different, and my friends weren't the "right" friends. I do remember that stuff starting that early, and I certainly didn't tell my mother. I have a very clear memory of crying and telling my mother I couldn't go to school because my socks wouldn't scrunch in the same way, when obviously that wasn't the real issue.
Could you put a call into her teachers and see if they've noticed anything?
I'm sure you'll get better responses, this was just off the top of my head. Lots of **Feel better** dust to your daughter.
So sorry you are going through this I am sure as a mommy it is hard to see her this way. I am also so sorry she is going through this.
I have dealt with anxiety for as long as I can remember. I don't know if there is just something she is scared to talk about or if she just worries about things that you wouldn't think she should be worrying about. I wonder if Pedi can recommend a counselor that can get her in sooner??? I would keep trying to talk to her...my parents while I love them ignored it and I just got the courage to get the help this year while my mom disagrees that I am on prescriptions for it it has helped me a lot. My doc described it as a chemical imbalance that you just can't control..not saying that is for sure what is going on with your sweet little girl though just saying you are doing great by not trying to dust it under the rug and reaching out to help her. Hang in there.
Lots of hugs and dust to you guys.
I agree with SLB, call her teachers and see how she's been in school. One of my best friends went through this with her daughter when she was 8 as well - there were a lot of life adjustments (moving, mom getting married, etc), and she was very anxious as a result. You guys have been through a lot of change over the last year.
Counseling definitely helped my friend's daughter, and I'm absolutely sure it'll help your DD as well. I noticed a HUGE difference in her just over one month (I was living down the street, and was at their house constantly helping with the kids). Girls are just really sensitive at that age, and even the smallest change can throw things off - especially now that 9-10 year olds are turning into "tweens."
I'm so sorry that your DD is upset. :-( Do you think she might be afraid of throwing up? That sounds so small and trivial, but some people are terrified of vomiting. I only say this because you said when your DS threw up at the doctor's office that is scared her. If she had a tummy ache and was afraid of throwing up, it may just be perpetuating itself.
I would call her teachers like pp mentioned, too. I hope you can find an answer soon and hope your DD feels better.
Unfortunately, that's about when my anxiety with vomiting started. Sounds just like me in 1st grade.
I don't really know what to tell you, except seeing her counselor and figuring out exactly what's going on sounds like a good idea. And like 2H2L, my mom never took my anxiety with stomach issues seriously. She's a nurse so nothing like that has ever bothered her, and she's all "well, no one likes throwing up, Jenny". She just didn't understand. I would avoid the nurses office like the plague, like taking the long long long way around to get to somewhere if I had to pass it on the way. I heard my mom get sick in our hall bathroom with I was little and didn't use that bathroom for YEARS. I would go all the way upstairs just to pee for the longest time.
I don't want to scare you that this is what it is or anything, but it sounds very familiar to me. BUT I also think all kids can go through this initially when they first understand what throwing up means, see someone else do it, etc.
((hugs))
Anxiety is no fun!
Ditto everything pp said. I would look into some counseling again as I would recommend Lau ren Gas par or Emi ly Sla ughter. Neither are pflugerville, but both are north. And since they are both in private practice, they should be better connected and may have someone else they can rec that is closer. I hope that does the trick!
So sorry she is stressing and sorry it's stressing you. Hugs mama. Let me know if you want to talk more.
I was also going to say your family has had a lot going on this year and that it probably has had an effect on her. I'm sure having her see a counselor will help her.
*hugs and good thoughts to you and your family*
52 Choices For Better Health
Nessia, I am so sorry to hear this!
I would be all over her teachers and principle, in terms of wanting daily updates about my DD's day and interactions with other kids and teachers. I'd want to know which other teacher's my DD saw during the day, like for music and P.E., and talk with them too. I think the most important thing is that you know what her days are like, and who she encounters all.day.long. I'm not suggesting abuse per se, but I'd want to make sure no adult or peer is bullying her and or making her feel uncomfortable. If your DD is a sensitive kid, which I've gathered she is, then she is more vulnerable to the kinds of intimidation by adults and other kids that others might be immune to. (I say this having been that kind of kid.)
I'd also talk to her dad and make sure he's aware, and aware of who she's around.
I'd also get her therapy, because therapy is the bomb, and everyone deserves therapy!
Off the bat I can say Patricia Koch is amazing, though she's way down on Bee Caves. She might recommend someone up in RR.
GL!