signs of anxiety / depression young children pls help

[essenceofmylove]

This is the first time I have ever joined a forum of any type. I have been concerned for a month or two about my youngest daughter. She is only 5.5 yrs old.

She is very hard on herself and makes horrible comments like "I am a rubbish bird" or "I dont deserve my teddies" she even has said she does not deserve her family and says she is a vsry naughty little girl. No she does not here that from me. 

I think these are not overly normal comments for a child to make. She does it after she has done something wrong like hit her big sister, its always at bedtime and I feel this is when she gets overwhelmed the most. We have a lovely bedtime routine that has been cosistant her whole life, there has been no changes in her life (well her father started FIFO work over 12 months ago) but she knows her parents are very much in love. 

My question is for parents of young teenage girls, were there any early signs that you wished you had of spoted? How does what I mentioned compare to your girls. I hope I am reading too much into this. Do you think I should ask someone professional? 

I appreciate your advice. 

[Chris_B]

Hi essenceofmylove,

Welcome to the forums. Sorry you haven't had a reply to your post - as you may have noticed we have quite a few threads with parents asking for support around their children, but most tend to be teen years and up.

We do have one thread here which you may want to read, it has some parents discussing their kids closer to your daughter's age. Please feel free to revive it.

Talking things through with a professional would also be a good idea, you can give our support service a call, and I'd also recommend trying Headspace.

[SantasLittleHelper]

Hi Essenceofmylove,

My 10 year old son has just been diagnosis with depression, stemming from a primary anxiety disorder.  I wish I had considered the possibility of this a bit more seriously when he started school, rather than listening to all the poor advice from teachers family and friends.

I think it is worthwhile contacting your GP and be completely honest in regards to your daughters self-deprating language (however hard it might be to say).  You can request a mental health plan - ignore some of the more extreme and confronting questions - you are preparing it for a 5 year old not a teenager.  You might have to see the GP more than once to assure him/her that it is not a phase.

Hopefully, your GP will also recommend a psych who can provide cognitive behaviour theory CBT but most likely you will have to research it yourself.  The psych will more than likely be an educational psych as they primarily deal with young kids - and it might be hard to convince someone to see your daughter but keep trying.  If nothing else CBT can assist your daughter in being kinder to herself and accepting faults and imperfections.  This type of negative thought pattern can become a habit and lead to bigger issues down the track.

I wish you luck!

[Moosh]

Hi

I have a daughter who is now 15, she was undiagnosed Anxiety up until she was 12. I spent years going to counsellors, until I finally went to a paediatrician who diagnosed her. She now suffers from Anxiety, ADHD and depression.  I wish I had known earlier. Your daughters symptoms don't sound the same but anxiety can manifest in many ways.  Get a referral from your GP it's worth a try.

 good luck!