Worrying about kids and accidents

[Shan44]

This summer I've been overtaken by anxiety about my children being in accidents. I took them to a water theme park and was extremely anxious about them going on rides (esp with inflatable tyres) and then to beach with jet skis. It's all-consuming and hasn't happened to this extent before, and feels like it's impacted by what's in the news (Dreamworld etc). I don't stop them going on but my husband thinks I'm really ridiculous and I ended up going on the rides to make myself feel better but felt sick afterwards. I've been very low the last couple of days after all the adrenaline. I know none of it is logical. Any thoughts?

[Zeal]

Hi Shan44,

Welcome to the forum!

I'm sorry to hear that you have intense anxiety about your children being hurt. Tragic accidents such as the one at Dreamworld are rare, but unfortunately media attention often focuses intently on these negative events. It is worth going to your doctor (GP) about this anxiety. Seeking help early is the best way forward. The anxiety about your children being harmed sound like thought patterns of OCD. However, this is only my impression based on your post. It's crucial to check-in with your GP.

I hope to hear back from you 🙂

Best wishes,

Zeal

[geoff]

hi Shan, I agree with Zeal that all of this could be related to having OCD, google it and see if any of the symptoms you can relate to. Geoff.x

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi Shan44,

Welcome to the forums and thanks for your post.

I'm just curious - did the anxiety about your children being in accidents start with the incident from Dreamworld, or is that something that you've had for a long time?

Given what you've said, I disagree that anything points to OCD. I say this because just because something 'consumes you' doesn't mean it's part of a mental illness or even a symptom. I'm not a parent, but I imagine that I myself would be terrified of putting my kids on rides after what happened at Dreamworld. Yes, logically it was a freak accident and very rare; but it's also very recent. Even though the media does put a negative spotlight on the world it's only natural we would be affected by it; you love your children and you only want them to be safe. You also didn't allow your worries to stop you going on that ride, even if it made you sick afterwards.

[sagebrush]

Just because it doesn't seem logical, doesn't make it feel any less real.

As a parent, all I can suggest is to take as many precautions as you feel is necessary when undertaking risk-taking activities. Constant supervision, first aid training, cpr, etc. Life is risky, so outweigh the risks as best as you can.

[Guest6093]

Shan,

There's nothing necessarily pointing your ordeal to any symptom. I'm sure a lot of parents feel the same thing simply because they are leading into the media's hype and lowering their vibration by listening to all the tragical things happening in the world.

You only need to focus on you and your family, not all the existing situations that include the problems at Dreamworld and Movie World. Think positive thoughts and all be well. Don't go straight to the negative. As you said yourself, you eventually went on the rides and did anything happen? No. And if you really think about it, what's the likely hood that the same situation is going to happen given the amount of fun parks and the amount of people that go in and out of them every day?

Don't live for what could be, live for what is.

R