The Imperfect Community

btlsmum · Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 3:03 pm Post subject: Sensitive kids

Honestly? I'd seek out therapy. I was very much like this as a child. I obsessed over the death of my loved ones and feared being away from them because I was sure they would die while I was at school. I missed much of 4th grade and spent a portion of every day of 5th grade in the counselor's office. When I got a bit older, the nighttime panic attacks started. In retrospect I would have benefitted greatly from some professional help.

Scout · Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 3:50 pm Post subject: Sensitive kids

I am prepared to take him to counseling if I feel like he needs it. But at this point, he is a really happy kid during the day, makes friends easily, loves school and gets upset if he has to miss it for any reason, does fine going to play at friends' houses, etc. It's just a night time thing, and it's not so severe that he can't be distracted. I do think it's important to recognize when kids need counseling. Dh could have benefitted from it. But, he also had a mother with anxiety and panic disorder who was in a miserable marriage and only reinforced his anxiety, KWIM? And he was not encouraged to talk about his feelings, so if he was worried or scared, he pretty much just dealt with it. At least Calvin knows he will not be "in trouble" or just have his worries dismissed as "silly," and he can talk to us when he feels this way.

He actually went out of town with my parents this weekend. I hesitated to let him go, but he really wanted to, and I thought it might be a good break in the routine and pattern that was developing. he spent the night at their house Friday night because they were leaving Saturday morning, and then they went to Nashville to meet up with my sister and the baby (it's halfway between her and us), eat at the Rainforest cafe, go to the Opryland hotel, etc. I've talked to him on the phone 2 or 3 times and he's having a great time. They'll be back after dinnertime tonight. I'm hoping that while we're on spring break this week and can relax the bedtime routine, he'll stop dreading bedtime and this will sort of pass, at least for now.