6 Year Old Scared Most of the Time.

Updated on June 14, 2013
R.P. asks from Pasadena, CA
7 answers

Hi moms :). First I would like to thank everyone in this site for their opinoins and questions it helps a lot.
Ok, I have a 6 year old baby girl wich i love a lottttt. It's been maybe a year that she has been scared of everything. For example, she would say "mommy i'm scared, I feel that an airplane is going to fall on our house and we are going to die" "mommy my hearth hurts please don't crash and die" " mommy is the house going to burn and are we all going to die" things like that and she will cry and say her heart hurts. I really didn't pay much attention to this till nowI would tell her no baby we are not going to die. Or try to make her feel better in anyway that I can. To be honest sometimes she does stress me out and I brush what she is saying off. Then I feel bad. But now it's just gething worst. She still askes questions like the once i mentioned but now she started to feel things other people are going truw. For example, my mom a mosquito bit her and now my girl starts scratching insisting that something bit her when nothing did. Today we when to take my dad to the eye doctor and on the tv there was a comercial playing on the parts of an eye, she starts crying softly and tells me her eye hurts, she would say "mommy my eyes hurt really i'm not lying" also if she passes by an electric cord like a phone charger or something like that she will say " mommy my hand hurt I feel I have electricity in my hands" but she really cries and believes she does feel that then she will say her heart hurts. Well she says much more things like that. So my dad tells me I have to take her to her doctor that she might need counseling. Or that she might be sick from something like emotional or something like that. I really am worried now and i am going to talk to her doctor but I like to ask on this site because there might be moms going truw the same thing. Maybe it's an age thing. If any of you mommys have this problem too or know of someone that is going tru this please reply it will be very helpful and very apreciated. Thank you very much

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.R.

answers from Washington DC on

While kids do go through phases where they fear the house will burn down, or a plane will fall from the sky, what you are describing here sounds far beyond those kinds of normal fears. I agree with others saying that she should have an evaluation for possible generalized anxiety. Please ensure that your pediatrician refers you to a specialist (the specialist should do this, not the pediatrician) and be sure the specialist deals with children her age -- it's vital to have someone assessing her who knows how to work with a child her age.

You do not mention how YOU react and what you say or do when she says these things. I can only imagine how this is all upsetting for you, and yes, even frustrating -- at some point, any adult would want to say, "Good grief, you're fine, cut it out!" So please do not feel guilty if you have felt that way yourself. But be sure not to dismiss her fears, as that can make things worse for the child, who feels that "no one is listening to me."

One other thing you don't mention -- Have there been any major life changes in her world in this past year when she's become so anxious? For instance: A separation, a divorce, a new partner for mom or dad, a new sibling born, an extended stay by someone new to the household (did grandpa move in with you?), starting school, any large change like those? Major changes can rock a young child's world in ways adults don't always grasp, so it is vital to think through whether she has experienced any such changes; she still should get a professional evaluation and possibly therapy, but knowing if a change might have kicked off the anxiety is important information. The therapist or psychologist should ask you about that, for sure. A child who undergoes changes often starts to demand more attention in any way she can, so if there's been any big change your child might have discovered that anxiety can get your attention focused on her. But even if that's the case -- I would get her evaluated ASAP because it's gone beyond just seeking attention.

3 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.O.

answers from Detroit on

she needs a psychologist and a psychiatrist right now.

medicine and therapy can help her. she is not faking this.. her fears are very real to her..

2 moms found this helpful

M.J.

answers from Milwaukee on

My anxiety started when I was really young like that. My parents just shrugged it off and I really wish they would have gotten me some help as I spent many years "coping" in bad ways i.e. drinking, drugs, etc..

Please take her to get counseling and if she needs meds consider them. Otherwise, when she is older she will seek ways to lessen this anxiety and they may not be the best ways. It's called generalized anxiety disorder.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.K.

answers from New York on

A lot of anxiety for a little kid. Get her some help soon.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from Austin on

Kids can have anxiety....... it might be best to talk to her doctor and see if you can get a referral to find out what is wrong.....

1 mom found this helpful

T.S.

answers from Denver on

Help your daughter to understand the concept of resources. Resources are all of the things we draw on in a crisis to help us through. Outer resources are things like telephones, friends, families, stuffed animals, warm blankets, police officers, band-aids, etc. Inner resources are things like creativity, imagination, running fast, problem-solving, organization, inventiveness, feeling emotions fully, etc.

Support your daughter in recognizing what her resources are, how to use them, and how to gather more resources if needed. Point out how people have resourced themselves in crisis such as helping each other, calling for help, figuring out creative ways to overcome an obstacle, etc.

The other thing is to support her in moving past the point of trauma. In her mind she is getting stuck in the middle of the terrible thing and not moving the story forward. Help her by asking her to tell you what she would do next if that bad thing happened. Then ask her what she would do next. And so on till she gets far enough down the timeline in the story where everything feels okay again. You can help her with this by giving her examples of people that have had things happen to them and how they overcame those things.

Ask her to tell you what her fear is about death. What is she really afraid of? Simply say, "Tell me what you think will happen if _____dies?" Let her tell her story. Then validate her feelings. Say, "Yes, that must feel very scary to you." Do not try and make her feel better and do not dismiss whatever she feels. Support her in fully feeling the feeling. It will pass through her if you allow it. If she needs to cry, just sit and hold her and let her cry. If she feels angry allow her to draw/scribble her anger out on paper.

It is extremely important to stop dismissing this. Pay close attention to the words she is using and the feelings she is describing. Create a safe space for her to express herself, feel the feelings, and to move to resourcing/solutions. Encourage her to tell you the story in her head and then to continue the story all the way to the end when there is some resolution.

She sounds like a very sensitive and empathic child. She may need some guidance in how to see other people's pain and to understand and respect their pain without feeling it herself. You may be able to find someone trained in visualization/energy work to help her in defining her own boundaries and allowing others to have their experiences and honoring those experiences, without taking them on herself.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.C.

answers from Denver on

It sounds like your little girl has anxiety. I'd get a referral to see a specialist who deals with childhood issues. Like someone mentioned, you can probably get a good referral from your pediatrician. All kids go through phases of anxiety here and there, but it seems like your daughter might be experiencing some feelings she can't cope with. Time to get her some help.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions