My niece had the same anxiety attacks you mentioned. They became much worse when they moved into a new home. This lasted from when she was 6 or so until today. She is now 13. She would cry at night when my sister made her sleep in her own bed. She would get up at night and sleep at the foot of my sisters bed. She refused to sleep anywhere without her parents. My sister finally brought her to a child counselor who advised that they suffer through by putting the child into situations that forced her to face her fears. First, she would leave my neice with our mother for an hour or two. Then gradually she made my neice spend the night. (Our mother lives behind my sisters home-so it wasn't far) Yes, there were terrible panic attacks due to this. But she made it through. We thought it was very odd that this happened to my neice because she is a very outgoing child. She is a cheerleader at school and very well liked. She did not want to be separated from her parents. You have to take little steps and gradually things will get better. My neice goes to Florida and spends a week occasionally and goes to overnight sleepovers! which is amazing from 1 year ago. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
I'm at my wits end, my daughter just turned 10 and has been sleeping on our bedroom floor for about 3 months. All of a sudden she is afriad to sleep in her room, even if I'm in there with her, she wants to be in our room. I think it started when she watched some scary movies that had "ghosts" in them and now she is afraid of ghosts. It doens't help to leave the BR light on or anything so for now I am just giving in and letting her. It sure puts a hold on my husbands and my love life !
I understand your problem, because my 2 year old has always slept in her crib and now gets upset and vomits if I put her in there before she falls asleep. We have to wait until she falls asleep in the living room then try and get her in there. She now vomits when we try and put her in her pajamas. I don't understand why this has become a problem, she has never slept with us in our room. I am very frustrated because there are nights she wont fall asleep until midnight and then only has 7 hours of sleep. I try to cut back on her daytime naps, its not working. If you figure it out let us all know.
I have 2 sons niether which will sleep in his own bed. They say thier scared. I'm so gratefull it hasn't gone as far as vomitting and such but they are very insistent on sleeping with me. I am a single mom and and they started sleeping with me when we moved back into my mom's house 7yrs ago and have not left it. both of them absolutely refuse to even try to sleep in there beds so we're all scrunched in my full size bed; a rather large 9 yr old, me a 165lb women and my little 6yr. old at about 40 lbs. I'm soooo sorry to hear about your situation and my boys and I will keep Krys and her daughter in our prayers which we each do individually and out loud each night.
my only suggestion is a to to pray and ask in jesus name for this to stop.
I certainly do understand! I have an 11 year old boy that does the same thing. He didn't sleep thru the night until he was 3 and a half. He has been on our bedroom floor for almost a year now. When we "force" him to sleep in his own room, he has an axiety attack. We have gone to talk with a doctor, but my son does't apply what he has learned from the doctor. We stopped going. Just hoping and praying that eventually he will choose on his own to sleep in his own room. We have a 7 year old daugher that has no problem with sleeping. You are not alone. Sometimes it helps just knowing that. wpouey91
Unwittingly you have taught your daughter that she will feel safe and secure falling asleep at home only when she is with you. Think of all the nights since she was an infant when she has had this perception reinforced. The behavior is not at all normal, nor is it likely to change if you leave it alone. The general guidance you received from the doctor is prudent - i.e., a behavioral approach whereby your daughter is gradually weaned from sleeping in your room. It might be helpful to you to consult with a child psychologist (or other pediatric mental health professional). That person can assist you with designing the specifics of the weaning plan and give you the support you'll need to 'bite the bullet' and get this done. Many parents, trying to do the right thing, make the same mistake you did when your daughter was an infant. That's the time when children should 'learn', by experience, that falling asleep on their own is OK. But that's all water over the dam now. Talking with your daughter about it will not be a great help - it's not as if she has a 'reason' for this reaction. She simply feels petrified to be falling asleep without you. With practice, she will be OK, but it's not going to be pleasant or easy, as you've already discovered. Please arrange the consultation - it is a wise thing to do. Also, take a look at Richard Ferber's well regarded book, Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems. It will give you the basics of the plan to make this better, and it might be reassuring to you when you see, via the vignettes in the book, that you are not alone.