sudden change in behavior

[Shweta75]

My daughter is 4 years old and she has always been outgoing, confident girl. When she was younger, she would always greet people and talk to all the people walking on the street in our community, was always cheerfull and loved going to school.

Suddenly from the past 8 to 9 months, she has become very shy. When friends come home to visit, she clings to me or my husband unill the guests leave. she gets anxious about every new thing. she didn't want to celebrate her 4th birthday as she didn't want any of her friends parents to come to the party.
I took her to one of her friend's party and the whole time she was clinging to me. she always loved water, so we put her in a swimming class this summer, but she wouldn't go into the water and learn from the teacher. she wanted my husband to accompany her into the pool. we wanted to see if she was scared of the water and so my husband took her to another pool and there she was comfortable with my husband.

From the time she started pre-school this year,she is been anxious every morning. She throws-up everyday and doesn't eat anything the whole day, till she gets back home. The teacher says once she is here she is fine and seems to have a nice time, except that she doesn't eat or drink in school. The teacher it seems like my daughter is anxious and afraid that if she eats anyhing she will throw-up. So she avoids eating.
She is anxious about music class, art class (anything that requires them to go out of the classroom). But once there she's fine.
She gets so scared while taking off her top/T-shirt, and if by chance it gets stuck, she screams and cries with fear. She wants me to sit with her on the back seat in car. She keeps asking us if we will not leave her in the car.
I am very concerned about her change in behavior. I always thought she is a very confident, outgoing girl. But now, I am really worried. I am confused and would like to know if its separation anxiety, stranger anxiety and any kind of anxiety disorder.
And also I just started working from the past 3 weeks, and earlier to that I worked part time in the evenings. So I don't know if its my starting work, creating anxiety in her? Is it a phase and should I wait for her to grow out of it?... but her no eating properly, makes me worried... please help me, help my daughter... I am ready to do anything to make sure my daughter is back to her normal self...
please help!!!

[OntheEdge63]

I am going through a very similar thing with my 5 yr. old daughter.  She was in preschool all last year, and suddenly, in June, she developed serious anxiety over basically everything.  I totally hear you on the not wanting you to leave her in the car thing.  I am still in the process of working with her school (she started kindergarten two weeks ago, won't eat a thing, and has stomach aches and diarrhea every morning, cries pretty much all day, especially at lunch time and any time they change classes for specials).  I am a stay at home mom, so  for me, that wasn't an issue at all.  Just one day, she went from a well adjusted and happy kid to clinging and fearful of being left.  She won't go to friends houses anymore, even her cousins.  I worked with her all summer in trying to get her used to the new school, taking her there a few times a week to alleviate her fears about being lost. The school counselor said she suspects seperation anxiety disorder, as I have anxiety problems which run in my family, as does in my husbands.

I wonder if anyone in your families have anxiety issues?  It seems to me that what you're describing is beyond normal adjustment.  

[margypops]

Have there been any other changes in your Daughters life, I see she started pre school  so she has been away from your care quite a while,I do think children that are sent to day care and Pre school then kindergarten suffer more anxiety , there are so many changes arent there,? it could be all you describe in your post, the very best scenario in any childs life is to be in a one to one enviroment with the Parents ,This isnt possible I guess in the enviroment of workin, but do not be surprised when these children,subjected to so many strangers and enviroments have problems of their behavior, Walk in their shoes for  a moment  in time