Child Turning into a Hypochondriac

I'm a nursing student and did my rotation in pediatrics this past semester and included in our studies is the psycho social behavoir for children. I just wanted to say that this fear is completely normal for this age, in fact it states in the pediatric nursing text book that kids have irrational fears of having body parts fall off and believe that holes will remain in their bodies after having shots or iv's placed. I think after all the incidents you described that she is just have a normal reaction. Its actually a very normal adult reaction to vomit or even faint,(even some nursing students have this reaction the first time they see/smell something unusual). She won't become a hypochonriac, so try not to worry, (I know its easier said than done as a mom :)).

well, my first thought is books. The Author Ted Arnold has one called PARTS, and a sequal MORE PARTS. you can google it on amazon, but basically it takes all those phrases like you are breaking my heart and shows a cartoon character taking it literally, until at the end he realizes that can't really happen and i think he as a loose tooth. anyhow, its cute and she could sympathize with his fears and hopefully take comfort in that fact that they are just sayings.

Another literary option would be get get some very very elemental anatomy books, and maybe even a pretend DR kit, and you pretend to hurt your knee and she can wrap an ace bandage around it, and together you can reseach in the book, what the correct name of your knee cap is. like that.

Teach her the shin bone connected to the leg bone--dem bones song.

There are some inspriring books about Bethany Hamilton (?) the surfer that had her arm bitten off by a shark and she still surfs. I'm pretty sure there is a movie.

If you know any nurses, you could causally mention how your friend kathy is a nurse and she helps people that have accidents, she might give them meds or put in stitches or what ever,

I don't know if any of that will help,
Oh and

Try to do alot to reduce her general stress any way, lots of exercise, healthy food, yoga if you like that, or relaxing music for her to listen too, private places to go if she gets overwhelmed and needs to regroup, deep breathing exercises. lots of sleep.

Totally normal

Heck, I remember a dream I had once whet I 'caught' a baseball and it went through my hand leaving a big hole. For ever. Freaked me out for months, and I'm from a family that discusses bowel resections over the dinner table!!!

I think it's just a phase due to her immaturity.
Keep reassuring her that ALL OF YOUR body parts are still attached and her's will stay in place too ;)