wants to hurt herself

[worriedworried1]

I have a very head strong 7 year old girl. She has a younger sister (age 5)  Typical sibling riviraly between them.  She's been getting in trouble recently with not listening or not doing what is expected of her.  The other day while she was taking a bath she started slapping her own face (lightly) and said she felt like hitting herself.  We talked about it, she said she as upset because she made mom mad.  About 3 days later, she was refusing to do her homework, (just reading)   So we sent to have a bath then bed.  In the Bath she said she felt like hurting herself again, we talked and she said when she makes us angry or upest she feels like punishing herself!  I don;t know where this is coming from,

She a very sweet kid, no other behavioural concerns, loves animals, loves outdoors and school, lots of friends.  She has a loving family, and support system, toys, hobbies.  I don;t know if this is just an attention grab, I am taking this seriously,  I'm worried.

Thank you

[benjimom]

what did the doctor say?   Is something at school bothering her??

[margypops]

It may also be a good idea at 7 year old to allow her to bathe herself, it soundd like some attention seeking going on, perhaps if you awrent in the bathroom talking to her it wouldnt come up. Do not make more of it than it is as you may have inadvertantly been puting things into her head ..

[worriedworried1]

Thank you., going to the dr. to today.

[Niknak1974]

I would take this very seriously, the fact that she is doing this at 7.  My son is now 15 and he too would hurt himself when he was younger, if I got mad at him for anything.  As he got older it got worse.  He had to go to counseling because it got so bad that after a while he wasn't just hurting himself he was talking about how much he hated himself for being a bad boy, and although he never attempted it (I got him counselling right away) he talked about suicide.  We went through a lot before then and he was only 12 when he started talking about suicide.  He is doing much better now and has done counseling and is learning that hurting himself wasn't the answer ever.  I would suggest taking her to a doctor and a psychiatrist.  Good luck.  
Niknak1974