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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
3 year old with seperation anxiety after big stresses
Answered by
Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D. - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Family Therapy, Crisis Intervention
Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
3 year old with seperation anxiety after big stresses
by susi, May 11, 2002 12:00AM
Hi
Hoping you can help guide me a bit. We have a wonderful 3 year old that is having behaviors that are new to her and her pediatrician says give it time. Just want to make sure that we shouldn't be seeking other help sooner. She has had a large amount of stress lately. In March she was hospitalized for 8 days with rotovirus, then 1 wk later parents (us) left for long planned trip and left her with grandparents (she loves staying there though), came back and 3 days later went on trip to another state to have f/u for her cardiac condition. two days after back other grandparents came for visit (live in another country) and 7 days after that we were in mva with her and everyone was injured with broken limbs. Her injuries were not casted and she did have small head laceration that is healing. The problem is we now have an amazing level of seperation anxiety in regards to myself (mom). I can't be more that about 12 inches away from her and if more, she gets hysterical to a point that she starts to have difficulty catching breath. We can't let her get too upset because of cardiac condition, her heart rate runs in the 200s and gets to 300s with these anxiety atttacks. We have had to put her in our bed at least once a night (never has done this before in her life). She is fragile, falls apart at the slighted stressor. The rest of us are downplaying all that has happened, trying to remain really calm, I'm just looking for guidance. Thanks for listening... Unfortunately we have visual reminders for her to see (casts), hopefully that will help to get rid of them soon..
Hoping you can help guide me a bit. We have a wonderful 3 year old that is having behaviors that are new to her and her pediatrician says give it time. Just want to make sure that we shouldn't be seeking other help sooner. She has had a large amount of stress lately. In March she was hospitalized for 8 days with rotovirus, then 1 wk later parents (us) left for long planned trip and left her with grandparents (she loves staying there though), came back and 3 days later went on trip to another state to have f/u for her cardiac condition. two days after back other grandparents came for visit (live in another country) and 7 days after that we were in mva with her and everyone was injured with broken limbs. Her injuries were not casted and she did have small head laceration that is healing. The problem is we now have an amazing level of seperation anxiety in regards to myself (mom). I can't be more that about 12 inches away from her and if more, she gets hysterical to a point that she starts to have difficulty catching breath. We can't let her get too upset because of cardiac condition, her heart rate runs in the 200s and gets to 300s with these anxiety atttacks. We have had to put her in our bed at least once a night (never has done this before in her life). She is fragile, falls apart at the slighted stressor. The rest of us are downplaying all that has happened, trying to remain really calm, I'm just looking for guidance. Thanks for listening... Unfortunately we have visual reminders for her to see (casts), hopefully that will help to get rid of them soon..
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D., May 13, 2002 12:00AM
, May 13, 2002 12:00AM
I agree with the pediatrician. This will take some time to subside; her world hs been turned upside down. As best you can, try not to alter her normal routines, because you can establish habit patterns (e.g., re: sleeping arrangements) that can be difficult to change. There's no need to be seeking professional help at this time. While the response is upsettiong, because you do not like to see your daughter in distress, it can be regarded as an understandable reaction to a series of upsetting events.
