I need help for my 9 year old.....

[GS1981]

My daughter is 9 years old and the first time she showed signs of anxiety was when she was in Kindergaten during the "Three Little Pigs" show that the K's put on for the parents. At first I thought her stomach hurt and we spent that first year thinking maybe something was wrong with her stomach because she kept holding her stomach and she had fear in her eyes. Ever since then it's just kept progressing, she now rubs her throat and her stomach at the same time and it's five years later. It's not every day - sometimes we go months and she shows no signs of anxiety but this is the worst I have seen it now - been going on since January of this year. I don't know what happened she was just fine the first half of 3rd grade and then she just flipped the switch. She refuses to eat breakfast now, she has a glossy look to her eyes and we have already determined nothing or noone is hurting her at school. My daughter is very popular and has no problems making friends, as a matter of fact I think everyone in that school knows her, and she knows them. Everyone wants my daughters attention, and she has three best friends that she spends time with outside of school so I know she's isn't hiding in a shell but I can't understand why in the mornings she gets this way...and sometimes at night too. It's almost as if those are the moments that she isn't active and has time to "think"
It's causing me to have anxiety and I am not the type of person who has these problems, I'm usually very strong about myself and I have no problems with facing bad situations but this is killing me, I dont know what to do, I dont have the money nor the insurance to take her to a "therapist" does anyone have any advice? I feel that she has developed this "black hole comfort zone" and she refuses to step outside of it and I also think she has some mild separation anxiety from me. The only thing she is okay with doing is sitting in our house all day long and watching TV. I can't get her to go the store with me, or out to the movies. I even took a friend of hers to the movies with us and she still managed to start her anxiety then and want to leave. Just when I think I might have her fear pin pointed she does something else to prove me wrong. I'm going out of my mind, my hands are shaking more these days and I'm only 28 years old. Nothing traumatic has happened in our lives, no losses, although I was sick with stomach problems for a few years but it wasn't anything life threatening and I didn't make a big deal out of it, so again I have no clue. Please help.

[mammo]

I agree!  There are agencies which can offer you help with your daughter, but regardless she needs to be evaluated to make sure there isn't more than anxiety going on.  If this is anxiety then it's imperative that she get help immediately, the longer this goes the worse it will get.  Kindergarten is an awfully young age for severe anxiety to appear.  They do go thru episodes of not wanting to be away from you, things like that, but this sounds like much more than the norm.  You can get on a payment plan with any medical bills, right now the most important thing to do is get her evaluated physically and then mentally. I know you're upset and rightfully so, but you don't want your daughter to endure a lifetime of this.  Good luck and take care.

[MMahon]

Have you discussed this with her doctor?  You may wish to discuss her situation with a school guidance counselor also.  They can give you an independent view of things and may know of a place she can get the proper treatment if necessary.
Don't try to diagnose a child on your own...Many states have child heathcare programs that may help you also.
Good luck