Mother or Therapist

Sometimes I wonder if I am the Mom or the therapist. You see, I have a child that struggles with anxiety and being nervous. And to be totally honest, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. There is some family history on both sides of worrying. In fact, we all worry about different things in our lives.

But sometimes I feel like fear or worry over takes my little one. I saw examples of it yesterday that made me realize this is something we need to keep working on. Not only does she feel nervous about a variety of things, but the worry escalates and can often cause fainting. In general, I am a pretty patient and understanding parent. I know that this child was given to me, for I know how to teach her to cope with it (results of being raised as a counselor's daughter). What do you do when you give your child the skills to succeed and they don't choose to use them?

I can't really understand why she has such worries in her life. Compared to most children she has nothing to worry about. She has her basic needs met, she lives in a loving home, she doesn't have to ride the bus to school with bullies (she is home with me for homeschooling). I wonder if her worries are rooted in the fainting. The feeling of having her body do something that she can't control.

One of her triggers is TV/movies/videos. She is afraid of watching something that will scare her. My kids haven't been desensitized by TV. We haven't done the typical Disney movies (lots of scary characters) or other kids shows. They are 8 and 9 and still find joy in simple shows (Peep, Curious George, Max and Ruby). We don't do them because they end up in tears when it is bed time afraid of bad dreams. All that to say she was worked up about going to a birthday party where they might show a movie/video. She was in tears about it before we got there. She felt fainting when we arrived after she saw the blankets in front of the TV. I had given her ways to handle the situation. {Tell herself the truth, bring a book just in case you don't want to watch it, I even asked the Mom what they were going to show...} But her fear "got the better side of her".

I also saw her fear take over yesterday with school. She got so worked up about something she couldn't focus or concentrate. Almost to the point of a panic attack. It is like it swarms in like a cloud of bees and consumes my child. I hate to see this happen. Especially at a young age for such simple worries. I did what I could to help her cope. Which is why I often feel like the therapist. Reminding her how to handle life and deal with it the best way that she can.

I am not sure my purpose of posting this. Whether it is to get advice or just process my motherhood frustration for the week. I have to pray that God works in her life. And that all these years of instilling the right tools in her life will pay off someday.